Black Powder and colored smoke

[Four Eyed Floyd]

I was reading in SHOOT about a lady that shot black powder with red smoke anyone know how to do this?

[Tensleep]

I was reading in SHOOT about a lady that shot black powder with red smoke anyone know how to do this?

Chalk dust

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Chalk dust

Anyone try this yet? How did it look?

[Marshal Tac]

Only done it in shotgun shells... The red carpender's chalk used for marking string type chalk lines was used. I started out by just filling the voids left in the wad once I had filled it with shot before crimping. I just poured some on top and held it against my vibratory tumbler until it settled into the voids between the shot, then crimped. This worked ok, but there wasn't nearly enough in there to have the effect I wanted, so I reduced my shot payload from 1 1/8 Oz. to 1 Oz. and filled the remaining space with chalk. This worked much better. I will tell you that your shotgun will end up with powder/chalk residue in the bore and you will likely get it on your clothing as it will seep out of the shells unless the crimp is sealed. (Still cleaned up with hot water)

The reaction of the bystanders when shot was impressive.

[Adirondack Jack]

Pssst:  Feathers!

Get ya some red, orange or yellow feathers as used to tie flies.  Wad em up and place on top the charge and cover with a thin card before closing the shell.  Doesn't take much and they get attention

[Four Eyed Floyd]

i am thinking of starting at least loading in 38's so I suppose it would have to be a chemical of some sort to color the smoke, any chemist out there that might have a clue?

[Wills Point Pete]

 Again, the chalk dust. You'll want the minimum CAS-legal amount of powder, a thin wad, the chalk dust and then the bullet. I am not sure just how good the chalk dust would be for your shootin' iron, give it a good cleaning afterwards. I tried it in my .45 Colt, with the red chalk I got pink smoke. I reckon if I had some of those El Paso Pete Boolits I could pack more chalk and get smoke that would be darker pink or even light red.

I tried some blue chalk, too. I couldn't tell much. It MIGHT have been a little bluer than the plain white smoke or maybe it was wishful thinking.

[litl rooster]

You might also had a crayon to your bullet lube   You can also pick up kids sidewalk chaulk and grind it up get some different colors

[Missouri Marshal]

Problem with chalk dust is it's a solid powder.  If it blows back into someones eyes it feels like sand and can cause abraisions to the eyes.   Not a good thing.

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Problem with chalk dust is it's a solid powder.  If it blows back into someones eyes it feels like sand and can cause abraisions to the eyes.   Not a good thing.

Agreed, I don't shoot well enough to anger the god's.  I did read a post with certain chemicals that would cause color change (salts and copper chloride, I think), but then I am not a chemist. That sounded like it may work, maybe some table salt with iodine in it, again cleaning it well after would be the safest. 

[Lucky Irish Tom]

I have tried green chalk in a shotshell and it didn't really do much, except give me extra work cleaning the shotgun! 

[Noz]

The red chalk in the shot works but I gave up on it when I realized that I had red chalk everywhere. Loader, table, floor, hands, clothes, pickup cab. Everywhere. Is impressive though. Try Walmart glitter in the shot charge. Equally impressive but a little cleaner. Have seen feathers and ribbons used. All add style points but are a mess.

[litl rooster]

lot of the glitter is plastic and melts out in the barrels. Be careful in the selection. Even some automotive flake is plastic now. FEF the lady you read about claims her husband gets the red from a brick and block yard it's used in dying motar.

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Well I guess I will have to find some and do some test loads. I think it would be a hoot to shoot a stage in "color"! 
I think I will work up a couple of test loads and see what occurs. 

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Well I tried the red chalk on top of the powder (powder, card chalk, wad, shot) and nothing Except what others have said, chalk dust in the barrel.  Ever on and forward, I will try the chalk in the shot too and see what goes on.  Next I may go for some type of chemical reaction.

[Greeenriver]

I've used the Red chalk in my shotgun shells for a few years now, on and off, and have learned a few things about it.

#1  Only use it on days with a lite brease blowing away from the fireing line. Keeps it from blowing back in your eyes and the eyes of the spotters and RO.

#2  It takes way more than you think to make a good red cloud in the smoke. After I dip my shot, I fill the hull to the top with the red chalk and hold the base on my running  tumbler to shake it down into the shot. It realy don't take up much space and I use my normal shot charge both with and without the chalk.

#3  Put an over shot card on top of the shot and chalk, or the red dust will leak out the end of your shotshells all over everything, you included.

#4  The large sized glitter from the Dollar Stores works good, again, it takes way more to show up that you think it will. dip your normal shot charge and fill the hull to the top with the glitter and hold it on your tumbler with your thumb over the top of the hull to shake it down into the shot.  Works best on sunny days when the glitter shows up best.


Again, with the glitter and chalk dust, use only on days with a slight down range or cross range brease, to avoid blowing the glitter and chalk back onto the possie.

The chalk, glitter, or, if you use them, feathers, always go in the shotcup with the shot, never over the powder under the shotcup. Chalk dust and glitter go in after the shot, feathers under the shot.

Have fun with it.

Greeenriver

[Four Eyed Floyd]

Thanks I'll try it that way. The Chalk was over the powder, I ll put it in the cup and let you know how it goes. I can see having the wind light and away, could get very messy. 

[Arcey]

Never seen anyone happy with what they tried. Ain't sayin' no one has figgered it out. Sure they have.

What I did ta make a statement was load feathers. No shot at all. All the shotgun targets these parts are make up anyway. Half a charge of powder, over powder card. Stuff all the feathers in the shell ya kin get in there. Star crimp. Works with the stuff yer paper shredder makes too. Cowboy Chronicles werk great after a trip thru the shredder.

Get an unsuspectin' RO. Shoot a couple then finish the stage. When he cries out the time tell 'im not ta ferget ya got the bonus. If he says 'what bonus'? Answer 'The pigeon. Didn't ya see the feathers?'

Their reaction is almost as much fun as callin' a procedural on a Gunfighter for shootin' his rifle Traditional. Takes 'em a second ta think about 'n the look on their faces is priceless.

[Lucky Irish Tom]

He aint pullin yer leg Floyd, I've seen him do it, both the feathers and the Gunfighter thingy. 

[Four Eyed Floyd]

I would have like to see that Arcey. I keep at it and see what works.