Took my new Pietta 1851 Colt to the range this morning...

[TheWall]

I took my new Pietta 1851 Colt Navy to the range this morning. I was able to get off 18 shots. I used around 20 grains of FFFG Goex, Ox-Yoke Wonder Wad and a .376 lead round ball.

Balls fit tight and left a nice ring of lead.

I used #11 caps and they fit fine. A couple of them got stuck, but I was able to get them out with my nipple pick.

My initial shots were all over the place as I was switching stances and going back and forth with my right and left hand (I am left handed but can't keep my left eye open!)

Here is my target from my last six shots. I was aiming low thinking that it would shoot high. It did not shoot high for four shots. Two shots went high -- one of them just above the paper. All shots were from 25 yards.

I think 20 grains of FFFG is the right load, although next time I might try 25.

After 12 shots the cylinder started to gunk up. Rather than take it apart, I sprayed a little Ballistol on the cylinder pin. I also cleaned the barrel and cylinders out with wet Ballistol patches followed by dry patches. Again, gun worked fine after that.

Lot's of fun to shoot and cleanup was not that bad afterwards.

 

[DrLaw]

Try this

Get some electrical tape and put it over the lens of the side you don't use.

The Doc is out now.

 

[Titanvk56]

Where did you get the .376 balls, or did you make them yourself?

 

[Mausermike]

My Pietta 1851 Navy ran over 50 shots on Friday. But I was shooting with Crisco on the cylinder pin before I started, and over each chamber.

No signs of it gumming up.

 

[Im283]

You should definitely be getting more than 18 shots out of that revolver before it gunks up.

skip the wads and grease over the balls with crisco.

 

[dwave]

They are probably .375 round balls, but I don't think that .001 would make much difference. Anyways, I get at least 100 shots without cleaning with the stuff I use with my revolver (lube pills), but when using crisco, I would normally get around 6 cylinders before it would bind.

 

[TheWall]

Bore Butter instead of crisco

Would Bore Butter be as good as Crisco, or should I just stick with Crisco?

 

[TheWall]

.376 bullets

Where did you get the .376 balls, or did you make them yourself?

I got them at Dixie Gun Works with the revolver. The folks at Dixie said they would be the best fit. They did fit nice.

Here is a link to the bullets:

https://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_99_311_312&products_id=1358&osCsid=6dbea928cc20fde23a52d83563b51b94

 

[Mausermike]

I don't think the requirements for lube are very specific. As long as its not some petroleum based grease that turns to concrete when exposed to black powder shooting, it should be fine.

Crisco = cheap and easily available. In warm weather its a little on the runny side but you can mix it with other components to make it more solid, e.g. bees wax.

 

[TheWall]

I don't think the requirements for lube are very specific. As long as its not some petroleum based grease that turns to concrete when exposed to black powder shooting, it should be fine.

Crisco = cheap and easily available. In warm weather its a little on the runny side but you can mix it with other components to make it more solid, e.g. bees wax.

Thanks Mike. I only asked about Bore Butter because I have 2 extra tubes of the stuff lying at the bottom of my rifle box. I will try it the next time out...

 

[Doc Rizzi]

I use 15 grains of FFFAmerican Pioneer under a lubed felt wad and can run 6 stages of CAS without any binding or build up. I use #10 caps and a loading stand. It takes me about 5 minutes to reload both revolvers and another minute each to cap them at the loading table. It is not bad if there are more than 8 shooters that show up. Less than that and they sometimes have to wait for me to reload.

 

[Ontos]

I use bore butter for my '60 and '61, on top of the loads and a bit on the cylinder pin and it's always worked for me. I've never thought to keep track of how many rounds you get out of it until things start gumming up. How many should that be?

 

[scrat]

i think it really depends on much it is lubed. i have found lately the less lube you use the longer it will last. i have really been contemplating taking apart one of my revolvers and lubing it with some powdered graphite on all of the works. Then using a different type of lube for the balls. i recently ran across lube 2000 at my gun shop. i gave it a try and i kinda like it. it almost reminds me of fish bait as in its small jar container it looks kinda powdery. however when you grab some it holds together and will liquify just like the others. seems to not gunk up as much.

 

[Ontos]

That's pretty much how I do it. Thin on the works but a good blob over the bullet. I've never used wads, since they take up much beloved powder capacity.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

They say 'Lubriplate' work's good. I'vd never used it for anything except to keep a modern rifle action from freezing up in severe weather but I know this family (3 shooters in the family) and they say it work's good....

 

[Pulp]

I prefer Bore Butter over any thing else, but it is very temp sensitive. It's hard as a rock in cold weather and liquid on a hot day.