black powder cartridge revolvers

[Magwa45]

Just wanted to check something out. I have an original Colt SAA which is a black powder only gun, built before 1900. Now I have some manufactured black powder cartridges around and am thinking of doing some black powder reloading. That means getting a Lyman Classic 55 for black powder. I have reloaded modern powder cartridges for years, so it will be a little learning involved. I am thinking about getting a Uberti repro just for fun, such as the Richards-Mason 1860 Army Conversion or the Open Top models. Can you shoot modern powders in these guns? Or maybe black powder is just more fun. I'd like to hear of anyone's experience or knowledge with these. Oh yeah, I'll also be adding some cap and ball guns in the near future.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, you don't HAVE to have an expensive measure to load black powder revolver calibers well enough to get by. A dipper is fine.

The Italian reproduction "cartridge conversions" are proof tested for standard pressure smokeless but I would not try to soup them up. More likely load them down.

 

[Prairie Dawg]

Shooting BP cartridges is pretty straight-forward.
Fill the case with enuf FFg or FFFg BP to provide about 1/8" compression when the bullet is seated and seat yer bullet.
Give it a good strong crimp & shoot.
Soft-cast bullets are better for BP.
BP-friendly lube keeps the fouling soft.
Visit the Open Range Forum Darksider's Reference Library for lube recipes, how to pan lube, stc.
http://www.theopenrange.net/forum/index.php?board=31.0
Many people dip their loads with Lee dippers.
I use a 1.3 cc for 38s and a 2.2 cc dipper for 44-40s.
I shoot 45 Schofields with 25 grains FFg (1.6 cc dipper) and a little ground corncob filler.
I would suggest big-lube bullets (http://www.biglube.com/) as they allow you to shoot all day without cleaning yer barrel.


As far as smokeless in Open Tops or RM Conversions, keep towards the lower end of the smokeless loads, as they were designed to shoot "cowboy" loads.
Or shoot black powder.
The guns are ideal fro black powder as they break down into 3 easy-to-clean pieces.
--Dawg

 

[andrewstorm]

modern factory conversions

are made to sammi specifications,and are capable of shooting any standard factory ammo,and will wear out after so many rounds,light gallery loads increase pistol life remarkably and offer a wider margin of error for the hand loader,i was told by the maker of 10 x that he uses a 777 made specifically for his reloading, thats in his words (not as potent )as regular 777 3 f ,basicly sagar based,poyrodex p. call 10 x they got the best cowboy ammo..........