Author Topic: Cannon Grade BP Measure (Read 1554 times)

Samurai5 · « **on:** February 04, 2009, 02:37:25 PM »

What does everyone use to measure Cannon grade powder for their cannons? Has anyone found anything common that has an accurate measure?

Artilleryman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2009, 03:47:02 PM »

I weigh each of my charges. Gibbon's book recommends this method for better accuracy.

However, I have seen a much larger version of the adjustable powder measure that some cap and ball shooters use in the field made from copper tubing. The person using it had very good results.

jeeper1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2009, 06:10:58 PM »

I use a scale to weigh every load.

Evil Dog · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2009, 08:19:30 PM »

All of mine are weighed while being made into foil wrapped charges.

Blaster · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2009, 03:44:02 AM »

Quote from: Evil Dog on February 04, 2009, 08:19:30 PM

All of mine are weighed while being made into foil wrapped charges.

For cannon shooting, I do the same as old Evil Dog. For the mortar charges, each are also weighed and then placed in 35m/m mty film containers. I know that it's probably foolish but I weigh my charges right down to the 1/10 of a grain, of course being retired, I have a lot of time on my hands so can do such unnecessary stuff.

Samurai5 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2009, 05:20:27 AM »

So does a 35mm Film container hold a specific amount of Cannon Grade BP, or is it different every time?

Artilleryman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2009, 07:12:11 AM »

Quote from: Samurai5 on February 05, 2009, 05:20:27 AM

So does a 35mm Film container hold a specific amount of Cannon Grade BP, or is it different every time?

That would depend on how you fill the container. If you are scooping it you will probably get some variation. If you poured from another container into the film container and struck the top off with a straight edge you probably would get a more consistent measure.

If the film container held less than the max charge some variation wouldn't be a safety problem only one of accuracy from shot to shot.

Rickk · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2009, 07:17:13 AM »

I tried using things like PVC and Copper pipe caps to measure charges. With 1F and Cannon grade I found that to be very inaccurate in smaller (under 1 ounce) charges.

I still use the pipe caps as measures to scoop up the roughly the right amount and then pour it into a small waxed paper cup sitting on my digital scale. Some +- adjustment is generally needed to get it right.

If you are trying to avoid spending large amounts of $$ on a digital scale, look no further than ebay. Suitable brand new scales are generally under 25 bucks. Mine goes up to 3.8 ounces, and measures in grains, grams, ounces, and even carrots (in case I run out of lead and need to shoot diamond projectiles).

Rick

cannonmn · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:39:56 AM »

Quote

and even carrots

cannonmn · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2009, 08:59:33 AM »

Here's mine

BoomLover · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2009, 10:15:24 AM »

I use a triple beam balance scale, left over from my jewelery making days, very accurate for powder measure of BP. Weight of powder, if consistent, will give equally accurate measureable distance results. One day I might get one of the digital readout electronic scales, might be even more accurate! BoomLover

Rickk · « **Reply #11 on:** February 06, 2009, 06:46:32 AM »

I dunno about being more accurate, but the digital ones are way easier to use. The beam balance ones show nothing untill you are there, and then it is too late and you usually have overshot and have to start taking it out again to get it to balance

But then, a short story about scale accuracy...

I work for a large large military electronics company, and we have all sorts of scales all over the place.

At one time we were making handgun ammo for the military, and we used a common Lyman beam balance grain scale to measure powder charges. The ammo-making is long since history, but when the project ended I confiscated the scale and put it in my office. It is still under "calibration control" and is checked for accuracy twice a year by our calibration department.

Out of all the fancy scales we have in our facility, every time they calibrate the Lyman powder scale and bring it back they tell me it is the most consistantly accurate scale we have in the building.

