doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 2 1/2" Black Powder Cartridges

Anybody have a lead on someone who makes these for 12 bore? I've got some Black Dawge but they're unfortunately 2 3/4".

Kent Gamebore w/ fibre wads Good stuff

Not sure who the importer is anymore. I still have a couple cases in 12 and 16.

I think they were in Virginia. I pre-ordered, and when their container arrived, they shipped them to me.

Could you not "roll your own". I homeload all my BP 2 1/2" paper cases and its really easy. Find an old/antique 12g roll crimper on ebay,buy some suitable felt wads,over powder cards and end cards,a few pounds of No.6 and No.7 shot and off you go. If you can source a wad punch then the cards and felt wads can be made at home.A set of small electronic scales work well for measuring powder and shot when you have found an appropriate recipe for the shooting you intend to do. I mostly load 1oz of No.7 over 28 to 30 grains of Pyrodex which is safe and effective for decoyed pigeon plus its kind to the old Midland hammer gun I use.

While you're looking for the old roll crimper look for one of the little combination shot/powder dippers as well. These are marked for oz's of shot & drams of black powder. Worked well throughout the black powder era & will still work today.
One of the beauties of loading black powder into shells or cartridges its near impossible to overload them. While not absolutely precise 2� drams of black & 1 oz of shot have the same volume. With this equal volume loading & a reasonable wad column a shotshell case simply will not hold too heavy a load for safety. Black Powder rifle & pistol cases were built to be loaded so the bullet would compress the powder when seated.

last source i heard of for 12 ga black powder loads was buffalo arms...

Thanks, Clapper Zapper, I ordered some directly from Kent/Gamebore. I only load for handguns and just starting rifle. Don't load for shotgun - go figure.

Miller, I'd LOVE to have all ye olde stuff to roll my own one at a time but alas, the only components I have are about 5 or 6 shot/powder dippers that seem to be included in every old percussion double's case I buy.

Ed, you'd think they'd have 'em, but they don't.

Thanks to all - Kid

You'll like them, they're sweet loads. They'll heat your hands up after a couple shots. I use them all December.

Thruxton, that's a tad mild for 12ga. A 2 1/2 dram load would be 68grs - most load 70 if they aren't using an old combination measure. I don't think anything can be hurt shooting the 2 3/4 in a gun made for 2 1/2. Also, when loading BP, it's measured, not weighted. If you're gonna reload use fiber wads, not plastic or you'll find a really big mess in your barrel. The plastic will melt.