Olde Eynsford in 38-55 and 45-70

[Blackpowder Burn]

I had a chance to go to the range and do some chronograph work with a new toy, one of the new Magnetospeed chronographs.  This is really neat technology, very easy to use.  At any rate, below are the results comparing a weighed charge of Swiss powder with the same volume of Olde Eynsford.

38-55 in Marlin 336 Cowboy (24" barrel) w/250 grain Big Lube bullet
47.0 grains Swiss FFFg = 1414 ft/sec
44.8 grains Olde E FFFg = 1358 ft/sex

42.0 grains Swiss FFFg = 1325 ft/sec
39.8 grains Olde E FFFg = 1276 ft/sec

45-70 in C Sharps 1875 Sharps Carbine (26" barrel) w/390 grain Big Lube bullet
56.5 grains Swiss FFg = 1262 ft/sec
53.8 grains Olde E FFg = 1177 ft/sec

65 grains Swiss FFg = 1399 ft/sec
62 grains Olde E FFg = 1331 ft/sec

I didn't have the time to really try to evaluate the accuracy of the Olde Eynsford, so a good justification for another range session.  I also want to try loading some with equal weights (rather than equal volume) of Swiss and Olde Eynsford and compare velocities.

So much experimentation to play with, and so little time! 

[ndnchf]

Thanks for the report.  I've been working with Olde E in a couple different cartridges, but I don't have a chrono.  Your results help me to understand how it performs.  How much compression did you use in these loads?

[Blackpowder Burn]

The lighter loads in 38-55 and 45-70 have very light compression, probably on the order of 0.050".  Just enough to be sure to remove air space while using a 0.030" wad.  That's how I came up with the particular charge weight.

The heavier loads are pretty heavily compressed.  I haven't measured them precisely, but probably something on the order of 0.3"+.  My Marlin 38-55 really likes the heavier charge of Swiss and will group around 1-1/4" at 100 yards.

[ndnchf]

Thanks for the update.  I look forward to your accuracy tests.

[Dick Dastardly]

Thank you, thank you, thank you,

I'm loading some 38-55 in some fire formed 30-30 brass now.  I usually load 2.8cc of FFFg Swiss under my 255 grain Big Lube®LLC bullets but am loading up 25ea of 2.8cc Swiss 1½ Fg.  I'll be waiting for warmer weather to graph these, but the Swiss 1½Fg does great in my 45-70.

The slightly shorter fire formed 30-30 brass seems to work great in my Legendary Frontiersman Winchester 94.

DD-MDA

[Ranch 13]

I got an average of 1227 with the postel bullet (530 grs from 20-1) and 70 grs of 2f OE from my CSA 75.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Ranch,

Is that 70 grains by weight or by volume?

[Ranch 13]

Haven't ever seen a scale that read out in volumes

[Blackpowder Burn]

Ranch,

Me neither, but have seen quite a few folks use dipper devices that are marked in "grains" of BP.  I've got a couple of old ones myself.  I always measure by weight, and just wanted to be sure we weren't comparing apples and cumquats. 

[ndnchf]

FWIW,  I  found that Olde Eynsford 2F weight and volume measurements to be almost identical.

[Ranch 13]

I haven't had any of the second batch yet, but the first batch was about 2 grs difference between a brass powder measure and the scale.

[SPQR476]

In a 32" Pedersoli Sharps, I'm getting the following:

SL Brass, Lyman 457193 dropped at 413gr from 1:20, homemade soy/bee lube, 62 gr FFg old E, .030 card wad = 1310fps

SL Brass, Lyman 535gr 457132 535gr postell 1:20 dropped at 532, same lube, 60gr FFg old E, .030 card wad = 1189 fps

Both print under 2 MOA at 100, but that's with stock barrel sights, so it's as much me not seeing as the gun.

[john boy]

FWIW,  I  found that Olde Eynsford 2F weight and volume measurements to be almost identical.

Olde E Density
Density Test: Three samples locked at 100gr volumetric - powder vibrated and then weighed on a digital scale, accurate to x.02gr:
1.5Fg - 1.0219 avg
FFG - 1.0283 avg
FFFg - 1.0824 avg

Compared to Densities of Other Powders
Weight   Vendor   Grain   
0.902   Goex   Cartridge   
0.912   DuPont   FFg   
1.134   Diamondback   FFg   (01-2127
1.124   Diamondback   FFFg   (01-3309)
0.919   KIK   FFFg   
0.941   Goex    Cowboy   
0.905   Goex   FFg   02 11 05MY23B
0.944   Goex   FFFg   99JY02C
0.955   Goex    FFFg   03 46 07NO03B
0.916   Goex    FFFg   03 56 08NO02 B
0.944   Meteor   FFg   
0.97   Meteor   FFFg   
0.972   Goex Express   FFg   
0.978   Schuetzen   FFFg   
0.992   KIK   FFg   
1.094   KIK   Fg   Mar-09
1.05   KIK   1.5Fg   Mar-09
1.06   KIK   FFg   Mar-09
1.07   KIK   FFFg   Mar-09
1.044   Swiss    1.5   
1.049   Swiss    FFg   
1.023   Swiss    FFFg   
1.094   Swiss    FFFFg   
1.096   Swiss    Null-B   
1.026   DuPont   Fg   
1.027   Skirmish   Fg   
         
100 cc volume pan weighed         

[Blackpowder Burn]

John Boy,

Great information.  I must say you have a heck of a variety of powders available to work with.  One of my fantasies would be to have all of those available, in my loading room, which is just inside the door from my shooting table and 500 yard range on my own property.