doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Colt model 1878

I am a new guy here.
Have a colt 12ga model 1878, with Damascus barrels. Very good condition. Should I fire black powder shells in it, or suck it up and go for Briley 20ga tubes? I am a long time muzzle loader shooter.

CCM, if your damascus barrels are in very good condition as you say, you certainly have the option of shooting them as they were meant to be shot. That means either black powder or low pressure smokeless. You can source the smokeless from RST. <http://www.rstshells.com/>

Welcome on your first post here...Geo

I am heading down the same path with the same gun.

But I will go with BP loaded into brass shells.

Start low and work my way up to standard period loads.

And, the BP seems a [censored] to find in IL, WI or IN.

Hate to pay a hazmat shipping fee.

Any leads on in-person purchases in these three states--preferably Goex 3f?

Actually there is a distributor in Illinois and probably the others as well, but in any event, you simply order it shipped to your door. One way or the other, the hazmat is going to be paid. By you, or the dealer - then you. But the customer ALWAYS pays.

This guy is in Illinois and I have used him many times
http://www.addictedtoblackpowder.com/

I'd use FFg instead of FFFg in a shotgun, particularly a 12, were it me.

JMO, SRH

You will find the smokeless loads sold by firms such as RST are much gentler on the gun than black powder. Black is super if you want to be shooting old time loads for history's sake but otherwise smokeless.

If you purchase black powder buy the GOEX "Old Eysenford" It is faster and much cleaner than standard GOEX. A 50 shot clays course is easy with light fouling. I use 1.5 FG in the 12 and 16 gauges. Unless you are a re-loader, the RST shells are the way to go. I shoot a bunch of black powder loads in my guns and they perform as well as smokeless and are great fun to use in the old guns!

This might be of help, if a double gun specialist has evaluated the barrels
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LFnSG34k3mBhLEjEgU267wAlIa215MNVQZhIiY62Hx4/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F2sQuPm05IE4VWYYnCkvuXmYEzQoWd_SQgaAfUOZEFU/preview
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZIo0y746UsSRZIgRuuxwAbZjSBHitO_EanvwLYc-kGA/edit

Yes, I agree with Joe here on the low pressure smokeless loads being gentler on the gun.

You see, black powder is an explosive & that means as soon as it is ignited the whole charge goes bang at pretty near the same time. This causes an immediate pressure spike which tapers off quickly as the shot load moves off down the barrel.

On the other hand, smokeless powder is a progressive burn. Meaning that with the correct powder & load you do not have that pressure spike at ignition. More of a long gentle push all the way along behind the shot load.

My black powder loads rattle the china cabinet & glass doors inside the house while smokeless ones do not.

BANG verses whoomph.
O.M