This blog consists of recording my approach to shooting black powder guns. This blog will focus on black powder shooting, with some deviations into cartridge shooting (.22LR and .45LC). I am interested in what others think of my ideas and I want to hear suggestions of changes or new approaches to my methods. Also, by attempting to make my ideas clear to other people, it helps me make them clear to myself. It is one thing to take research notes and collect data, it is another to write a coherent presentation.

Economy

A major part of this blog is shooting enjoyably and productively, using the least amount of money possible. I make my own percussion caps and am working on making my own black powder. My load development process starts with light loads and short ranges so I can determine whether to continue with that load. Using those light loads, I can recover most of the projectiles and swage them into conicals, using inexpensive materials and methods. Instead of using sabots, I use cross patches for some rifle conical loads.

Gallery Shooting

The genesis of this blog came from that dark time when the ranges were all shut down. I started to shoot black powder revolvers and rifles in my suburban attached garage (“Introduction to Black Powder Gallery Shooting”). From there, I started reusing, and then swaging the recovered bullets.

Blog Organization

Part of my blog is about developing gallery loads, shooting at short ranges with light loads. Each weapon will have a page introducing the firearm. In addition, there will be additional posts for each. Some will be devoted to gallery loads, and others will be about developing longer-range target and hunting loads. The posts will be updated as progress is made.

Note: When I reference a page or a post (“Ruger Old Army Load Development”), if that chapter is not available it will be in the future. Click the Archive button see a list of existing or forthcoming pages and posts.

There will also be pages with details of builds and processes: shooting bench, chrono graphing, bullet traps, percussion cap making, and swaging. Also, there are pages of lists of drill sizes, suppliers, resources, conversions, and the like. My plan is to post once a week, sometimes with multiple posts if they are short updates.

I also may try ideas my blog will hopefully generate from you, the reader, if I have any that care to comment. I have most of my posts planned into the future, but opening myself and my ideas to critical examination brings an element of uncertainty which excites me and hopefully will make me even more rigorous in my research and methods.

Who Am I?

I had been shooting black powder guns off and on for about four years. Then, after the gun ranges closed for a while, I developed methods that allowed me to shoot in my suburban garage. Starting on January 6th, 2021, I was shooting 20-40 shots almost every day until October 2023.

At that time, I had to take a hiatus because we moved from suburbia to the country. Starting in March 2024 I resumed black powder shooting, continuing to develop my methods of black powder shooting.

My wife and I are retired. My previous work history has been in the electric, electro-mechanical, and electronics field, 19 years’ worth. I was on product development teams as a component evaluator, bench top prototyper, and pre-production tester. Another 18 years was spent in the field as an underground utility locator.

I have built backyard greenhouses, ponds, fences, retaining walls, and other structures. I built a heat transfer system for my greenhouse hot tub. I have designed and built LED grow and visible lighting systems before they were widely available. I love projects, from designing them to the complete build.

Who Am I Not?

I am not a machinist. My tool set is rudimentary: drill, edge cutter, reamers, files, vice, and hand tools. The materials I use are all off the shelve and easily available: steel bars, rods, and bushings.

I am not a gunsmith. I have no training or expertise beyond what a reasonably competent, handy person would have.

I am not a bullet castor. I am able to reuse most of the projectiles I fire without casting. As I fire more at longer range and can no longer recover and reuse most of my bullets, I may need to start.

I am not a reloader. I don’t shoot enough cartridges to justify the expense and time needed to reload. Maybe someday.

I am not a hunter. I have never had the experience and associations that would have taken me in that direction. Now I just don’t have the time. Again, maybe someday.

Advertising

I just don’t know if I will allow advertising or not. At first, definitely not. I will have enough to do with researching, shooting, writing, and, hopefully, I will be busy responding to posts and comments. Later, after I feel more comfortable with blogging, I may start to allow advertising. If so, I will allow only ads that directly relate to the subjects pertinent to my blog and, in my judgement, are well reviewed and well received by the black powder community. As I gain experience with advertising, I will refine my approach to offering it and explain my reasoning.

Comments & Discussions

This blog will allow comments, I say allow, because politics, crudity, personal attacks, racism, and any other type of ‘ism, except criticism, will be blocked. Criticism is more than welcome; it will surely lead to changes in my methods and open up new lines of research. I am positive I will learn at least as much as I disseminate and probably much more.

I have noticed that most people that comment on gun-related forums and YouTube videos are respectful; the gun community is generally a polite one. But some people don’t display respect, especially to people that have just taken up the sport. I will tolerate a certain amount of disrespect towards me that I will attempt to correct, but none towards others.

Conclusion

This blog, if noticed, will probably generate a lot of controversy. I am not writing to be controversial for its own sake, but only offering my opinions based on careful research and application. The only things I really have to offer is experience by trial and error, and my integrity, in other words, what I write is what I do, or what I believe in, and please try to correct me when you think I’m wrong.

Thank you very much for your attention and I hope this page makes clear who I am and what you will, and will not, encounter on this blog. Suggestions, and comments on what is unclear, will be welcome.