Traditional
BLACK POWDER SHOTSHELLS
Welcome to our shotshell page. Here you will find detailed descriptions of the various shotshells on offer. When you are ready to place your order, simply click on the locomotive icon at the bottom of the page or select the online catalog from the menu options on the left.
We are asked quite frequently why we use paper hulls for our 12 gauge Express Shot and Frontier Express. The answer is simple. We feel black powder works best with paper hulls. They seal much better then plastic thus preventing blowback, which can quickly make following shells hard to chamber. By eliminating blowback we can all but eliminate the amount of black powder residue that works its way into the mechanism of your valuable firearm as well. Paper hulls will not develop pinholes or burn through as plastic hulls will. The final reason is very simple; tradition. They worked very, very well in the late 19th century and thus work very well today. Our only regret is that we cannot source paper hulls for out Mighty Ten & Short 10 loads.
The other question we receive is why we don't use modern plastic wads. Yes, modern plastic wads deliver fantastic performance in high velocity modern smokeless loads. However, they fall short with black powder. Shooting black powder, one will quickly notice how much more rapid the barrels will heat as opposed to smokeless. This heat quickly melts plastic wads leaving long strings of plastic in the bore. While this does no harm to the firearm and can quickly be removed it must be remembered that a damaged (melted) wad will not deliver premium performance. In addition the pellets may be damaged from the residue left from the previous shot thus becoming deformed and throwing the pattern. The other issue involves the nature of black powder itself. While smokeless shotshells require no lubrication this cannot be said of black powder shells which must have wads lubricated with a suitable black powder lubricant, such as SPG. Such a lubricant not only lubricates but more importantly mixes with the fouling keeps it soft. Otherwise, the fouling will harden and quickly build to the point were pellets become deformed and ruin the pattern. This hard fouling can also be very difficult to remove at the end of the day. Our traditional wad materials not only carry a suitable lubricant but are biodegradable as well.
Why a roll crimp rather then a modern star crimp? Simple. The tight roll crimp gives added load inertia which allows the black powder to ignite more fully in the chamber rather then further up the bore. This translates into less shot to shot variation and higher velocity. Again, its also traditional and works as well today as it did then.
Please note that the drams listed for each load are not the vague dram equivalent as listed for modern smokeless loads. The drams listed for our loads are indeed the true powder charge of 27.34 grains (by weight) of black powder per each dram. It is black powder loads such as ours that the dram equivalent listed for modern smokeless loads are based upon.
Tradition & Quality - it's a simple equation: The finest powder + the finest traditional components = The finest shells.
16 GAUGE
16 Gauge "SWIFT SIXTEEN" 2-1/2" (2-3/4 Dram, 1 oz.) The classic 16 gauge is back! No other bore represents the nostalgia of a classic upland hunt then the classic 16 gauge. Straight from the 1890's this vintage load features NEW, high brass paper hulls, Schuetzen black powder, biodegradable wads lubed with SPG and of course a nice roll crimp and is available in variety of shot sizes.
$26.84 (Box of 25) Plus Shipping Click Here to Order
12 GAUGE
12 Gauge "EXPRESS SHOT" 2-3/4" (3-1/2 Dram, 1-1/8 oz.) These classic blackpowder shotshells are designed with the sportsman in mind. Available in a variety of 3-1/2 dram, 1-1/8 oz. loads, duplicating those available during the heyday of the black powder era, they feature period correct, NEW, high brass, paper hulls, Schuetzen black powder, biodegradable wads lubed with SPG and a traditional roll crimp.
$26.84 (Box of 25) Plus shipping Click Here to Order
12 Gauge "EXPRESS SHOT" 2-1/2" (3 dram, 1-1/2 oz.) If you have a classic shotgun with short 2-1/2" chambers, as was common during the black powder era and early 1900's, then these shells are for you. A traditional 3 dram, 1-1/8 oz. load, they are available with a variety of shot sizes and feature period correct, NEW, high brass, paper hulls, Schuetzen black powder, biodegradable wads lubed with SPG and of course, a correct roll crimp.
$26.84 (Box of 25) Plus Shipping Click Here to Order
Also Available in a classic 3 dram, 1 oz. load. Please call (207) 892-5027
12 Gauge "EXPRESS SHOT" 2-5/8" (3 dram, 1-1/8 oz.) Yet another classic load for those short chambers. As with all our 12 gauge loads these feature NEW high brass paper hulls, Schuetzen black powder, biodegradable wads lubed with SPG and a traditional roll crimp and are available in a variety of shot sizes.
$26.84 (Box of 25) Plus Shipping Click Here to Order
10 GAUGE
The classic "MIGHTY TEN" 2-7/8" (4-1/4 dram, 1-1/4 oz.)
A classic field load featuring NEW high brass Remington Hulls, premium Swiss sporting black powder. As with all our shells these also feature traditional biodegradable fiber and paper wads lubed with SPG and a roll crimp.
$34.95 (Box of 25) Plus shipping Click Here to Order
The "SHORT TEN" 2-5/8" Field Load (4 dram, 1-1/8 oz.)
If you have been involved with classic ten bore's for any length of time you will no doubt have run across a short chamber or two. Or, you may just like a more gentle shooting experience. A classic 1890's field load, our "SHORT TEN" 2-5/8" features NEW high brass Remington hulls, premium Swiss sporting black powder, traditional paper and fiber wads lubed with SPG and of course a roll crimp.
$34.95 (Box of 25) Plus shipping Click Here to Order
The "SHORT TEN" 2-5/8" Trap Load (3-1/2 dram, 1-1/8 oz.)
This load is a lighter cousin to our "SHORT TEN" A 3-1/3 dram, 1-1/8 oz load it's perfect for busting clays (rather then your shoulder) yet has plenty of punch for upland hunting. Like all our ten bore shells we use only the best components available. NEW Remington high brass hulls, The finest Swiss black sporting powder and of course biodegradable fiber and paPer wads lubed with SPG and topped off with a nice roll crimp.
$34.95 (Box of 25) Plus shipping Click Here to Order
Custom Loads available upon request (207) 892-5027
"Friday, May 2, 7:10am, cloudy, misty morning. Big gobbler at twenty nine yards. The shot, cloud of smoke the size of a Volkswagon hangs in the air. End result; one gobbler down with a 1891 Remington Witmore Lifter loaded with your shells and a very satisfied hunter." Greg Vandebogart
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Black Powder Fouling & Cleaning
