Rained to beat the band tonight. I was on my way out and saw it coming so I just waited it out. Still was able to go out later and shot a few rounds. Set up my chrony too. I fired two shots with 75 grains and 385 GP, one registered 1252 the other 1286. The landed 2" inches apart at 75 yards. Marked them and decided too try a little Civil War "technology" and get a group with it.

Still using 75 grains I clockedfour shots. They registered 1333, 1326, 1329, and 1331 respectively almost averaging the 80 grains that I shot on Friday.The velocity spread was only 7 fps!!!! These four shots were spread about 3.5" but I was having some difficulty with my sighting as it was almost dark. So for now, I fault myself, not the load.

Now I decided totry using the same trick with the 270 ballet and 60 grains. Just to see if I could correct the deficiency the black powder seemed to have relative to Pyro P (when using the 270 ballet). Loaded and shot. But alas, no register on the chrony. Just wasn't enough light out to get the chrony to work. I'll report on that later.

It was a beautiful evening to get out. I've now fired over 250 rounds through the Sidekick. Noticed this evening that the rifling is no longer catching tags of the patches. Getting her smoothed out.

Happy Hunting, Phil

I'm assuming this was a .50 caliber rifle? What twist?

Yes, .50 caliber. 1:28 twist.

and the Civil War technology? Did it involve a rock?

Actually no, UC.It all begins with trying to figure out why pyro P performed better (muzzle velocity) with the ballets than BP, where the opposite was true with the 385 GP's. One thing I considered was that there was a higher proportion of blowby with BP when using the looser fitting ballets. I wondered if the slower burning pyro throws a plug of yet unburnt powder around the bullet, in effect, creating a better seal.

Then I remembered a history channel program on the Civil War. One of the things the South did was to mix cornmeal in their powder to make it go farther. Though it wasn't mentioned, I wondered whether the cornmeal actually lessened the muzzle energy of a given volume of charge. If it didn't, then the story that the poor old boys of the South had to mix cornmeal tokeep their rag tag regiments in powdermay not have told the whole story. Maybe, the cornmeal was a kind of technological advantage that allow the south to extend their stressed stocks of powder while still delivering consistent velocities to the muzzles of their infantry's rifles thus increasingaccuracy as well as efficiency.

What I did was this. Instead of using a wad, I measured a 5 grain filler of ground oatmeal and place it between powder and bullet. The filler sealed the breech gases consistently, though I figure there had to be some blow-by, yielding consistent velocities at the UPPER end of the previously measured velocities for a 75 grain charge. (I used 75 3f goex and 5 of ground oatmeal). There wasn't any reasoning behind using oatmeal instead of cormeal. It just happened to be readily available in my wife's kitchen. I just ground some in one of those little electric coffee grinders.

I was very pleased with the velocity distribution using this method. But it adds an extra step in loading. For long range work, I think it could help to shrink vertical stringing.

Happy Hunting, Phil

I believe they used the cornmeal as a filler between the powder and the shot, they did not mix it although obviously some would get mixed in. This was very popular with revolvers of the era as it also helped to prevent chainfire problems related to early black powder revolvers.

What I was referring to were purpotedaccounts of the North regarding the beleagered supply of ammunitions of the South. Something to the effect, "Towards the end, the powder the confederates were using was more cornmeal than powder." Of course, I figure that statement is an exageration, and the discovery of cornmeal in powder, may have been an isolated occurance. As to the historical fidelity of the statement, I haven't a clue, and I can in no way defend it, nor will I.

It did get me to wondering though and that is something I enjoy immensely. Don't be surprised if I investigate further for the sheer enjoyment of testing the theory that it might improve blackpowders performance with some projectiles. In any event, the consistency the filler gave to the load's muzzle velocity was remarkable to me, enough so,that I thought it deserved to be shared with the forum.

Happy Hunting, Phil