New purchase came in - Army Richards Mason in .44 colt

[Marshal Deadwood]

Cleaned her out and up, shot 12 times..right decent and just about one inch above poa at 15 yds. I think I'll be most content with this revolver.

[Mako]

MD,
That's cool... 

Is your Open Top in .44 Colt?  I was just wondering why you got .44Colt.  Availability? The markings on the barrel?

~Mako

[Marshal Deadwood]

My OT is .44 colt also.

MD

[Coffinmaker]

If you haven't already, try .44 Russian cases.  Somewhat close to an original cartridge.  It's a HOOT!!

Coffinmaker

[Montana Slim]

Yes, I think you'll enjoy the R-M...I have an early pair of  consecutive SN guns with 7 1/2 in barrels in .44 Colt.
Also have a O-T, 5 1/2" barrel, Army grip, also in .44 Colt. I too use the .44 Russian cartridge (works good in my od S&W, too).

Slim

[Marshal Deadwood]

What black powder load you gents shooting in the Russian cases ?

My trial today was with .44 colt brass from Starline .

Isn't the 44colt brass today close at all to .44 colt back in the day ? I understand the differences in the primer cavity.

MD

[Montana Slim]

For .44 Russian, I'm currently running 1.22 cc of KIK 2F, MV approximately 630 fps with the MAV 200 grain bullet.
i like the short cases for the .44 revolvers, as it makes it easy to discriminate between the longer 44-40 I shoot in my rilfes.

Slim

[Coffinmaker]

For the .44 Russian case, I just load APP to the base of the bullet and let 'er rip.  I haven't weighed the load, I shoot a 160Gr bullet (gamer load) and Federal Small Pistol Magnum primers.

Smokeless, I shoot same bullet, 3.3Gr Tightgroup, same primer ('nother gamer load).  My '66 has a modified carrier so it will cycle Russian cases with the 160Gr bullet like wet grain thru a Goose.  Tons of FUN!!!

Coffinmaker

[Marshal Deadwood]

Went back out today, and shot 12 more rounds,,,that RM really eats the red out of a bulls-eye. I am uber pleased with the revolver so far. Then had to stop ,,wanted to cast some fodder for the 50-70 trapdoor rifle. Hope to give the old girl a wee run tomorrow.

MD

[Fox Creek Kid]

I use FFFg in Russian cases & FFg in .44 Colt. I use the Lee 1.3 cc dipper for Russians & 1.6 cc for .44 Colt. I've tried every primer type & powder type & for my money GOEX (especially FFg) with a CCI Mag. primer shoots the best in all guns. I only shoot .44 Russians in my '72 OT's and .44 Colts in my conversions. For me they seem to shoot better that way. YMMV.

[Crow Choker]

"Yo" Marshall: How is the OT and RM shootin for ya since you last posted? When I purchased a Cimm OT and a Uberti 66 'Yellowboy', I got both in 44 Spec chambering and also ordered 500 rds each of 44 Colt and 44 Spec brass from Starline. The plan and still being carried out was to load black in the 44 Colt and smokless in the 44 Spec. That way I would not have to play quessing games in each caliber as to what type powder had been loaded and to sort of retain tradition for each caliber. Back in Dec of 2010 I purchased a Richards II in 44 Spec to partner up with the OT and Yellowboy. I started out shooting pretty much equal rds of each caliber through the OT and YB, but have graduated to shooting mostly 44 Colt fodder through the revolvers. Before getting any of the guns, I was a dedicated lover of shooting various Cap and Ball revolvers (since around 1972) and still am. Shooting the OT and Rich II with the black in 44 Colt loadings is like shooting Cap an' Balls with "speed loaders"! Started out using approx 25 grains of FFF and a soft cast Lee 200 g. RF bullet sized .430. Was a good round, then purchased one of DD's Mav Dutch molds lubed with either DD's Pearl or SPG. Very good round also, both were good point or aimed shooters (accuracy wise) anywhere from 10-25 yds (even shots past 25, but within reason of the gun). Sometime back, Fox Creek Kid posted that he had better results using FF black in a 25 grain loading. Can't recall if he or someone else pointed out that the pressure curve or spike was less with the FF over using FFF, thus being a little easier on the gun. Gave 25 g's of FF a try and am real happy with it. Suspect that his recent post of using the Lee 1.6 cc dipper for the 44 Colt is approx 25 grains. Just got a set of them and will have to weigh out a 1.6 cc dipper. Tried 26 and 27 grains of FF and FFF, but didn't see any advantage in accuracy over 25. If  flame, smoke, and boom is the desired affect over bullet placement, quess 25+ would be the ticket. The 66 Yellowboy digests the 44 Colt rds with no problem. Had read reports of problems in shooting 44 Colt rds in 44 Spec chambered rifles, but so far I haven't, quess my carrier in it likes being nice to me. Still shoot alot of Specials(loaded mostly with  Trailboss, Tightgroup, or Red Dot powders and Win LP primers) threw the Yellow Boy. Use either Federal LP mag or Winchester primers with the black powder, haven't decided yet which I like or work best. Well, there ya have it, just my $0.02 for FYI! Good shooting!!

[Pony Racer]

I run 44 russian out of my two pairs of 44 special 1872 OT's with 5.5 inch barrels.

What can I say i liked my antiqued pair so much that I also got a pair with the regular finish:)!

I run 1.0cc of Scheutzen FFG out of mine with 205 grain pill from Parson Pills (aka Parson Delacroix) and at SASS ranges if I do my part that load does its part as well.

PR