Old Army - R&D Cylinder - Cowboy ammunition

[geraldbergeron]

Hi,

I found this forum and I read your posts regularly. Great forum !!! I learned a lot and I even bought an Old Army BP revolver; what a pleasure.

I just found a R&D cylinder.

I am looking for ammunition: .45 Colt LC "cowbow ammunition", as requidred by R&D

I found Remington .45 Colt ( code R45C )

Is that it ?

I do no understand what is really "Cowbow ammunition" . I know that the speeed must be under 800-900 fps.

Is the Remington a "Cowbow ammunition" ??

If not, what should I buy ??

Any advice will be welcome.

Thank you, from a new Cap n Ball shooter ( or at least... I am trying to be...)

Gerald.................................................................................................................../

 

[unspellable]

I have some Winchester cowboy ammo in 45 Colt. The bullet weight is the same as regular stuff and the velocity is specified as only a wee tad less so for my Old Army I don't worry about it, any factory ammo will do unless it's some of the hot rod stuff from the small makers. The RD cylinder is proofed with a standard SAAMI proof load so pressure is not an issue. The Old Army frame is probably twice as strong as any other cap and ball revolver frame you can name so I figure there's no point in worrying about it.

For cap and ball revolvers other than the Old Army I would take the cowboy level loads only advice a bit more seriously. I would not run an RD cylinder in a brass framed revolver at all unless I had really light hand loads.

Now, having said all that, I am planning to load some 45 brass with BP or Pyrodex. One does want the proper cloud, stink, and dirt.

The difference between cowboy loads and regular loads in factory ammo seems to be greater in other calibers.

 

[Thaenatos]

Can you elaborate on your recipe for the load you are making?

Primer, grains, bullet?

I'm going to load some .45 LC for my conversion cylinder, I haven't done any research yet though.

 

[geraldbergeron]

Hi

Thank you for the answer.

Can you elaborate on your recipe for the load you are making?

I would be interested too.

-Black powder: ...???

-Smoleless powder...???

...........................................................Gerald...................../

 

[unspellable]

BP load

I did not have a specific load in mind as of yet. But in general, for BP or Pyrodex, use a lead bullet and a standard primer. The important point is that any BP or Prodex load must be slightly compressed, no air space allowed. For a full charge load you find the amount of powder that will be slightly compressed when the bullet is seated. For lighter loads you put a wad under the bullet to take up the air space. With BP, modern brass, and a full charge load you will actually be slightly under the old time BP factory load as modern brass has slightly less capacity than the old balloon head cases of yesteryear. Cartridge loads seem to like their powder a bit coarser than the equivalent muzzle loader charge, so I'd start with 2 Fg.

 

[highlander 5]

I think your biggest problem is going to be the right bullet diameter. IIRC Ruger OA uses a .457 dia ball or conical bullet.
Factory 45 Colt may not shoot well as bullet dia is .454 but I think the bullets are hollw base and near straight lead so they might expand.
you may have to cast your own conical bullet if you intend to load for the OA

 

[unspellable]

diameter

The .457 ball is shaved down when it's loaded. The groove diameter is closer to 45 Colt, so that's not an issue.