Lead Rings during pistol loading

[Elbert P . Suggins]

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere in the past threads but could somebody tell me how careful they are with picking up and disposing of lead rings after the round ball is seated? With the Remington 58 cylinders being easy to remove it is easy to pick out the lead rings if I am using the loading stand that you mount the cylinder on. But when loading Colt's and 58s if loaded while in the gun it seems like the rings can be pushed down in the cylinder or even hard to recover most of the time. It doesn't seem to affect accuracy but I have wondered if other shooters think of this? Also it seems a little difficult lately in finding .375 round balls for a Navy Arms Navy so I bought a box of conicals from Buffalo Bullet Company. I will never do that again because they are very hard to get started straight and they always want to start crooked. I almost thru the rest of them away and I know you most certainly don't turn them the other way.

 

[madcratebuilder]

I know what you mean about the rings. I don't worry about them, they are only a few thousandth thick, and soft.
I had the same problems with conicals that a friend gave me to try. I have a loading stand coming, I well try them with it, maybe it well be easier to start them straight. That's why I have always shoot round ball.

 

[Tommygunn]

Conicals are often hard to get in straight. Pietta loading rams have a concave milled out from the face of the rammer, and this might tend to seat conicals crooked, or mash the nose done.
Uberti rams are milled in the inverse shape to the conicals, so they work with round balls OK and won't can't the conical bullets ... atleast in theory, but I've never had a problem.

 

[Elbert P . Suggins]

The 51 Navy I have does not give a maker, but only that is a Navy Arms Co. But it is made in Italy. I can't even keep the conicals straight even while turning the cylinder over to the ramrod position. And I really do think there is starting to appear a shortage in lead because .36 roundballs could always be found here in my part of Idaho untill just a few months ago. They can keep their conicals. $9.00 for Buffalo conicals at 50 a box. Crimany Sakes!!

 

[Hellgate]

I've never worried about the rings. I give the gun a shake before applying over ball grease and pick the fragments that stick out but that is about it.
As for conicals, I use the home cast LEE 130gr 36cal conical. I have a '61 Navy and Remington Navies so they have plenty of room for seating conicals. The LEE bullet has stepped diameter driving bands so the first and often the second driving band enters the chambers and they stay aligned nicely. They are accurate but shoot a few inches higher than the ball.

 

[DuncanSA]

I use a loading stand and, having loaded, the lead rings are left of top of the cylinder. I simply flick them into the bullet box and in due course back into the melting pot. I would love to say that I am "ecologically motivated" but it is really pure Scots economy. I reckon that in the last 5 years or so I have converted these rings into at least two .44 balls (OK, maybe 1 and a half).

 

[Hellgate]

"I reckon that in the last 5 years or so I have converted these rings into at least two .44 balls (OK, maybe 1 and a half)."
That is just so classic! I'm with you on the concept even though I don't save the rings. I have done similar such things as saving the little ball from empty ballpoint pens. Some day I'll have enough for a shotgun shell.