First shots R&D conversion

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · June 14, 2009, 08:09:31 PM

Well, pards, I took that Ruger Old Army with the conversion cylinder I bin talkin about to the range today. Managed to find one gunshop in the area that had cowboy loads, but they weren't bp, worse luck. Anyway, put 50 rounds thru it in under an hour. What a sweet shooter!

(though I did miss the flash, smoke, and smell

) Got my fill of that, then went back to the bp cylinder and satisfied that other need we all have...fire and brimstone!

Next question is, since my local shops don't even know that cowboy loads come in bp, can I reload the brass I now have? I've never done any reloading, so I'd need all the equipment and all the advice I can get. I live in CA so pyrodex is my only choice, or so I've been told.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom up til now, and all in the future!
JBJH

Fiddler Green · June 14, 2009, 08:22:55 PM

Yea, you can!

I live in Capitola (near Santa Cruz) and re-load BP for my .45 Colts. If you want to come down and shoot the next Faultline Match, I'll bring some extra ammo for you to try. I get my bullets from Springfiled Slim (he's on this site) and I mail order my BP from Graf and Sons. Let me know if you want to try it.

Bruce

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · June 16, 2009, 12:27:01 PM

Quote from: Fiddler Green on June 14, 2009, 08:22:55 PM
If you want to come down and shoot the next Faultline Match, I'll bring some extra ammo for you to try.

Fiddler (Bruce),
Thanks. At this point, I'm a newbie...just started shooting, much less shooting bp, but I'd love to come to a match and see how everything works. I live about 40 miles north of San Francisco and haven't found any matches in the local area to attend. The only shooting club is about an hour north in Ukiah. I haven't joined yet. I wasn't sure if the law in this state allowed me to order bp and bullets, so it's great to find out that I can.
JBJH

Dalion · June 17, 2009, 12:50:28 PM

Jethro,

I live in Novato and shoot both at Faultline and at the Richmond Rod & Gun. We just shot our semi monthly match last Sunday at Richmond. The Richmond Rod & Gun will have a casual CAS practice the second Saturday of July starting a 9AM. It is very casual, don't have to be in full regalia to join us (I always am anyway), but jeans and sneakers are fine, just come and shoot.

I'll be heading down to shoot a Faultline the weekend after next. Great bunch of folks at Faultline. Their friendliness and willingness to help out a greenhorn was the final push I needed to get me started in CAS. I try and make the Faultline shoot every month I can.

Dalion, known by a few as Shootist Dan Novato

Dick Dastardly · June 17, 2009, 07:10:11 PM

Hang on to that empty brass. It's gold!!

Yes, you can, and should, reload it. Holy Black begs for 'em big 45 Colt bottles. It snuggles in under 'em Big Lube™ boolits and delivers bone smashing accuracy.

Let 'er flicker!!

DD-DLoS

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · June 17, 2009, 08:49:11 PM

Thanks, Dalion. Thanks, Dick.

Now, can someone tell me what kind of loading equipment I shud look for and where (online, local gun shop, pards on this forum, etc.). Remember, I'm a total tenderfoot greenhorn city slicker. Fiddler gave me some pointers for bp and boolits, and I know you sell 'em too, Dick. (Bin to yer website several times, just don't know what I'm looking at or for.)

Heck a'fire! Maybe I shud start a whole new thread! "Greenhorn seeking advice on loading bp cartridges"

Jethro

Flint · June 17, 2009, 10:00:07 PM

By the way, Jethro, an awful lot of shooters would be overjoyed if their range were a mere hour's drive away...............

Wagon Box Willy · June 20, 2009, 12:10:29 PM

Jethro,

As a noob as well I did a lot of research and decided on a Lee kit for reloading my 45. One of the best deals out there is this Lee Clasic turret kit by Kempf Gun Shop

I bought locally and picked up the Lee Anniversary Kit though I think the turret is a bit better but with my single stage Breech Lock Challenger press I can reload about 100 an hour in BP and a bit more in smokeless.

