Have a pound of FFFFg Goex, safe loads for 1860 Army and/or 45 Colt?

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Ok thank you for verifying that, I had a little bit of worry the first few times I loaded it. I'm just buying balls from cabelas right now haven't gotten into casting my own yet. The ring of lead that .454 shaves off is always the exact same, and its plenty accurate. Just glad to know that I'm not gonna blow my arm off seating the ball. Also I wish someone would make a decent cylinder loading tool as the reviews on the one from traditions arent good at all.
 
chute2thrill said:
Also I wish someone would make a decent cylinder loading tool

There are some fine cylinder loading presses available.
One is the Big Lube Tower of Power:

http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.aspx?ItemID=1302742a-9e12-41e5-881f-f99340c6d9e6

http://www.biglube.com/

Another is from Powder, Inc. & Black Dawg cartridge:

http://www.blackdawgecartridge.com/catalog/bd_cyl_loader.html

http://www.powderinc.com/catalog/index.html

Yet another less expensive press that hasn't been reviewed is made by Rydon Corp. (RMC) and sold by Buffalo Arms:

http://www.buffaloarms.com/Loading_stand_for_black_powder_revolvers_pr-3814.aspx
 
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Well thank you arcticap! Which one do you prefer? I've never bought anything from any of those companies, are the reputable?
 
I have a Triple P press that's no longer available for purchase. But the first two that I listed are sold by reputable companies and both are very similar to each other. I believe that the Tower of Power press is the updated version of what are basically the same presses. That model has 2 flat support structures instead of one round support structure, but they have similar bases. Both presses have received good reviews from users here.
 
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Howdy Again

I have been shooting Cap & Ball revolver since 1968. I never saw the need for a separate press to load the cylinders. That's what the loading lever under the barrel is for.
 
Well like you stated yourself theres a possiblity of damaging the loading lever itself from the loading process. Also I think it would be easier to load the cylinder with a longer handle.
 
Well like you stated yourself theres a possiblity of damaging the loading lever itself from the loading process.

Not when you use the correct size ball. Been doing it a long time without needing a separate loading dohicky. A lot faster when you just use the built in loading lever too. You don't have to remove the cylinder.

If you practice it for a while, you will see how quick and easy it can be to load a C&B revolver just with what came built into the gun.
 
I really enjoy loading my Remington off the frame using a loading press. It's much easier to drop in the pre-measured powder charges, place over powder cards/wads/filler/balls/bullets or grease into each chamber and to ram with the chamber mouths being wide open and accessible.
With extra cylinders, I can load more rounds quicker and easier so that my kids and I have more time for shooting.
Since each model has different loading difficulties, a loading press may not be for everyone. But it sure does help to make loading my Remington .44 and the extra cylinders to be more fun and expedient.
Even a loading stand to simply hold the gun upright during loading would serve a useful purpose at the shooting range. :)
 
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I use the loading press from PowderInc and really like it.

Articap sums things up very well.

If you are using Cream Of Wheat as filler, a press is really needed as COW does not compress. If you use a touch too much COW it's nearly impossible to seat the ball with the pistol loading lever. I know my hand appreciates the round ball on the press over the loading lever.

A loading stand is required in some matches as the rules state "all pistols must be benched" after cease fire is called.
 
Driftwood's right. You almost always have a perfectly good loading lever attached to the gun, and it's no particular trick to use it. I've been shooting percussion revolvers since 1976...never used one of those presses, nor felt rushed for time. And they are not permitted at all in International competition - and the 10-shot groups it takes to win a World Championship are about 2 inches at 25 meters.
 
I'm not sure anyone said there was a trick to using the gun's loading lever. Nor did anyone claim any particular accuracy advantage, so I'm not sure I understand the point about 10 shot 2 1/2 inch groups. And as far as 'needing a separate loading doohicky': it's not a matter of 'need'. Nor is anyone necessarily 'right' about using the loading lever or a loading press.

It's really just a matter of personal choice, like individual preferences for open top or top strap revolvers. I believe I can be more consistent with applying compression using the loading press - perhaps that's not true but I believe it is. It certainly is easier on my hand on those long shooting days when I'm working up a load.

That said, I don't turn around and go back home if the press isn't with me when I get to the range. The press is just a useful tool; I can and often do use the gun's lever when the situation calls for it.

I suppose I could call up the graybeard card too: I've been shooting c&b revolvers over 35 years. I have learned how to use a loading lever, and I've learned how to use a loading press. And I still do both.
 
Well, I guess that's the difference between us. I don't do much load development with a C&B. I shoot them in CAS, and I want to be able to load them quickly and then get back to keeping up with my posse duties. So I go to my cart, charge the chambers with powder, seat some wads, and then seat some balls. I really don't care a whole lot if I have used the exact same amount of compression on each ball, it really doesn't matter for what I'm doing. I simply pull on the loading lever to seat the ball. Once the ball enters it slides in more easily. I simply load by feel, pulling the lever until the ball seats all the way on the wad.

I load two revolvers at a time. Much quicker for me to just use what came on the gun, not bother with one more piece of equipment, I'm already dealing with a carload full of stuff, and not bother taking the cylinders out. When I go to the loading table I seat my caps while everybody else is loading cartridges.
 
I use 4-f in my flash pan on my flintlock,,,3-f in my pistols,also i use Crisco grease for a ball sealer,,,so far its all good,441 Rb gives a tighter seal
 
I can drop the cylinder pretty fast so thats not much of a problem. Also I'm not doing competitive shooting so thats a non issue. I already take the cylinder off to load the powder anyways, I just personally think its easier. Having a separate loading lever would just save wear and tear on the loading arm. Plus its not like I have a genuine made in the USA gun.
 
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