Loading and Cleaning 32 S&W Black Powder

Pondoro · Dec 12, 2016

I got a gun (not a Smith - an old Iver Johnson) that is definitely old enough to be pre-smokeless powder. It is a 32 Smith and Wesson break-top. Beautiful condition, inside of the barrel is pristine. Just some small corrosion at the face of the cylinder.

I finally assembled the stuff needed to reload - dies and cases.

I know some will say to just use light loads of smokeless, but I am sure many others would say stick with black powder only. I am inclined to load black. I have plenty of black powder.

How would you clean a cartridge gun that has been fired with BP? I disassemble my BP revolvers (not the trigger or pawl, but I remove the grips and cylinder.) Then I dunk it in hot water. Of course I dry everything and then oil the insides when I am finished.

Would the cartridge gun need the same treatment?

Thanks

Ivan the Butcher · Dec 13, 2016

When I clean after shooting B.P. I use hot soapy water, and a bronze bore brush and scrub like crazy.

The 24th edition of Hodgdon's loading manual (1983) has a section on B.P. cartridges, for 32 S&W is says 85 grain lead bullet, 4.5 grains FFFg=550fps (57 ft,lbs energy) For 32 S&W Long 98 grain lead, 13 FFFg =780 fps (130 ft,lbs energy). I only loaded 90 gr. Hornady lead bullets or 00 buckshot over similar charges. There isn't really any room for a lube "cookie" so for extended shooting sessions with B.P. stick some Crisco in the chamber first!

Ivan

DWalt · Dec 13, 2016

Hot soapy water is by far the best way to go for cleaning any fired BP guns.

Clovishound · Dec 13, 2016

I have never used them, but there are products such as this:

http://www.sharpshootr.com/painless/

They require no soapy water, just foam the bore, allow to set for a few minutes then patch. If I were to shoot a cartridge revolver with black powder, I would investigate them. I would be nervous about trying to clean a revolver with soapy water, due to the possibility of getting water into the action.

Full disclosure, the product I linked to is just the first of it's kind I found a decent link to. I have no idea if it is any better or worse than any other of the similar products on the market. I just provided it as an example.

Ivan the Butcher · Dec 13, 2016

Clovishound: People have been immersing entire revolvers in hot soapy water since the 1840's. Yes it is a chore, but it is also the best way to get all of the BP residue out of a revolver. Even for Pyrodex and Triple-7 this is the best method. I had a SxS 12 gauge cartridge gun that I cleaned with a similar the product you suggested, but I never thought I would need to clean inside the action. I lost that gun to fouling as sure as if I never cleaned it!

I also use American Pioneer, BP substitute. It is not corrosive, and has no sulfur, but is very hydroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air) and without a good cleaning with water or smokeless solvent, it rusts almost as bad as uncleaned BP! And yes, the innards of the action need cleaned also! Smokeless powder makes shooting so easy, but in some ways so boring.

Ivan

DWalt · Dec 13, 2016

If there was any choice in the matter, I'd recommend using light charges of smokeless powder to avoid the cleanup requirements. I shoot both C&B revolvers and BP rifles, and have never learned to love the cleaning required after shooting. I always disassemble my BP revolvers and soak them in hot soapy water after shooting. I then dry them in a warm oven. I have loaded and fired some of the old BP cartridges using BP, but not very often.

Ivan the Butcher · Dec 13, 2016

For long barrels like my shotguns, I clean the barrels in the toilet. I add hot water to the bowl slowly until it is very warm to hot, and add dish soap. Then I use the cleaning rod and brush (sometimes with a patch) and clean like I'm plungering the toilet. When done or when I need clean water, I just flush. Keeps my wife much happier! Dry and oil! Clean the action in a small pail or sink, it is easier to keep track of small parts! Dry and oil! Reassemble and make sure you clean up your mess! Again, this keeps my wife happy! Happy wife; happy Life! Your results may very on this, but I dought it.

Ivan

Loading and Cleaning 32 S&W Black Powder

Pondoro

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DWalt

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DWalt

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