Took my Uberti 7th Cav .45 out and fired some of my black powder cartridges in remembrance of one of my heroes on the anniversary of his death. Maybe not politically correct but I don’t care. Custer was a true Civil War hero and always fought for what he believed in. Just a short video for fun.
Custer Anniversary Shooting
- Thread starter Jimster
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American Finn
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George Armstrong Custer from Monroe, MI (his statue is prominent in his hometown) and the 1st and 7th Michigan Cavalry will forever be immortalized by their actions at Gettysburg on July 3rd. He stirred his men to action by crying out "Come on you Wolverines!" as they met JEB Stuart's cavalry at the East Cavalry Field. Yes, I agree with you Jimster he was a hero for his actions that day. This is a fitting tribute to him and the men who served under him.
Ugly Sauce
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Well the man was ambitious that's for sure. And there were quite a few hero's among the tribes that day. Those loads looked kind of soft. Was the 7th using the Colt 40 grain load, or the Scofield cartridge on that fateful day? What powder charge and cartridge case were you shooting?
I have heard that George was using a pair of non-Colt, double action revolvers on that mission/march/action? Anyone know if that is true?
I have heard that George was using a pair of non-Colt, double action revolvers on that mission/march/action? Anyone know if that is true?
.455_Hunter
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Mrs. Custer stayed with my relatives while her husband went out on campaign in 1876. My Grandma remembered any negative commentary about him was not well received by that side of the family.
And yes, the working theory is that he was armed with a pair of Webley .442 RIC revolvers.
And yes, the working theory is that he was armed with a pair of Webley .442 RIC revolvers.
I stuff my Starline cases as full as practically possible with 3f Goex and use “Big Lube” pure lead boolits. There is a slight crunch of powder when I seat the boolit. No airspace of course. I suppose that could considered “soft” compared to a .44 Magnum.
Oops! I just noticed I kept my finger inside the trigger guard after I was finished shooting. I have a bad habit of that when shooting single actions. Bad bad bad!
Oops! I just noticed I kept my finger inside the trigger guard after I was finished shooting. I have a bad habit of that when shooting single actions. Bad bad bad!
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Ugly Sauce
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Well I'm sure that my perception of the load from watching it fired in a video, is miles apart from the reality of it, or how much "authority" it really had. When I shoot my EL Patron with 40 grains and a 250 grain bullet, it sure has some zip-n-boom to it. It really POPS! If I watched myself shooting it on video, I'd probably get the same impression.
I agree, shooting my .44mag with full power, red-line loads is a whole other story. Completely different animal. A horse of another color. !!!
Armored farmer
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I have visited the LBH battlefields twice. A Very solemn place.
Your tribute was a good and fitting remembrance.
Your tribute was a good and fitting remembrance.
1KPerDay
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I don’t think it’s bad. On SAA’s there’s really no practicable other place to put your index finger. And with the hammer down on an empty revolver you’re in no danger of harming anything. People worry too much about the optics of safety lately IMO.
Ergonomically the design is intended for your index finger to be inside the trigger guard if you’re holding the gun. You don’t cock the gun unless you’re intending to shoot, and once you shoot… the hammer is down and safe. *shrugs*
I’m sure others will disagree.
wbm
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lol! In my part of the world, they celebrate June 25 because that is the day he was shot.
Ugly Sauce
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Yes, hero's on both sides.
UncleEd
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Regarding the black powder load for the
.45 Colt, I believe that the powder load
was dropped to 38 grains. It seemed the
full-house proved a bit too much sometimes
and blow the SAA's cylinder and top strap.
The steel or rather iron in the 1870s SAA was
a bit on the weak side.
.45 Colt, I believe that the powder load
was dropped to 38 grains. It seemed the
full-house proved a bit too much sometimes
and blow the SAA's cylinder and top strap.
The steel or rather iron in the 1870s SAA was
a bit on the weak side.
Armored farmer
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Terry G
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I read that Custer was using two British "Bulldogs" in .450 Caliber. Double Action Revolvers.
Ugly Sauce
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Which I assume were the .442 RIC's. ?
Ugly Sauce
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Not sure about that, I believe two grains of black would make no difference. I think what you are getting at is the whole .45 Colt/.45 Schofield cartridge deal.