Rick

BoomLover · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2009, 07:33:34 AM »

Good story, Rickk, about the balance scale..mine is about 30 years old, it takes but a minute to re-calibrate it with specific weights, and it can accurately weigh down to karat weights, and to 1/10 gram increments, pretty tiny! BoomLover

Cannoneer · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2009, 07:56:58 AM »

I'll echo BoomLover's post Rickk; enjoyed your anecdote, and my old RCBS' scale still works fine.

dan610324 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2009, 08:36:18 AM »

wow John , I love your powder meassure

but isnt 5 1/2 lbs a bit to much for a golfboll cannon

subdjoe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2009, 02:12:58 PM »

Quote from: dan610324 on February 06, 2009, 08:36:18 AM

wow John , I love your powder meassure

but isnt 5 1/2 lbs a bit to much for a golfboll cannon

He must use big brass ones.

I was thinking that would make one hell of a beer mug for afterwards.

dan610324 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2009, 02:59:10 PM »

that one is M U C H to nice to use as a beer mug

ok that idea striked me to

but 3 liter beer is a bit to much

Terry C. · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2009, 03:17:02 PM »

3-liters too much?

Why, in my drinkin' days, I drink that with breakfast!

Which probably explains why I'm an ex-drinker with a bum liver...

OTOH, it's just about right for a swig of sweet Georgia iced tea!

Victor3 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2009, 10:38:21 PM »

I usually use some kind of a calibrated volume measure even though I've got fancy scales and an electronic powder trickler.

BP measure isn't all that critical. Even smokeless powder charge-throwers meter by volume.

Couldn't hurt to weigh charges though. Doesn't take long...

subdjoe · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:49:11 AM »

Quote from: dan610324 on February 08, 2009, 02:59:10 PM

that one is M U C H to nice to use as a beer mug

ok that idea striked me to

but 3 liter beer is a bit to much

It cuts out the time going for refills.

Some medeval household accounts from England show that the servants got about 2 qts. of beer and a pound of bread for breakfast, the same for mid day meals, and for the evening meal , more beer, vegetables, some meat, and maybe wine or brandy.

dan610324 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2009, 09:26:53 AM »

I dont want to meet them driving a car after that breakfast

Samurai5 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2009, 02:57:56 PM »

Victor,

What volume measurement devices do you use?

Victor3 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:25:57 PM »

Quote from: Samurai5 on February 09, 2009, 02:57:56 PM

Victor,

What volume measurement devices do you use?

I have plastic cups made on a lathe, and cut-off centerfire shells. I also use muzzle-loader dispensers that have calibrated tubes on them, but they wouldn't work too well with cannon grade powder.

I do weigh charges, but if I know I'm going to be sticking with one charge for a particular gun, I make up some kind of a simple measure.

Victor3 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2009, 11:51:46 PM »

Quote from: subdjoe on February 09, 2009, 05:49:11 AM

Quote from: dan610324 on February 08, 2009, 02:59:10 PM
that one is M U C H to nice to use as a beer mug

ok that idea striked me to

but 3 liter beer is a bit to much

It cuts out the time going for refills.

Some medeval household accounts from England show that the servants got about 2 qts. of beer and a pound of bread for breakfast, the same for mid day meals, and for the evening meal , more beer, vegetables, some meat, and maybe wine or brandy.

That's close to my normal diet, other than those nasty vegetables.

and7barton · « **Reply #24 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:14:35 AM »

I use electronic digital display kitchen scales - accurate to 1/10 of an ounce - then dispense into small plastic bags with the top tied into a knot. Each bag is then popped into a cut-down cardboard map tube with end caps for transportation to the firing venue. The scales are obviously more accurate than they need to be when i'm using half a pound per charge.

rays89 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 14, 2009, 03:10:39 AM »

I have been using standard black powder equipment. Each tube gets calibrated with a digital scale before usage. And the metal capsules are for premade charges. There is a ring on top of each capsule so I string them up on a dowel and alway keep them upside up because I don't want any powder caught in the threads. For larger charges I will premeasure them into Plastic 33mm film canisters.