"Ignoramus20041" wrote in message
...
On 2013-06-09, Paul K. Dickman wrote:

"Ignoramus20041" wrote in message
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Made this at work with kids today. Barrel approx 0.33" OD, 1.25" OD.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-e...609_153812.jpg

I want to have some idea of how much gunpowder I can put in there, and
what is the best way to make some safe projectiles like wads of paper
or some such. I want a modest BOOM and as little destructive power as
possible.

There is a small hole on top for putting in an igniting cord.

i

You can probably pack it full without much worry. It is short enough that
it'll blow most excess out the muzzle.
However, the rule of thumb with black powder guns is one grain per
caliber
(50cal gets 50grains of powder) and work up or down from there.


OK, I figure that I will fill the length equal to appx. 2 times the ID
of the barrel. Can I use a better gunpowder than blackpowder?
Something that does not cause so much rusting?

i

You can use pyrodex or one of the other substitutes, they are much less
corrosive, but they're still dirty.

You still have to scrub it with hot soapy water, dry it and oil it.
The substitutes just give you a little more time to get around to it.
Blackhorn 209 is supposedly the cleanest, but I have never used it,

An empty .45acp case holds about 28grains of fff black powder.
For what you're doing, just stuff a ball of toilet paper in for wadding and
pack it down.

Paul K. Dickman