EPP-UG in Pietta NMA

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

DDs  EPP-UG is a "tad" large for the chambers of my Pietta NMA.  Dalton Masterson has also noted this.

I thought that casting in a softer alloy would help, but no!  Still an "almost" fit.

I have the LEE cap'nball bullet mould, and tried fitting it in my Pietta.  Slips in like a *****!  One of the problems in getting the EPP-UG to work is giving it a straight start.  I've been told that using a cylinder loading stand does give it a good start, and it works OK.

The trouble with the Pietta NMA is that the frame contour prevents a straight start, if loading on-the-gun.

Would there be a problem if I filed the frame contour a bit to allow the bullet a straight run?

[Dalton Masterson]

I dont think it would hurt to open that up some. Just have to be careful of your loading lever binding if you go too much. I thought of doing this as well, but to my Colts.
I havent yet. Keep us informed if it works! I think it would work.

[will52100]

Depends on how much your talking about taking out.  I had to trim the sharp corner off of my colt revolvers to accomidate the conicle bullets.   If your not taking too much off shouldn't hurt a thing.  Funny thing is it's gotten to where I shoot more conicles than round balls.  The Lee's are a perfect fit in my Uberties, just wish they came in 6 cavity moulds instead of two.

A posibility with the EPP-UG, I've never tried them, is that Uberties tend to have a sligtly larger chamber.  You may need to try sizing them.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I  thought of sizing 'em, but it's the heel that is the problem.  I measured the bullet.  The smallest measurement was .451 (a bit out of round.)  The largest I could get my electronic calipers to go in the cylinder mouths was .445!

BTW, the EPP-UG are the cats meow for the .45 gamer special! For the .45 special, sizing works great.

I think I'll touch the corner of the frame, and see what happens.  Some of the bullets I poured are a bit round-heeled, and they might be made to work?!

[Dalton Masterson]

I size mine down to .452 when I lube them and they are still just too tall to fit under the frame cutout.
The best solution would be a more pronounced rebate, but then I dont know what that will do for being an effective bullet. Would it still obturate under fire with a smaller base, or would it have a lot of gas trying to go past the base?
I dunno, but I do love them in my 45 Schofields with a full case of black.
DM

[Adirondack Jack]

I size mine .452 in the luber-sizer, and the skirt isn't even touched enough to shine it up.  of course I'm casting em from straight WW for cartridge use.

[Dick Dastardly]

I had a pard call me with this same identical question.  I suggested he tip 'em over and seat 'em backwards.  I did this myself and it works great in my 1860 open tops and my ROAs.  That lil round pumpkin nose drops straight in and the flat end on the rammer starts the bullet square in the chamber.  Cuts nice clean holes in the paper that way also. . .

DD-DLoS

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks DD;   I just did a "try", and it seems very likely to work, and in my Pietta 1860 as well.

This will be on my agenda for my next range visit.

[Dalton Masterson]

Ya know DD, thats a great idea! I had thought that once, but figured that wouldnt work. I guess it would. Will give it a try! DM

[Steel Horse Bailey]

BP wadcutters.  What'll ya think of next, Dick!

[rifle]

The chambers on the Pie eaters are usually small for the rifling "grooves" of the barrels even though they still shoot well enough. The chambers reamed to approx. .451 or maybe .452(depends on the barrels groove diameter) would let the bullet slip in snug but still "slip in" and be sized for consistant accuracy with the conical or the round ball. The Pie Eater Remingtons are usually pretty accurate but...still throw flyers since the chambers are under sized some. Lead doen't bump up exactly the way it should or we would like all the time. Chambers sized to be proper for the barrels groove diameter are the best in my opinion and...would accomodate the bullet mentioned.  I'd ream the chambers of the cylinder to probably .451 inch. I'd measure the barrels grooves diameter than decide if I wanted the bullets sized by the chambers to be right at groove diameter or at .001 or .002 inch over groove diameter.

[Howdy Doody]

Cats out of the bag. DD is right on it. Loading upside down for pistol targets only a matter of few yards away is the cats meow. You get wadcutter performance and the benefit of the EPP lube grooves to boot. Using the loading tool makes it a snap.
I had Wes Fargo do a pair of my ROAs over and as you know with a roaund ball there isn't much need for a forcing cone, but with a 11 degree chamfer on an ROA, bullets upside down, harder WW lead, well you can just guess the results. 

[Mad_Dog]

I had a pard call me with this same identical question.  I suggested he tip 'em over and seat 'em backwards.  I did this myself and it works great in my 1860 open tops and my ROAs.  That lil round pumpkin nose drops straight in and the flat end on the rammer starts the bullet square in the chamber.  Cuts nice clean holes in the paper that way also. . .

DD-DLoS

Sorry for the thread necromancy, but this is the closest my searching found to answering my question!  Will this same upside-down strategy work with the older DD-ROA 45 design?  I ordered 250 of those from Springfield Slim (Timely service, price was right, and I was VERY impressed by his attention to detail in packing my boolits), but unfortunately their base is a bit big for slipping down into the chambers on my Pietta NMA.  I requested pure lead if it makes a difference.

I'm hoping to knock the "new" off my first BP revolver this weekend, and y'alls advice would be greatly appreciated!

thanks,
Mad Dog

[Dick Dastardly]

The current issue Big Lube®LLC DD-PUK Flat molds have a dual rebate.  Drawing attached.  The smaller rear rebate was added to accommodate the smaller Italian C&B repro chambers.  This is something that may be added to the shorter EPP-UG and EPP-36 molds if there's enough room behind the driving bands.

DD-MDA

[Dick Dastardly]

Here's a drawing of the current Big Lube®LLC EPP-UG 45 150 mold.  As you can see the rebate is .445".  That should be small enough to drop into even the most under size chambers.

DD-MDA

[Mad_Dog]

The current issue Big Lube®LLC DD-PUK Flat molds have a dual rebate.  Drawing attached. 

Thanks for the drawings, Dick, but unfortunately I'm not set up to cast my own and I can't find anyone who offers cast bullets from the updated mold.  What I have in hand right now are the old style DD-ROA without the dual-rebate, so I'm looking for the best way to use them (right-side up or up-side down).  If Slim has the updated EPP-UG mold I'll definately be trying those next, but I've got to burn through the 250 bullets I've got first .

-Mad Dog

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

DD;  My mould is an earlier one that casts fairly large.  It sizes quite easily and works excelently in .45/.455 cartridges of many flavours.  I did try it upside-down in my older Piettas (1858 & 1860) but the results were less accurate than roundball.