Ugly Sauce
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A fully-loaded BP 250gr 45 Colt is a bear.
Don't let anyone say otherwise unless they've shot them themselves.
I agree, in a 7.5" barrel the 40grain load will produce 1000fps. In my 5.5" barrel, I get velocities in the high 800/low900fps, with 42 grains under a 250.
UncleEd
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No, I am referring only to the .45 Colt.
On page 123 of Mike Venturino's book "Shooting
Colt Single Actions," he said originally 40 grains
but that composition is not readily known. Shortly
after introduction of the SAA, civilian loads were
reduced to 35 grains and for military 30 grains,
using in both loads a 250 grain bullet, Venturino
reports.
HIs own black powder loads reflect the 35 grain
loading and for the .45 S&W it is 27 grains.
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memtb
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As I remember the history of the encounter with JEB Stewart’s calvary......the Union Calvary was in full, undisciplined retreat, some on foot.....when JEB Stewart, was shot through the liver by a Union Calvary Soldier running for his life!
Perhaps someone well versed in the history of the War Between the States, could verify or dispute this! memtb
Perhaps someone well versed in the history of the War Between the States, could verify or dispute this! memtb
Ugly Sauce
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Okay, wonder why they reduced the load. Certainly was not to prevent the Colts from blowing up. I will say, again, that if a gun is two grains away from exploding with black powder, it's not the powder's fault. Or in other words, if two grains made the difference between guns blowing up, or not, man that's cutting it close! Also, once the powder measures (in the ammo factory) were set for, or to throw 40 grains, any change in granulation, moisture content, or whatever, the final charge thrown into a case could be 38 grains, over 40, or anything in between. ?
UncleEd
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Weather and temperatures have
an effect on loadings.
Used to work at a rifle range and
saw in summer a number of rifles
blown apart.
Shooters exceeded by-the-book
loads because they loaded in the
winter or spring and saw no pressure
signs. They assumed the by-the-book loads
were too cautionary. Then in summer,
with temps way up, kaboom!
And remember, the quality of steel/iron
has improved by leaps and bounds since
the 1870s. Great breakthroughs in firearms
steels really came about in the early
1950s.
an effect on loadings.
Used to work at a rifle range and
saw in summer a number of rifles
blown apart.
Shooters exceeded by-the-book
loads because they loaded in the
winter or spring and saw no pressure
signs. They assumed the by-the-book loads
were too cautionary. Then in summer,
with temps way up, kaboom!
And remember, the quality of steel/iron
has improved by leaps and bounds since
the 1870s. Great breakthroughs in firearms
steels really came about in the early
1950s.
Last edited:
.455_Hunter
Member
Relevance to this thread"s discussion?
Not sure about any relevance but can you imagine the burning heat from the sun and wool uniforms with blazing hot gun barrels from countless black powder shots with sweat and dust in your eyes, hearts pounding from shear terror and bullets and arrows killing everyone around you!? I realize that heroes were on both sides but the total horror of the experience is almost nauseating to me. Impossible for me to imagine.
NIGHTLORD40K
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I got to handle a verified, lettered 7th Cav. SAA recently. It had been cut and refinished for Phillipines service and the stocks replaced - with RAC cartouches too- but was in decent shape The shop was asking $14K and it sold pretty quickly.
mokin
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@Jimster Thanks for sharing a personal commemoration. Every time I see someone shooting black powder I tell myself that's something I need to get into.
@Armored farmer, I've wanted to visit the Little Big Horn battlefield for a long time.
For those really interested in the battle, I recommend "Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle" by Richard Allen Fox, Jr. It's dry the only way an archaeological report can be but is highly informative. Because this is a shooting forum, there are pages and pages explaining different cartridges, bullets, who was shooting what, and maps based on the location of cartridge cases and bullets that can give a good idea of how that battle went.
@Armored farmer, I've wanted to visit the Little Big Horn battlefield for a long time.
For those really interested in the battle, I recommend "Archaeology, History, and Custer's Last Battle" by Richard Allen Fox, Jr. It's dry the only way an archaeological report can be but is highly informative. Because this is a shooting forum, there are pages and pages explaining different cartridges, bullets, who was shooting what, and maps based on the location of cartridge cases and bullets that can give a good idea of how that battle went.
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