Elric
Well-Known Member
Light Loads For Small Calibers.
Recreation, vol 16, no. 5, May 1902, pages 378-379
https://books.google.com/books?id=R...page&q=Light Loads For Small Calibers&f=false
Editor Recreation :
Answering H. B. Rantzan : The powder best adapted to miniature loads is Laflin & Rand's sporting rifle smokeless. I have obtained the best results by using a thin card wad over powder. Seat bullet in mouth of shell as usual and leave space between wad and lead unfilled. Of course, a wad can be used only in straight shells. The makers claim this powder will do equally well when loaded loosely. That is not always the case, particularly when U. M. C. No. 6 and No. 6 ½ primers are used. With strong primers adapted to high pressure smokeless powders a loose powder load is as good as a wadded one. Six or 7 grains of this powder wadded in a 25-21 shell, with bullet seated just over the grooves, gives good results. It is not so satisfactory when no wad is used.
Never try to obtain high velocity and great penetration with this powder: it cannot be done with safety because of its extremely high breech pressure. For great power and penetration use Du Pont smokeless powders. I had an 8-pound Stevens Ideal No. 44 swelled in the chamber and ruined by using in it 9 grains Laflin & Rand and a 91 grain bullet in a 25-21 shell. Until 1901 the makers of that powder recommended 8 grains for a 25-21 load; now they advise 6 grains. Laflin & Rand sporting rifle smokeless is not adapted for full charges in light rifles taking comparatively heavy cartridges. Laflin & Rand's Lightning smokeless, the new tubular grained product, is a splendid powder, and in medium charges all one could wish. Though recommended for high power rifles, it is not adapted to give a velocity of 2,000 feet a second, because it burns too quickly with high breech pressure. I have used 20 grains in a 25-35 with regular metal jacketed bullets. The accuracy seems good, although there is some recoil. The velocity is about 1,800 feet. Judging from the behavior of the rifle I would not use more than 20 grains in a 25-35.
I have found the following load accurate and efficient for 25-35 : Eight grains sporting rifle smokeless with a No. 2 ½ Winchester primer, or 7 grains with a Winchester No. 5 or U. M. C. No. 9 ½ primer, or 8 grains Lightning smokeless with a Winchester No. 5 or U. M. C. 9 ½ primer. Use a 133 grain paper patched bullet with Leopold point. The bullet is 1 1/8 inches long and has 3 thicknesses of patch paper around it. Powder loaded loosely in the shell. This load will give fine results at 200 yards.
Perhaps I should not mention Lightning smokeless powder in relation with a paper patched bullet, as I have used only 6 charges. Those gave good results. Ten grains or more of sporting rifle smokeless does not give good results with paper patched bullets. If a bullet can be patched with paper so it will not strip and lead a 25-35 barrel when used ahead of 12 grains sporting rifle smokeless, I should like to know how it is done.
Has anyone used Laflin & Rand Lightning smokeless for medium loads in black powder rifles? It burns a little slower than sporting rifle, and therefore should be better for full charges, as it would give less breech pressure. The powder burns well, and I believe a No. 2 ½ W. primer would ignite it thoroughly.
F. M.
Recreation, vol 16, no. 5, May 1902, pages 378-379
https://books.google.com/books?id=R...page&q=Light Loads For Small Calibers&f=false
Editor Recreation :
Answering H. B. Rantzan : The powder best adapted to miniature loads is Laflin & Rand's sporting rifle smokeless. I have obtained the best results by using a thin card wad over powder. Seat bullet in mouth of shell as usual and leave space between wad and lead unfilled. Of course, a wad can be used only in straight shells. The makers claim this powder will do equally well when loaded loosely. That is not always the case, particularly when U. M. C. No. 6 and No. 6 ½ primers are used. With strong primers adapted to high pressure smokeless powders a loose powder load is as good as a wadded one. Six or 7 grains of this powder wadded in a 25-21 shell, with bullet seated just over the grooves, gives good results. It is not so satisfactory when no wad is used.
Never try to obtain high velocity and great penetration with this powder: it cannot be done with safety because of its extremely high breech pressure. For great power and penetration use Du Pont smokeless powders. I had an 8-pound Stevens Ideal No. 44 swelled in the chamber and ruined by using in it 9 grains Laflin & Rand and a 91 grain bullet in a 25-21 shell. Until 1901 the makers of that powder recommended 8 grains for a 25-21 load; now they advise 6 grains. Laflin & Rand sporting rifle smokeless is not adapted for full charges in light rifles taking comparatively heavy cartridges. Laflin & Rand's Lightning smokeless, the new tubular grained product, is a splendid powder, and in medium charges all one could wish. Though recommended for high power rifles, it is not adapted to give a velocity of 2,000 feet a second, because it burns too quickly with high breech pressure. I have used 20 grains in a 25-35 with regular metal jacketed bullets. The accuracy seems good, although there is some recoil. The velocity is about 1,800 feet. Judging from the behavior of the rifle I would not use more than 20 grains in a 25-35.
I have found the following load accurate and efficient for 25-35 : Eight grains sporting rifle smokeless with a No. 2 ½ Winchester primer, or 7 grains with a Winchester No. 5 or U. M. C. No. 9 ½ primer, or 8 grains Lightning smokeless with a Winchester No. 5 or U. M. C. 9 ½ primer. Use a 133 grain paper patched bullet with Leopold point. The bullet is 1 1/8 inches long and has 3 thicknesses of patch paper around it. Powder loaded loosely in the shell. This load will give fine results at 200 yards.
Perhaps I should not mention Lightning smokeless powder in relation with a paper patched bullet, as I have used only 6 charges. Those gave good results. Ten grains or more of sporting rifle smokeless does not give good results with paper patched bullets. If a bullet can be patched with paper so it will not strip and lead a 25-35 barrel when used ahead of 12 grains sporting rifle smokeless, I should like to know how it is done.
Has anyone used Laflin & Rand Lightning smokeless for medium loads in black powder rifles? It burns a little slower than sporting rifle, and therefore should be better for full charges, as it would give less breech pressure. The powder burns well, and I believe a No. 2 ½ W. primer would ignite it thoroughly.
F. M.