I'm about to jump into the Black Powder world

[ModelAUZI]

My first gun is on back order. It's a Uberti Colt Walker. I've also ordered some .454 lead balls, a powder flask, wonder wads. I already have some Pyrodex P and some number 11 caps I got from the store.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Holy shit! I guess you decided to jump in in a big way The Walker is a 4.5 pound monster that has a chamber capacity equal to a rifle musket of that era. Keep it in the 40 grain range and you should do fine, lower loads and you will need a filler or the ball will be off the power, a bad thing. I know what it looks like already, but still, PICS! when you get it

[ModelAUZI]

JYD, What's filler? The powder flask has an adjustable spout for measuring the grains of powder. I'll keep my loads low. I don't want to ruin the gun.

[Celt]

I think if you dont have enough powder there is a gap between the ball and the powder. They mix a filler in with the powder to give it more volume....i think.

[ponycarman]

Nice pickup! Can't wait for pics! Celt hit the nail on the head. If the charge is too low the ball won't compact against the powder. This would be a dangerous situation. Filler is just to take the empty space up to keep the ball compacted against the powder. I've heard of guys using cornmeal and other stuff. It just had to take up space.

[Celt]

What?!? I was right? Sun shines on a dogs a$$ sometimes right?

[ponycarman]

Don't let it go to your head

[Celt]

Not me, the older I get, the less I seem to know!

[ponycarman]

Isn't wisdom supposed to come with age

[Celt]

That was before the world changed every half hour.

[Junk Yard Dog]

JYD, What's filler? The powder flask has an adjustable spout for measuring the grains of powder. I'll keep my loads low. I don't want to ruin the gun.

Anything that fills the air space between powder and ball in the chamber, it could be a few wonder wads stacked up, or it could be cream o' wheat cereal, even Dacron wadding from the craft store. You must not leave an air gap under the ball on a BP weapon. The size of the Walkers chamber means you must shoot heavy loads, or use a filler as the rammer will not pack the ball all the way down tight unless the chamber is filled with something.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I think if you dont have enough powder there is a gap between the ball and the powder. They mix a filler in with the powder to give it more volume....i think.

Not mix with the powder, placed on top of the powder charge, and then the ball is placed on top of it. Some people use a wax paper disc between powder and filler, this is not needed with the wonder wads. It's only because of the Walkers huge chamber size that this is a worry.

[Celt]

I think if you dont have enough powder there is a gap between the ball and the powder. They mix a filler in with the powder to give it more volume....i think.

Not mix with the powder, placed on top of the powder charge, and then the ball is placed on top of it. Some people use a wax paper disc between powder and filler, this is not needed with the wonder wads. It's only because of the Walkers huge chamber size that this is a worry.

I stand corrected.

[ponycarman]

Well you were almost right

[Junk Yard Dog]

It would have worked, but mixing BP with Cream o' wheat would have made for some piss poor powder performance. Like mixing gasoline with kerosene in the car.

[desdem12]

No 11 caps may be just a tad to big for the nipples, in that case if you pinch them a tad they will stay on better. You want them to stay cause they fall off and mess up the works good if they are loose.

[Junk Yard Dog]

The Colt design is pretty good about shedding broken caps when they get into the works.

[ModelAUZI]

No 11 caps may be just a tad to big for the nipples, in that case if you pinch them a tad they will stay on better. You want them to stay cause they fall off and mess up the works good if they are loose.

I've read about lots of people using #11. I got a small amount to try first.

[desdem12]

I use no 11 cause I can not get no 10s here. I haven't tried for a while though. I have a ton of no 11s and they work ok and they fit the rifles too. Most of my rifles use musket caps now though also.

[bunkysdad]

Sweet holy moly. Uberti Colt Walker! Ahhh.......... I can see it now. There you are standing at the line, holding the cannon with both hands, and letting loose with the first shot, then another, and by the third or forth as a crowd is gathering to peek through the smoke to find the source of all that thunder, a ear to ear grin big as Texas on your face. you won't need to worry about any fillers, that baby needs a healthy charge or it would just be wrong man.