Metallic cartridge reloading w/ black powder?

I don't plan to do this at this time, I just want to know, is it possible to reload a metallic (brass) cartridge with black powder?





As ammunition prices go up, if they ever get to 12 bucks a round like they are in the middle east, it might be necessary to improvise components... I want to know how if I ever need to.





Or if ammunition is banned from manufacture, I want to be able to reload with improvised propellant.Metallic cartridge reloading w/ black powder?
I've done this myself, for big bore revolvers. I don't know how well it would work in recoil operated auto-loaders, but it sure would have to gum up the works in any gas-operated weapon.


I've used regular black and Pyrodex both, with excellent results, one just has to be as diligent in cleaning as with any regular black powder weapon.


I've also made Pyrodex 'blanks' for antique and modern weapons for re-enactors that also functioned great.


In fact, I had one brother who had an antique Colt SAA in .44-40 who traded me some of his dearest antique Harley parts for a steady supply of ammo. He wouldn't shoot his collector's piece with modern smokeless cartridges.Metallic cartridge reloading w/ black powder?
Many metallic cartridges began life as blackpowder cartridges. the 45 Colt, the 30-30, 45-70, 38-40 just to name a few. If you can safely extrapolate cup pressure, velocity and grain weight using blackpowder v/s smokeless there's not an issue. Keep in mind that blackpowder will never deliver the performance the cartridge is capable of, if the cartridge was originally designed as a smokeless powder cartridge. The original load data used for blackpowder cartridges is still readily available.
Yes. All most all Cartridges made before 1900 were black powder cartridges to start with. These can easily be load today with black powder as they were then.





Modern cartridge made for the new fangled smokeless powder is another story. While it would be possible it may not be safe. Metallic black powder reloading books are out there and should be consulted before loading black powder into cartridges. Things like using drop tubes, safety precautions when working with black powder and propper cleaning of brass after firing need to be looked into.
Yes, but research the correct loading; it's a different technique.





I once saw a guy load up 30 rounds of 45ACP with black powder and shoot them in his full auto Thompson. It made more smoke than a 1962 Chevy from Mexico, but it functioned flawlessly. It was a pain to clean, though.
A lot of cartridges were orignally loaded using black powder when created.





Yes, it is possible to load pretty much any cartridge with the proper amount and type of black powder. The trick is finding/working up load data and choosing a suitable granulated black powder.





Just be aware that the increased fouling will greatly reduce the amount of shots that can be fired without cleaning. I once read a forum about a man using 7.62x39 reloads with black powder in an AKM. After finding a loading that would cycle the action, he tested the loading to see how many rounds could be reliably fired. The AK managed to fire about 100 rounds before the crud from the black powder built up bad enough to prevent semi-auto function.
Yes, it is possible. There have been metallic cartridges loaded with black powder before, and there are books on the subject telling you how to do it as well.