Range sessions with my new Pietta 1860 Army.

[Crawdad1]

I bought this revolver last summer and had it defarbed and reblued by Hoof Hearted and he does an incredible job on these revolvers.
http://www.cartridgeconversion.com/





First range session I used an uncut hammer and at 25 yards, barrel resting on sand bags with a two hand hold, the Colt being a Colt shot high and left. I was using 25 grains of GOEx 3Fg, one Ox Yoke dry wad and a 454 ball.

 

[Crawdad1]

I cut a 'V' notch in the hammer sight a hair to the right to compensate for the above POI and headed back out to the range. The range was 25 yards, barrel resting on sandbags with a two hand hold, using 25 grains of GOEx 3Fg, one Ox Yoke dry wad and a 454 ball. You can see how the POI has come over to the right and center of the target after cutting the hammer sight.




I got the load centered but its still shooting all over the place with that loading. The next range session I went with 25 grains of GOEx 3Fg, a 454 ball but I used 2 Ox Yoke dry wads to move the ball up the chamber and closer to the barrel mouth. The groups started to tighten up real nice and still centered in the target.



I can live with these groups as I just need to move the blade front sight up further in the rear hammer 'V' notch to get it shooting in the bullseye at 25 yards. At this last session I also tried the 457 ball with no discernable changes in the POI and the 457 ball was putting a lot more pressure on my loading lever so I decided to go with the 454 ball. I just need a little more trigger time behind these sights to get it shooting where I want.

 

[drobs]

Nice shooting.

I've never had any luck with pistols off sandbags. Not a problem with rifles.
I should probably invest in a Caldweld rest like this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/517357/caldwell-pistolero-pistol-shooting-rest

Recall reading Guns and Ammo back in the day where every single pistol they tested in a Ransom Rest.

 

[Crawdad1]

I think she's tightening up pretty nice and with some more range time behind those sights I could get her tightened up even more. I really like this Pietta as it shoots the cartridges especially the 250 grain, 45 Long Colt very well something that my Uberti 1860 Army does not.


I should look into that rest myself.

 

[whughett]

Nice shooting.

I've never had any luck with pistols off sandbags. Not a problem with rifles.
I should probably invest in a Caldweld rest like this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/517357/caldwell-pistolero-pistol-shooting-rest

Recall reading Guns and Ammo back in the day where every single pistol they tested in a Ransom Rest.

Ditto here, its almost as if I'm moving my head, instead of the gun to obtain the site picture. Two handed Weaver stance for me. For YouTube followers of hickok45, who said holding a single action revolver two handed is sacrilegious, I try but its like trying to thread a needle at arms length. And shooting weak hand, may as well throw bricks.

 

[red rick]

It looks like you at dialing it in , thanks for the range report and pictures .

 

[Crawdad1]

Thank You Gentlemen for your comments!!

I might want to go down to either 22 1/2 grains of GOEx 3Fg or further to 20 grains to see if it tightens up further. I'll use a third Ox Yoke wad to compensate for the spacing in the chamber. If it tightens up significantly then I'll go with the longer Circle Fly 45 caliber wads that are 1/2 inch long and cut them to size after measuring.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/172/2

Still a work in progress but I'll keep posting the results.

 

[drobs]

I'd be curious if Swiss powder would make any difference in accuracy?
I have 2 places that sell powder around me. Neither carry Swiss. I'm too cheap to order it at the moment.

Are you using Hornady ball?

 

[rodwha]

Olde Eynsford by Goex performs quite similarly and is much cheaper. I love the stuff!

 

[Crawdad1]

Yes, both the 454 and 457 ball are Hornady.

I don't know but there is certainly better powders out there than the regular GOEx.

 

[rodwha]

Yes, both the 454 and 457 ball are Hornady.

I don't know but there is certainly better powders out there than the regular GOEx.

From what I've read from people who have used both is that the Goex Olde E leaves less fouling if nothing.

 

[Crawdad1]

I've heard that also that it is excellent powder.

Rodwha, Drobs, have you compare Olde Eynsford with Swiss. If you have how do they compare?

