1860 Uberti and R&D drop in cylinder range report

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Following is the range data from an article I just submitted on the R&D 45 cylinder in my 1860 Uberti.  As it was a cold, wet, windy day, I am sure these groups could be improved on.  Unfortunately, as life has been very cray, this was the first time in 3 months I have had a opportunity to shoot, and the last opportunity for the next month.  I decided to do it, figuring the weather will get worse rather than better.

"For this article, I used the following smokeless ammunition:
1)   Black Hills .45 Colt 250 grain.
2)   Black Hills .45 Schofield 230 grain.
3)   Black Hills .45 Schofield 180 grain
Once again, the shooting was done at 10 yards, traditional two hand hold. "

"The 250 grain .45 Colt ammunition from Black Hills printed a group about seven inches above point of aim, centered with a group that was about three inches in diameter.  The Black hills 230 grain Schofield load group was about six inches above point of aim, and about two and a half inches.  Finally, the Black hills 180 grain Schofield ammunition grouped about 5 inches above point of aim, and about four and a half inch to five inches in diameter."

I plan on putting a taller front sight on the 1860 so it will match the POI with my 1872 Open Top.

I am working on the 45 Colt Open Top article, as well as an 1858 Remington R&D article now.

[Fox Creek Kid]

FWIW, during the winter of 2001 - 2002 I shot some Black Hills factory .44 Colt "smokeyless" cartridges that I had won in a RM conversion just to empty the brass so to speak, to be reloaded with real BP. Anyways, WORST case of leading I've ever seen in a revolver!!! Sheets of lead on the cylinder face & the barrel looked like a musket on the inside!! It took me a week to clean out the lead!!! My point is this, with BP cartridges this revolver is dead nuts on at CAS distances (to 15 yds.) but with "smokeyless" was all over the map, initially high then all over, probably due to leading.

I'm not trying to take away from T.L.'s test here, just that these guns shoot way differently with real BP than w/ "smokeyless" in my experiences & usually more accurately & close to POA. I'd like to see him trudge back to the range & try some BP loads. 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

That very true!

I shoot a 147 grain round ball from the same gun with FFFG Goex and Bore Butter, and it will shoot about 3-4" high, and 1" or less at the same range!  Even with a prodex pellet and a wonder wad, the group only opens up to 2".

They were designed for BP and round (or conical) balls with minimal bearing surface on the rifling, but seemed to shoot better and lead less!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

T.L.  What you observed was quite normal.  In a pistol, recoil and barrel time seem to cancel each other out, leaving bullet weight as the determining factor.  The heavier the bullet/ball, the higher the group.  Conversly lighter projectiles shoot lower.

While there may be some affect from the different pressure curves of differing types of powder, I havn't been able to detect it.  I don't have a mchine rest, etc., to do it scientific like.

[Jubel]

As for leading I've had a lot of luck using liquid ALOX no matter what powder I use. Leading dosen't seem to be a problem with that. Plus I've made it a practice to Sweet Shooter coat my bores for and against soft lead bullets .

[Gripmaker]

TL,   Have been shooting BP guns for years and have found that cartridges used in original sized barrels, ie. .38 Colt in .375 barrel or 45 Colt in .454 (.44) barrel usually takes a hollow based bullet OR just load appropriate sized round ball into case, crimp lightly and SHOOT.  Works great and RBs w/BP shoot quite accurately. They shoot high because everyone is still installing the original combat sized front sights which are normally calibrated to 75 yds.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I plan on installing a taller front sight during Chritmas break.  If I cant find a SAA type sight in my junk, I will probably use a piece of old nickel or dime.  I'd like it to be about 2" above point of aim with round ball and 3 inch with Schofield loads in the R&D