blackpowder ruger #1 breech plug

[lazylabs]

I am thinking about building a blackpowder that is smokeless capable. I am going to use a #1 action. I was thinking about using a standard size .473 cartridge with a large rifle primer as ignition and having the extractor on the #1 to kick them out. I figure I could make a nipple the shape to match the inside of the case head and cut the cases off around .500 long. If I just cut a flash hole the same as in the case and cut as much away inside the breech plug as possible to allow the blackpowder to get as close to the primer as possible........ Ideas?

Do you guys know of a good peep site setup that I can use on the #1? I am in colorado so I can't use sabot's or scope.

 

[J E Custom]

I am thinking about building a blackpowder that is smokeless capable. I am going to use a #1 action. I was thinking about using a standard size .473 cartridge with a large rifle primer as ignition and having the extractor on the #1 to kick them out. I figure I could make a nipple the shape to match the inside of the case head and cut the cases off around .500 long. If I just cut a flash hole the same as in the case and cut as much away inside the breech plug as possible to allow the blackpowder to get as close to the primer as possible........ Ideas?

Do you guys know of a good peep site setup that I can use on the #1? I am in colorado so I can't use sabot's or scope.

The simple way to do this is to decide on a cartrige and load it both ways. ( 45/70, 45/90, 45/110
work very well in a duel role. Black powder cartriges are legal in most states as long as the rifles
are of pre 1900 design.(They can be modern made it's just the design has to be similar)

The browning 1885 is what I use because it fits this criteria.

I'm not sure when the Farquison action (This is what the Ruger design is based on) was built but if
it was before the turn of the century it should be legal.

I would nor recomend modifying the action if you intend to use it for smokeless powder.

The best sights I have found are the Soul tang sights by Pedersoli. Mine will allow me to go
to 900 + yards on my 45/120.

Just some thoughts

J E CUSTOM

 

[lazylabs]

I cant use a cartridge or it doesnt qualify for muzzle loader season.

 

[J E Custom]

I cant use a cartridge or it doesnt qualify for muzzle loader season.

I understand.

Some states are slow to get there act together. With the in line rifles that are legal there is
very little if any difference in accuracy between the breach loader and the muzzle loader.

There is of course the safety and convenience of being able to unload or carry a rifle when not in
use while hunting.

If it were me I would just get a dedicated rifle for your state and keep the Ruger as is.

There are some good deals on used muzzle loaders because of the change in the laws that have
allowed cartrige rifles that should cost no more than the mods to your Ruger.

J E CUSTOM

 

[edge]

I cant use a cartridge or it doesnt qualify for muzzle loader season.

What is the actual wording?

I have built several smokeless ML's.
Mostly with screw-in breechplugs, but a H&R with a press in BP.

If you go this way the barrel can still be used for centerfire too, but a Ranger would have to bang it out and it would be a ML for all intents!

I would NEVER use this with Black Powder since if you have a hang fire and open the breech it would be just as likely to "shoot" the breechplug into your head as to shoot the bullet out the bore!!

45-70 cartridge on left, cut down cartridge for primer, and press-in plug on right.

What caliber is the #1...458 Win Mag with a 14 twist?

edge.

 

[lazylabs]

Edge

I was thinking about something like you have there. It would be a little shorter and external threaded to thread into the barrel out of 4130 or maybe 416 stainless. I don't have the barrel yet but will be ordering one fairly soon. It will be a .50 cal and I am working on the specs and still researching the best non-sabot bullets that I can find. I like the hornaday FPB poly tipped bullets so far.

JE

No reason to use the #1 as is........ it's a pile of parts in the closet. The old barrel works very well as a handle in my floor jack! haha

 

[edge]

Why 50 caliber?

50 is not bad, but 45 adds more options...IMO.

Is this just a tool to add a few more hunting days or do you enjoy shooting ML's and tinkering?

Where I hunt we have 3 months of ML and no rifle hunting so I tinker a lot.
If you have a long ML season and like to tinker then 45 with a relatively fast twist will open up options, like shooting sabotless bullets which are generally more accurate than bullets in sabots but require a bit more effort in load prep.

edge.

 

[lazylabs]

I am going with 50 because colorado requires it for elk hunting.
No sabots, also CO law.

I am looking for muzzleloader options to get more tags and just more options in general.

I have a #1 that is sort of lacking a mission at this point and have seen a couple others online that people made into BP guns and think it would just be nice to have something that extracts/ejects the spent case/primer unlike most 209 guns.

What barrels have you been using on your builds?

 

[edge]

I have a Krieger .505 with a 1:20 twist built on a Savage MLII action, a Shilen .458 with a 1:14 twist built on a Savage 110 action and a Pacnor .408 with a 1:16 twist built on a Marlin XS7 action.

The 45 H&R is a stock 45-70 1:20 twist that uses a press in plug but all of the others have screw in breechplugs.

edge.

 

[ken snyder]

Here in Oregon that will be illegal for Muzzle loader hunts and could only be used during regular rifle seasons. Might not even be legal as a center fire cartridge. Why not use one of the older cartridges that go either way - Black powder is a kick in the pants and well worth playing with!

 

[lazylabs]

edge

What size of flash hole did you use in your breech plugs? What thickness did you use from the primer to the blackpowder charge?

What was the best 50 cal bullet you found without sabots?

Thanks

 

[edge]

edge

What size of flash hole did you use in your breech plugs? What thickness did you use from the primer to the blackpowder charge?

What was the best 50 cal bullet you found without sabots?

Thanks

I normally use a 0.030 diameter hole and try to keep the flame channel under 1 1/4 inches long, but I have only shot smokeless powder since 2000!

In a 50 caliber when I shot pyrodex I got good results with White bullets and also Buffalo Bullets.
I have not shot 50 cal since I made my 45 and there I almost only shoot machined sabots and real rifle bullets.

Sorry, not much help here.

edge.

 

[lazylabs]

I am kind of suprised that the tube can be that long and still get reliable ignition. I am hoping to keep it around .750 but it's nice to know I can go longer. I am just trying to figure out how short I can cut the cases down and still make them handy to get in and out. I am going to start with RUM cases can probably cut them to around .600 long.

 

[edge]

IIRC the Savage plug has a 1 3/4 flame path, but I'll have to check that to be sure.
Shorter is better, no doubt and allows slower powders without duplexing.

Short cartridges are tough in a bolt action as they have to cross the locking lug gap. Short cartriges are less of an issue with a break action or Rolling/falling Block action types.

edge.