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Many big box (and "small box") stores carry just GOEX because its well-known in black powder circles,and fairly inexpensive compared to Swiss. For folks buying online (my source is Powder, Inc), Schuetzen black powder, made in Germany, is less per pound than GOEX. My last 25 pound case of Schuetzen & Swiss powders showed Schuetzen @ $17.65/lb and Swiss @ $24.25. These prices include shipping and Hazmat. The 25 pound case was split between four friends, two in the N-SSA & 2 in NMLRA bullseye shooting at the National & State matches.

Most of my fellow competitors in state & national level competition shooting prefer Swiss black powder. Even competition black powder cartridge rifle shooters prefer the Swiss 1.5 FG grade for mid-range (600 yards) and long-range (1,000 yards). Its highly regarded by the International competition teams around the world.

GOEX brought out "Old Eynsford" black powder at about a dollar & a half higher ($19.55/lb) than regular "red label" GOEX ($18.10/lb) to compete against the Swiss brand.

The stumbling block for many people is buying black powder in a 25 lb case. If you ask around and get a dozen friends to each buy 2 lbs, and you get an extra, you get the best price as shown here from Powder, Inc in Clarksville, AR, (tele: 479-705-0005/www.powderinc.com) one of numerous master distributors of GOEX/Schuetzen/Swiss black powders.

If one is participating in Cowboy Action Shooting, tight group size is not as important as the "scenario" & the time clock. However, winning line matches at 25 & 50 yards in club shoots, NMLRA Territorial Matches, and the National Matches requires the best quality components, and the best use Swiss black powder.

"Crawdad1", unless you have an aversion to shooting "hot cereal", ;-) -- consider using Cream Of Wheat as a filler instead of two or three felt wads to bring the ball closer to the cylinder mouth. One thing I can tell you about competition shooters, "tight-wad" is one of their ingrained habits. I think no more than 20 grains of 3FG, topped with cream of wheat and a Hornady .454 RB, and that topped with T/C Bore Butter (or any liquid/paste grease), will print real nice groups.

We all just need to remember that "accuracy is 99% the "nut" behind the trigger. Accuracy is also 99% concentration AND consistency.

Nuff said,

Buck

 

[Crawdad1]

Went to the range to see if this load will tighten up further and found that this revolver really likes the ball at the top of the chamber. I went with 3 OxYoke dry wads and it started to tighten up even more. Being that I don't want to spend my inheritance on wads I'll go with the longer Circle Fly wads when I buy more possibles from TOTW.

Now if I was competing I would go with either the Cream of Wheat or Cornmeal filler instead of the wads as you reload from a bench. Being that after I get a few more range sessions in I'll take it hunting for varmints and other such critters. The filler is just to difficult to use while reloading in the woods so that's why I'm sticking with the wads. Years ago I went with a cornmeal filler for my 1851 Colt Navy as she also liked the ball at the mouth of the chamber but it was a hassle so I went back with the wads.

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Hoof Hearted does great work. A few years ago I did some trading around and he did a Navy Arms (Pietta) shooter's model for me matching a conversion cylinder and shell ejector to the gun and did all the gunsmithing. It is one of my most accurate period handguns and I will never sell it.
When I shoot .45 out of it, I reload the shell with 3Fg BP and .457 roundballs as it originally called for .457. Great shooter. I can switch back to the percussion cap cylinder whenever I like.

 

[Crawdad1]

I know what you mean Saddlebag Preacher,

And that picture I posted of my 1860 Army repro doesn't do his work justice.

 

[rodwha]

@D. Buck: I have to ask as I've read too many times that Swiss was the most used powder among the match type shooters. Another who disagrees with me on most everything said this isn't so, that standard Goex is what's most common. He's the only one I've read this from...

 

[rodwha]

Went to the range to see if this load will tighten up further and found that this revolver really likes the ball at the top of the chamber. I went with 3 OxYoke dry wads and it started to tighten up even more. Being that I don't want to spend my inheritance on wads I'll go with the longer Circle Fly wads when I buy more possibles from TOTW.

Now if I was competing I would go with either the Cream of Wheat or Cornmeal filler instead of the wads as you reload from a bench. Being that after I get a few more range sessions in I'll take it hunting for varmints and other such critters. The filler is just to difficult to use while reloading in the woods so that's why I'm sticking with the wads. Years ago I went with a cornmeal filler for my 1851 Colt Navy as she also liked the ball at the mouth of the chamber but it was a hassle so I went back with the wads.

