I just bought a Swedish Remington Rolling Block 12.7x44
I'm trying to find some more info on loading's for her .
The seller said he used 50/70 brass or 28ga brass .
I am going to be loading BP.
Any information would be appreciated.
Rooster Ron Wayne.
Howdy Rooster,
Settle on the bullets you'll be loading first. Then, determine the OAL for the loaded cartridge. Then, take a piece of wood dowel and mark it at the length of the bullet you'll be loading. Next, mark the dowel at the crimp position on the bullet. Put some powder in the case till you hand compress it with the dowel down to the crimp position. Now, measure how much powder it took to do that. That's your load for that cartridge and bullet. Make sure the loaded cartridge chambers easily and the rolling block goes all the way forward or else the hammer won't fall when you pull the trigger.
With black powder a compressed charge of powder is considered the right amount. The only reason for a crimp is to make the ammo "pocket safe" so the bullets won't come out in your pocket and spill powder. No more crimp than that is needed.
If that roller is in good shape you can't build enough pressure with a strong charge of Holy Black under a proper lube-sized bullet to damage the gun. Plugged bore not withstanding.
DD-MDA
P.S. I had to modify this post to include the message that this kind of load is for BLACK POWDER only. With anything else, you're on your own.
The .50-70 is the same length as the 12.7x44R, but it has a larger rim - .660" vs 0.630". Some people have enlarged the chamber to accommodate the larger rim, others have trimmed down the rim to fit.
The .50 Alaskan is a closer match with a rim of .610. However its overall case length is 2.10" (53 mm) vs 1.73" (44mm), so it needs to be trimmed. Buffalo Arms sells trimmed .50 Alaskan as a replacement. https://www.buffaloarms.com/12-7x44r-norwegian-obsolete-reloadable-brass-cases-reformed-cases-12-7x44r (https://www.buffaloarms.com/12-7x44r-norwegian-obsolete-reloadable-brass-cases-reformed-cases-12-7x44r)
Others have blown out .348 Winchester cases.
You should slug your bore to determine the size of your bullets. Generally it should be about .512", but upwards of .514" is not unheard of.
| 12.7x44R | .50-70 |
| Case Length | 1.717" | 1.75" |
| Rim Diameter | 0.631" | 0.660" |
| Rim Thickness | 0.064" | 0.065" |
This thread includes an old post of mine. Most of these oldies were converted with a rolling block action on the .50 cal minie ball muzzle loader adopted in 1860. How many Pards have shot a gun 158 years old?
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,22595.0.html
Thanks Pards .
I watched a Youtube video last night on turning down the heads of 50/70 brass about 30k.
So I now have that part figured out .
Need to get me a Lee Mold and some dies now .
It dont look like Lee Makes Dies for 50/70 .
That kinda surprised me.
I like the Lee Powder threw dies .
I see Lyman makes dies for 50/70 though .
Im very surprised at how deep of rifling these things have .
Looks like she is going to be a fun cartridge and rifle .
Mine are Lyman .50-70. Check around for a decent price. My 8 x 58 RD dies are CH4D, my favorite supplier for anything out of the ordinary.
C H Reloading makes 12.7x44R dies
http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?page=23 (http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?page=23)
Also I found a thread on an other board where someone was using .50 Alaskan dies:
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?317616-Using-50-Alaskan-cases-to-make-12-7x44R (http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?317616-Using-50-Alaskan-cases-to-make-12-7x44R)
The military rifles have fairly generous chambers. I have an Husqvarna model 17 capegun, 16 ga. by 12.7 x 44R that has a much tighter chamber. The .50 x 70 cases I had were so tight at the base that I couldn't use them. I had some cases made from .348 WCF that did work, luckily.
I have only used blackpowder in my Rollers as they are about 150 years old after all.