BP pistol loading.

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jwr747

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while I'm thinking of it,do you folks load your Colt/Colt clones with the cylinder in or out of the pistol? I've always left my cylinder in,to lazy to pull cyl. out. but seems lately I've seen several devices for loading with the cyl. out of the frame. looks ok for Remington style pistols,but a PITA with Colt. thanks jwr
 
Me eaither on the Colts ...way too much trouble for me ...The 1858 Remington has me a spoiled child .
 
I always load with the cylinder in.

It’s a crisp Autumn day here today so I took the afternoon off work, went to the range and put 48 shots through my 51 Navy. I was the only one there – sun in the sky, not a breath of wind, colourful Autumn foliage in the trees, and smoke in the air – marvellous!

Good start to the weekend.:)
 
I was a "on the frame" loader until I used a off frame tool. Yes it is a pain to remove the cylinder but it is so much easier and cleaner off frame. The caps go on quickly and lubing the chambers is a breeze, give it a try you might like it.
 
Nothing like wipeing things off while the cylinder is out ..I use very little crisco most of the time just the first chamber to be fired on a Remington..so wipeing the cylinder pin while the cylinder is out does keep my revolvers running smooth for hours of shooting fun ....good cheap easy relaxing fun ..nothing like it Fall is cap and ball weather for me .
 
hi,always load your colt with the cylinder in place , powder , filler , ball and a smear of lithium grease over the ball .use about 15 grains of powder for a .36or 21 grains for a .44 topped of with semolima as a filler to bring the ball close to the top of the cylinder. GOOD SHOOTING
 
I'm a in-frame loader. I would consider on off frame for my Remingtons if I spare cylinders. I don't think I would put the caps on before inserting the cylinder in the frame, maybe I'm just to nervous in the service.
 
advantages to loading off frame

I developed my loader with the express purpose of increasing the accuracy of my Old Army. I had tried the other loaders out there, but they all had one shortcoming, repeatability. I did my share of reloading and wanted to bring that same consistency to the loading bench. I could control the powder charge and even weigh each bullet, but to seat each bullet to the same depth in the cylinder chamber was a variable and subjective to "feel".
With The Triple P loader, I know that each time I lower the loading lever, it's seating the ball/bullet to the same depth every time, consistency at the loading bench directly effects accuracy at the firing line. Sure it's a bit more time consuming to load off frame, but as previous posters have mentioned, it gives one the opportunity to clean the firearm before shooting again, which also effects the accuracy of a firearm over prolonged periods of shooting.
 
I always buy spare cylinders for whatever is my current BP revolver,so it's a natural to load off frame.I had two Remmies and six cylinders,at one time.Currently I have a Rogers and Spencer with one percussion cylinder,and one for cartridges.
 
I know that each time I lower the loading lever, it's seating the ball/bullet to the same depth every time, consistency at the loading bench directly effects accuracy at the firing line
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that consistency in the amount of compression was more important than fore and aft location of the ball in the chamber. If there is any variability in the amount of powder thrown by your measure (even as little as 0.25 grains) loading to the same location will result in varying amounts of compression from load to load. Or is location more important than powder compression? Do you have any comparative data?
 
I like to load off the frame i fitted the wedge on my Colt it just took a few passes with a file and then i polished it with a stone now it just takes a tap with a screwdriver butt and the wedge is out. It is no slower than taking the cylinder out of my Remington.

Mike
 
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear. The volume in the chamber is a constant, The ball diameter is a theoretical constant. Once you come to realize how deep you need to seat the ball in the chamber to achieve the desired pressure on your selected charge, the only variable becomes the amount of powder placed in each chamber of the cylinder. You simply lock the seating depth and let the loader do the work for you, it will seat the ball to the same depth every time.
 
"How deep you seat the ball" for maximum accuracy would be slightly under the face of the cylinder, including filler, if used. Mykeal is correct; unless you're weighing out your charges, they will be inconsistantly compressed, no matter where you seat the ball.
 
That's exactly my preferred loading method, just below flush from the face of the cylinder, 35 gr under a lubed wad with my Old Army.
 
for good accurasy in an old army at 25 mtrs we find 21grs powder topped with filler and ball seated just below the cylinder rim topped with lithium grease-- perfect .forget your lubed wads there rubbish for whimps.
 
I hunt deer at close range and want maximum penetration on impact. I can sacrifice a little on accuracy to insure a humane harvest.
 
Someone here has already done a study on shooting with lubed wads and has proven that wads reduce fouling without the use of messy over the ball lube. No whimpy womans loads will do for hunting when it comes to humanely harvesting bambi. 21 grs may work well for you cutting paper Warder, but I don't eat wood pulp...LOL!
 
hi 6GUN,using those loads with a dopy wad it sounds as if you don't eat much BAMBI either. LOL
 
Truth is, I had about 400 lbs of venison go through my freezer in the past year! Sure tastes better then tree bark!
 
Warder, I just went to your profile to see who you are. Your profile says you are a new member and haven't made any friends yet.....somehow that didn't surprise me.
 
If I hadn't bought the loader from Powder Inc. a while ago I'd buy one of these for the same price that I had paid.

Wads are nice & admittedly help in accuracy in 2 of my pieces but 2 others don't seem to like em as much as going Naked & grease over ball or just my lubed conical, it really depends on the revolver on what it's going to like for accuracy, for instance my little Pietta '58 with it's 5.5" barrel likes a 30gr. FFFG charge, lighter loads seem to open the groups up a little where my 1860 likes a light 24gr. FFFG load.
 
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