Have you not considered punching your own wads? It's soooo much cheaper and doesn't take all that long. I know of a retired machinist that makes them, among other things, at a very reasonable price (I have two).

Have you tried heavier loads as well?

Wads make more sense to me in the field as well. I've been considering trying them to bring my projectiles closer to the cylinder mouth.

 

[Crawdad1]

Rodwha, changing one component at a time, but if I can get consistent groups with this load, 25 grains of GOEx 3 Fg, 454 ball and wadding I'll stick with it as it more than enough for hunting varmints. This Pietta is certainly strong enough to handle heavier loads, however.

The Circle Fly wads are 500 wads for 9 bucks, can't get much cheaper than that.

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/172/2

 

[Crawdad1]

Here is a feller looking for his optimal load in his Pedersoli Remington.

Check out the load at 11:57 and how small a load of powder he's using. Now here is where you would use filler in the chamber. Great group out of that Remmy!!!

 

[Shooter101]

Many big box (and "small box") stores carry just GOEX because its well-known in black powder circles,and fairly inexpensive compared to Swiss. For folks buying online (my source is Powder, Inc), Schuetzen black powder, made in Germany, is less per pound than GOEX. My last 25 pound case of Schuetzen & Swiss powders showed Schuetzen @ $17.65/lb and Swiss @ $24.25. These prices include shipping and Hazmat. The 25 pound case was split between four friends, two in the N-SSA & 2 in NMLRA bullseye shooting at the National & State matches.

Most of my fellow competitors in state & national level competition shooting prefer Swiss black powder. Even competition black powder cartridge rifle shooters prefer the Swiss 1.5 FG grade for mid-range (600 yards) and long-range (1,000 yards). Its highly regarded by the International competition teams around the world.

GOEX brought out "Old Eynsford" black powder at about a dollar & a half higher ($19.55/lb) than regular "red label" GOEX ($18.10/lb) to compete against the Swiss brand.

The stumbling block for many people is buying black powder in a 25 lb case. If you ask around and get a dozen friends to each buy 2 lbs, and you get an extra, you get the best price as shown here from Powder, Inc in Clarksville, AR, (tele: 479-705-0005/www.powderinc.com) one of numerous master distributors of GOEX/Schuetzen/Swiss black powders.

If one is participating in Cowboy Action Shooting, tight group size is not as important as the "scenario" & the time clock. However, winning line matches at 25 & 50 yards in club shoots, NMLRA Territorial Matches, and the National Matches requires the best quality components, and the best use Swiss black powder.

"Crawdad1", unless you have an aversion to shooting "hot cereal", ;-) -- consider using Cream Of Wheat as a filler instead of two or three felt wads to bring the ball closer to the cylinder mouth. One thing I can tell you about competition shooters, "tight-wad" is one of their ingrained habits. I think no more than 20 grains of 3FG, topped with cream of wheat and a Hornady .454 RB, and that topped with T/C Bore Butter (or any liquid/paste grease), will print real nice groups.

We all just need to remember that "accuracy is 99% the "nut" behind the trigger. Accuracy is also 99% concentration AND consistency.

Nuff said,

Buck

Grits work too,doesn't matter if it's one minute or five minute grits

 

[rodwha]

There's not much time so quick grits work out better IMO.

 

[daboyleroy]

Here is a feller looking for his optimal load in his Pedersoli Remington.

Check out the load at 11:57 and how small a load of powder he's using. Now here is where you would use filler in the chamber. Great group out of that Remmy!!!

He does or has done a lot of good videos
And won several shooting medals...imho

 

[daboyleroy]

Now if I was competing I would go with either the Cream of Wheat or Cornmeal filler instead of the wads as you reload from a bench. Being that after I get a few more range sessions in I'll take it hunting for varmints and other such critters. The filler is just to difficult to use while reloading in the woods so that's why I'm sticking with the wads. Years ago I went with a cornmeal filler for my 1851 Colt Navy as she also liked the ball at the mouth of the chamber but it was a hassle so I went back with the wads.

I have used the cheapest brand of cornmeal as a filler. Started with the wads, then used grits then changed to cornmeal ....so much easier and cheaper

 

[shiftyer1]

I never thought to try corneal or grits for a filler, I've heard of using Crisco for grease. I've only used wads, which seem to make more sense in the woods. I may have to try out cornmeal or grits when I do some target practice.