Any problems for Model 3 .44 Russian with BP

[Dusty Morningwood]

Need info please.  I am in the process of acquiring a used, but not abused Navy Arms Model 3 in .44 Russian.  Thought it might make a nice backup and alternate gun for my pair of .44 Open Tops.  I have heard horror stories about Schofields binding up with Holy Black.  Do the Model 3s have the same problem or is it a matter of enough bullet lube and keeping a good spritz of Ballistol handy between stages?

[Joss House]

Just to clarify, Schofields and Russians are both model 3's as are the Laramie's. To answer your question, the cylinder is slightly shorter and the 'window' of barrel to cylinder is larger with an minute offset on the Russian. This greatly enhances the use of black powder as compared to the Schofield or the Uberti/Beretta Laramie. If you apply a liberal amount of grease on the cylinder pin or use American Pioneer powder you will have a better outcome. I use APP in my Schofields and a lot of grease with Goex BP in my Russians, both originals and replicas.

Bottom line is, you have to experiment to find the right combination that works for you. My two Schofields (both made by Uberti) handle black powder differently. That's why I settled on APP in my Schofields.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Thanks Joss!  I will be shooting Big Lube bullets and Goex FFG.  I have some real good gun grease I use on the base pins of my Open Tops before every shoot.  A little spritz of Moose Milk every once in a while helps, too. 

[Sgt. Eli]

When I first started to shoot BP in my Russians I tried APP and Big Lube Bullets due to constant badgering from a friend of mine. Results were dismal for me, guns would barely get 5 rounds before binding occurred. I went with a formula that has worked for me in other calibers.
Regular smokeless lube 165 grain .44 bullet
1cc of 2FF Goex
card wad
1/8" grease cookie of 50/50 beeswax~Crisco
Now I really don't know how many rounds I can shoot thru them befiore they bind because I have only shot up to 6 stages in a day with them....no binding....no spraying, just load and shoot. Accuracy is superb. I won my category in the BP mini-match at the Guns of August Regional with this combo so I am very happy with it.

[Joss House]

American Pioneer Powder and a big lubed bullet is a case of disaster. It will create gummed up gunk. APP doesn't need grease lube as it creates it's own lube when fired. APP works fine with unlubed bullets as cast or bullets with the smokeless hard wax in the groves but stay away from lube when using APP. As I stated before, "use a liberal amount of grease 'OR' American Pioneer Powder'.

[Sgt. Eli]

Joss, when I was trying my pards method I used APP with a regular smokeless bullet, and the big lube bullets with GOEX. The big lube/GOEX combo was marginally better than the APP.