Hi mates! Itīs been quite a while since I dropped by, but now I am here again! Smith school is great - could not be better. Only bad thing about it is that it will be finished at the end of may, no more school after that! Bad thing the course ainīt longer than one year but I am having a ball!

Now: HELP! I have just bought a sbs shotgun (Hva model 300 side lock made back in ca 1910, 12 ga) with a extra set of double rifle barrels in the today pretty much obsolete chambering of .450 Black Powder Express. It is the 3 1/4" case using the thin rim. I need ANY information, regardless, about this cartridge and the use of SMOKELESS powder developing loads for it. Yes, it is the father of the .450 Nitro Express, but HEY! I am using a gun chambered for the black powder load here! I have tried Google, and have found some stuff. Now I desperately seek info on case makers, (4D makes tools, no problem there) chat boards that have a great experience in black powder rifles and the use of smokeless in em, mould makers producing 300-350 grain lead bullets in .458, and ANYTHING you might be able to tell me. Yes, ANYTHING! And yes, it has express rifling - deep grooves for lead bullets. But I really want to use it with jackeded bullets instead (Hornady is my best bet at the moment). No worry about it loosing the POA with the two barrels not shooting together - that can be corrected (yes, I am in the process of learning how to regulate a double barreled rifle. Interresting? You bet you sweet fannies!)

The gun shall not be put away for collectors purposes but be used, preferably "as is", without me having to change the double barrels into something else (like 8x57JRS) due to lack of info. I have come so far that I know that .45-70 loads for the old trap door rifles will work safely (using a synthetic wad to keep the powder in place - thank you Speer and Norma!). Now I want to find out if I can use higher pressure than that? The two companies mentioned does not want to give me any loading data hotter than "weak". ANY source, of ANY kind regarding the process of shooting modern powders and bullets in older black powder rifles out there? Then PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Per (totally in love with a new toy!)

-- Balltip (perna90@hotmail.com), March 08, 2003

Answers

Got your mail mate! So good hearing from you! I will get in touch with you asap with some juicy pics onthat gun. I have gotten hold of some 2000 bar pressure loads (black powder pressure, that is)that will work. And this using Norma powders! (Thank you Johan, formerly at Norma, and Petter - a mate in the gunsmith class!) Also; 20 once fired Kynoch cases are on their wat from Kynoch as I write this. If u ever try to contact Kynock about ANYTHING, ask for Sue Little! Along with the 12 original Eley cases that came with the gun I will have all the cases I need for the time being. Now all I need to do is to get a die and boolets. Not to mention that I will want to re-stock that ol gun before I fire it. Iīm a leftie... Per

-- Balltip (perna90@hotmail.com), April 04, 2003.

Wotcha Mate, Looks like we've broke surface about the same time!! The book you need is called "Shooting the British Double Rifle" by Graeme Wright. ISBN-0 646 259369. It's got the lot....duplex loads, nitro for black, etc, etc. If you have any problem getting a copy let me know and I'll send mine over for you to study. My darling wifey bought me the book as a birthday present and dream-builder, that and Ruarks "Use Enough Gun".....one day lads, one day I shall be out there under the African sun in the tall grass with a large Brit double and the smell of buff. All of which tells you I would need it back without loads of oily paw prints over it.....but hey, that shouldn't stop you from doing some bad things with the Xerox. Contact Holland & Holland, (http://www.hollandandholland.com) wifey says that's where she got my copy.....31-33 Bruton Street, London W1J 6HH (+44 20 7499 4411) I am scanning in the .450x3-1/4" loads the author developed and will e-mail them to you. Hope this helps. Away from PC for a week from tomorrow. Adam . . . out

-- Adam (fireforcefour@yahoo.co.uk), April 04, 2003.