Improving my kit for Companion - getting pissed is the mother of invention

[OLD and GRUMPY]

Over the years we talked about loading  the Companions. It is a bit of a pain to powder and lube over the balls. Some of you came up with good gear to seat the bullet. I have copied some of that.  It has always been a pain to powder her. The dipper is small but still fatter than the chambers. I find it hard to not spill some powder. Plus it is slow. Now that my fat fingers don't work quite as well it takes the fun out of it. Problem solved!  I saw this at Track of The Wolf and the light came on. This priming flask drops 4gr of 4f black. That is the charge for Super Companion and I think Earl. They have a 3gr spout that should be good for Companion. I place the spout between the chambers. Press,lift,slide,done! In the time it takes to load one with the dipper I can do 3 or 4 with the flask. And no spill, no jar of loose powder to blow in the wind or FLASH.   https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/73/1/FLASK-PP-4     ------  The other messy pain is lubing over the bullet. I took a empty eye drop bottle and with a hot wire made the opening bigger. Melted the lube ( Crisco ) and filled the bottle and let it get cold. Now I can put just the right amount over each with no mess and fast. The last thing is I keep a damp (water) bore mop on the bench. After each cylinder i quick swab the chamber mouth . The bullets slip in better with it clean.

[Rick_Jorgenson]

Thanks for the info O&G

I haven't "acquired" a Black Powder Mini YET! lol!!

It's on my "want list" though! 

[pietro]

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I made my own powder squirter from an old hollow ware utensil handle.

[gunfitrip]

I use the same primer tool just shortened the spout to fill mag chamber

[OV-1D]

Thats a great looking piece Pietro , isn't craftmanship a wonderful thing . Kudo's to you .

[Rimfire]

Black powder shooting is like fly fishing: you get to buy/acquire/fashion all kinds of nifty tools and stuff to go with it. For example, that handsome ?powder squirter?- I like it!

[tinhorn]

That's great! Thanks for the tip.

Next step--paper cartridges.

[OLD and GRUMPY]

You going to try paper in Companion?   I tried a few.Then quit. Problem is she is so small they are hard to make and  the paper takes up too much room and makes it hard to seat. Also too much paper at the base can keep the primer from burning through.  Plus the paper left a lot of crud in the chamber. That made the next round hard to seat and put crud over the flash hole. Next time I would try nitrated paper.  Better ignition and cleaner burn. At best she is SLOW to load. The powder pen is the first thing I found that speeds it up.  Don't let this stop you. Let us know what you do.

[OLD and GRUMPY]

I tried making nitrated paper for larger calibers. Didn't work well.  Next time I will try this.  Magic!     Don't know how thick the paper is or if it is strong enough for this job.   Think it through first and don't be stupid. This could go bad.  https://www.dreamlandmagic.com/flash-paper?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyMiTBhDKARIsAAJ-9VtpG5nRslH60UQV6MBpsSgiSYO6EgWZ40BXWbtfFKhWlsDhMl9gK-0aAnVvEALw_wcB

[OLD and GRUMPY]

FYI-- How Companion ignition works. She is not your grandpas cap and ball.    http://trac-r.com/c&b/pdf/CutawayChamberView.pdf

[OLD and GRUMPY]

Projectiles --- NAAs 30gr bullet is the best. Base has the right shape and seats into not on top of the powder chamber(read last post 1 up). If you want more than the 50 pack call.https://northamericanarms.com/shop/parts/cbb3/  ---Others. #4 buck will work. But must be pure lead or you will fight to seat them. And they do not seat into the powder chamber. (read the post 1 up). I cast them for shotgun buck&ball . Made the mistake of using range lead not pure and almost broke my wrist trying to seat them.  Then there are .22 air gun pellets. There are 2 different Diameters. The smaller ones will shake loose. Have not tried the fatter ones. Might try the .25? For what they cost call NAA and get the right ones.  https://www.pyramydair.com/ammo/pellets?calibers=0_22   If i find some #12 shot I think I can load a snake round .  (power/card/ shot/ card/ super glue?  ---- Caps. the nipples for Companion are cut for Remington #11s.  Others may work. Not all 11s are the same.

[bluecow]

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I made my own powder squirter from an old hollow ware utensil handle.

love blackpowder guns but the Companion just never lifted my skirt. Now you when and showed this, thanks a lot