1858 .36 with .38 Special conversion cylinder, warmer loads?

[Hoof Hearted]

Hey there Hoof Hearted, thank you for the info. Are we talking .41 Colt? Because I could see that being a very useful firearm. I didn't have the time to read the whole thing, but it looked like a wealth of good information on loading those heeled bullets.

I am thinking that the .41 would be a pretty respectable caliber for a conversion cylinder with those .380 bullets. It would fit tight enough to be accurate, not too much blow-by, and you can cast for it. Does the brass swell up significantly? With BP loaded .38 Specials in Winchester brass they don't really swell up all that much, not sure about the .41 though.

Take care and God bless America!
Levi

I would suggest reading through that tutorial before you get too far down the path.
Crimping is the main problem in heel base loading and the crimper (modified Lee Collet Crimper) is a god send......

The 41 Colt "re" conversion requires having me ream the Kirst cylinder. Then you need a Mould (I have a special one bored that has a 146 grain bullet, inside lubed, to shoot to point of aim) or some hollow based inside lubed 200 grain bullets. Bear in mind the 200 HB takes up a lot of powder space if Black Powder is used. Reloading dies are reasonable from Redding. Finally a Crimp die.

Starline brass is available, although expensive, but you can fireform (blow out) 38 special cases.

HH

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Bushy just got my conversion cylinder in the mail, will take pics tomorrow and post them for ya.

 

[Busyhands94]

Hoof, that sounds like a pretty darn good idea to be using .41's. It's just seeming like a very useful firearm, as long as it's not too tight and you can get good accuracy!
Last night I was thinking about heeled bullets. I know the .45 conicals I cast in my repro brass mold have a heel. I'm thinking a .36 brass mold might cast some bullets that would be useable for a .41 Colt cylinder. No doubt they'd be fine for the bore, because most these molds cast them a little oversize. Just food for thought, I love tinkering with stuff! Those bullets are pointy too, in soft lead that would be one helluva "nasty-gram" if you can deliver the rounds to the right location.

BP Rob, Looking forward to seeing that cylinder!

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Hoof, that sounds like a pretty darn good idea to be using .41's. It's just seeming like a very useful firearm, as long as it's not too tight and you can get good accuracy!
Last night I was thinking about heeled bullets. I know the .45 conicals I cast in my repro brass mold have a heel. I'm thinking a .36 brass mold might cast some bullets that would be useable for a .41 Colt cylinder. No doubt they'd be fine for the bore, because most these molds cast them a little oversize. Just food for thought, I love tinkering with stuff! Those bullets are pointy too, in soft lead that would be one helluva "nasty-gram" if you can deliver the rounds to the right location.

BP Rob, Looking forward to seeing that cylinder!

Busy

The conical from a 36 mould might just work! The only issue would be crimping well.
The nominal size of the Italian bore runs right about 380. (plus or minus) and the inside diameter of the 41 case is .386. With soft lead out of the moulds that I have for sale it is super accurate and the "interference" is a non issue.......

 

[black_powder_Rob]

Sorry this took a bit. files are to big working on shrinking them.

 

[Busyhands94]

Hoof Hearted, I am thinking that if the heel is large enough it diameter I might be about to get away with not crimping it. Judging from those stepped chambers, that could possibly work. With black it definitely would, smokeless I'm not sure of. But for .32 S&W fired from a stepped chamber, I don't even crimp them and get good accuracy and consistent power. Would this possibly work for a larger caliber like .38 Special or .41 Colt?

Blackpowder Rob, thanks for posting that! It looks to be slightly thicker than on my S&W K-frame. I'd feel safe loading some compressed Triple Seven loads for that!

Levi

 

[Hoof Hearted]

Levi

Keep in mind the 41 is NOT heel based, rather it is inside lubed.
I find that crimping is necessary and the crimp die is only $45.00:
http://www.cartridgeconversion.com/RELOADING.php

The lubrisizer die is $35.00 and really make loading these a breeze.......

HH