 Black Powder
Commercially made black powder for firearms is readily available from gun shops and other specialist suppliers. It is sold in a variety of grades to suit all black powder firearms from pistols to cannons. For muzzle loading shotguns of less than 11 bore, the medium grade shooting powder is best. Our favourite is TS2 or Swiss 2.
Caution! Swiss powders are significantly more powerful than other powders and therefore less is required. It should also be noted that Swiss powders appear to be denser than other powders and should be measured by weight rather than by volume i.e. using a powder flask or scoop.
For shotguns of around 12 bore, a charge of powder in the range 2 1/2 to 3 drams is ideal. It is always best to start with a low charge and work the charge up to obtain optimum performance. This is very important when using a gun for the first time, whether it be original or reproduction.
For shooting flintlock shotguns, priming powder is required. This should be a fast burning fine powder and Swiss No 1 or Swiss 'dust' is ideal. |
Over Powder and Over Wad Cards
Cards may be cut from card of approximately 1/16" to 1/8" in thickness using a suitable wad punch or other cutter. We find that beer mats are ideal. Commercially available hard nitro cards should be avoided. There is an opinion that these may cause damage to original twist barrels. |
Wads
Wads used for muzzle loading shotguns should be made from either felt or a compressed fibre material. Plastic wads should not be used as they are likely to melt. Fibre wads are available commercially in standard sizes such as the Eley Kleena wad. Pre-lubricated fibre wads are available from Henry Krank Ltd. Many muzzle loading shotgunners cut their own wads using either wad punches or rotary cutters that are fixed in a drill and stand. Materials for making wads are sheet felt (very expensive), soft decorative fibre wall board or Flexcell concrete expansion jointing (bitumen impregnated fibre board). All unlubricated wads need to be lubricated. The lubricant can be a mixture of cooking oil and bees wax / candle wax. The mixture is heated until molten and the wads are just dipped in order to wet the surface. Heavy soaking of the wad is undesirable. Wads should be a tight fit in the bore but not such that they become difficult to ram down. |
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Shot
Original muzzle loading guns with twist barrels should only be shot with lead shot. Lead shot is commercially available from gun shops or specialist suppliers. As muzzle loading shotguns do not have choked barrels, it is important to optimise pattern density. This generally means using a shot size smaller than would be used in a modern breech loading nitro gun. For clay pigeons with a muzzle loader shot size 8 is ideal. Typical shot loads for 16 bore to 11 bore guns are between 1 and 1 1/4; oz. The maximum load permitted in MLAGB competitions is 1 1/4; oz.. Shot may be dispensed from a shot flask, scoop or pre measured phial. |
Warning
Under no circumstances should steel shot be fired through twist barrels as damage to the barrel is likely to occur along with possible permanent injury to the shooter and persons in the immediate vacinity. Over Shot Cards
Over shot cards are used to stop the shot from rolling out of the barrel and also to ensure correct load column stacking. Over shot cards are made from thin card of about 1/32" to 1/16" thick. They may be bought cheaply from specialist muzzle loading suppliers or may be cut using a suitable wad punch or rotary cutter. Percussion Caps
Percussion caps are readily available from gun shops and specialist suppliers. They come in two sizes, No.11, which is the most common and winged musket caps, commonly referred to as top hat caps.
The latter are generally used for muskets and large bore shotguns.
Modern caps have the important advantage of being non corrosive unlike earlier caps which were extremely corrosive. |
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Flints
Gun flints are available from specialist suppliers and come in various sizes. Flints are knapped from quarried flint stone. Some continental flintlock shooters use machined agate 'flints' which do work but as you would expect, are not to be as good as English flints. The Lakenheath Muzzle Loaders Group would always advocate and strongly recommend that you seek professional advice and confirmation of all the component parts by the component manufacturer prior to loading and and firing any muzzle loading gun. |
Group Contact
Evenings only please calls before 9pm.
01394 386 999
You can also email.
martin.crix@tesco.net
Shoot dates are listed below
- Sunday 13th April 2008
- Sunday 11th May 2008
- Sunday 8th June 2008
- Sunday 20th July 2008
- Monday 25th August 2008
- 14th September 2008 - National Muzzle loading Skeet Championships.
- Sunday 19th October 2008
- Sunday 9th November 2008
- Sunday 14th December 2008
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