There are lots of very expensive reloaders on the market and if you're planning on shooting more than a few hundred rounds a week maybe you should consider them but for me at this stage of the hobby the Lee Kit is more than adequate.

- Willy

Blackpowder Burn · June 21, 2009, 07:34:45 AM

Jethro,

If you've got a little more green to spend, you can't do better than a Dillon progressive press. You can buy a basic Square Deal for a little over $300 (including dies), or you can spend more on fancier models if you want. They make it a snap to load smokeless powder loads (althoug I rarely do nowadays!). You can also load Holy Black very safely by leaving the powder hopper empty and manually removing the case, charging with BP, and then reinserting it and carrying on with the progressive operation. There are also a lot of folks who use these presses to progressively load BP by installing a metal powder hopper on the press (can be bought from Buffalo Arms). I have one, but haven't tried it yet - I'm happy enought with manually charging the brass with powder.

Dillon really means it when the say they have a "No BS Warranty". I shipped an OLD Square Deal back to them with a simple problem and they rebuilt the entire thing, including all bushings, primer feed system and shell plate. They're a great company.

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · June 23, 2009, 09:23:35 AM

Thanks Willy and Aggie, I'll check 'em out.

Dalion · June 24, 2009, 11:15:13 AM

Hey Jethro,

Did you get my message? I don't know if it when through or not.

Shootist Dan

Jethro "Black Jack" Harris · June 25, 2009, 03:45:30 PM

I had one pm from you if that's what you mean? I read it and replied. Did you send a second?
JBJH

Tequila Jim · June 25, 2009, 04:10:39 PM

There is a Cowboy club in Ukiah. It is on the same road as Vichi Springs. They shoot 3rd Sunday of the month.
Contact Will Bonner 707-462-1466. Regards, TJ

Wolfgang · June 26, 2009, 08:04:38 AM

I'm in Calfornia too, . and get real Black powder from Powder Inc. 5 lbs shipped UPS to my door. For new reloaders I suggest keeping it simple. A single stage Lee press. For Black Powder ya can make yur own dipper out of a filed off case since a case full ( sic ) that leaves space for the bullet and a little compression is all you need. Dies. And yur ready to be a reloader. I have three presses but keep that single stage Lee on a peice of plywood that can be "C" clamped to the table in my rolling bunkhouse for loading on the road. Just my $ .03 if of any value. You will buy more presses anyway . . . along with more guns and more of EVERYTHING . . .

More stuff ? . . . http://www.drburkholter.com/cf6.html

Fiddler Green · June 26, 2009, 10:40:52 AM

Quote from: Wolfgang on June 26, 2009, 08:04:38 AM
I'm in Calfornia too, . and get real Black powder from Powder Inc.

Holy Crap! They are expensive! At least for Goex. You might want to checkout Graf &Sons prices, if you're buying less then 50 pounds.

Bruce

Noz · June 26, 2009, 01:36:55 PM

I don't know what the price ranges are right now, but last fall our club put together a Black Powder buy. We checked prices at all sources that we knew of and bought the powder from Powder, Inc.
Easy folks to deal with. Placed order over the net, faxed the information sheet and had the powder in hand in 3-4 days.

Dalion · June 27, 2009, 12:53:44 PM

Howdy Jethro,

Yeah that was it. My computer hiccuped just as I was sending the message so I didn't know if you got it.

Hope to see you at one of the shoots soon.

Fiddler Green · June 29, 2009, 08:15:41 AM

Quote from: Noz on June 26, 2009, 01:36:55 PM
I don't know what the price ranges are right now, but last fall our club put together a Black Powder buy. We checked prices at all sources that we knew of and bought the powder from Powder, Inc.
Easy folks to deal with. Placed order over the net, faxed the information sheet and had the powder in hand in 3-4 days.

Yea, it's always good to check current prices. I just did and that's why I was so surprised.

Bruce