your best Kirst conv. load

[Jack Wagon]

I've got an 8" and a 5 1/2" 58' Pietta with gated Kirst converters. They both shoot poa with the cap and ball cylinders but shoot very high and are not grouping well with the conversion. I've tried smokeless and APP, 45LC cases and the shorter Schofield cases. I've tried .452 and .454 soft lead bullets. The Kirst functions well in both guns, but I would like to get better accuracy out of them. Thanks for any suggestions.   JW

[Pettifogger]

You left out the most important part of the equation.  What bullet weight are you shooting?  What I have found works really well, duplicates the C&B load, and gives good accuracy with the slow twist rate in the C&B barrels is a .45 Special case full of APP and a regular C&B round ball pressed into the case so the diameter of the ball goes just a tad below the case mouth.  Then a lite roll crimp so the cartridge will chamber easily and you are good to go.  Use .45 ACP dies and everything works perfect.

[Jack Wagon]

Thanks Pettifogger,  I'll give that a try!  I was using a 200gr bullet from a Lee mold.   JW

[Pettifogger]

Remember, a round ball weights around 147 grains.  A heavier bullet will generally hit higher.  About the lightest cowboy style bullet you can find commercially is 160 grains.  You might want to try them if you want to stay with conical bullets.

[Jack Wagon]

Pettifogger, this is what I came up with, 45 Schofield brass, WLP,30gr. 3F APP topped with a .454 round ball. I gave it a roll crimp, they all chamber nice. I won't be able to shoot them until the weekend.  Thanks JW

[Pettifogger]

I think you will have fun.  The round ball loads give very light recoil and great accuracy out of converted C&B guns.

[Jack Wagon]

Pettifogger, you were right on. All three of my Pietta Remingtons shoot poa at 25yds with that load. Thanks  JW

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Where is Big-Lube Dastardly?  He would have sold you a 6 hole mold for the EPP-UGG bullet.

[Adirondack Jack]

The hot ticket here is a C45S case and  the EPP-UP "Big Lube" bullet (springfield slim sells bullets, Dick Dastardly sells molds, Cowboy45special.com sells the brass.  They run just like a round ball out of yer cap n ball cylinder, same POI, amd carry enough lube for real BP.  Another interesting candidate with a BP sub that can run smokeless lubed bullets  is the 130 grain Barnstormer bullet, also by cowboy45special.com.  it'd be very close in POI, and light in recoil.

[Grapeshot]

I found that a 165 grain HBRN boolit shot best out of my '58 Remington using .45 colt cases shortened to schofield length.  If I had not found the 165 grain .45 bullets I was going to try .454 Roundballs lubed with Lee's Liquid Alox.  Charge was 30 rains of BP or its equivalent in APP.

The heavier bullets always shot HIGH.  The 165's shot to within one to 1.5 inches higher than POA.

[Jack Wagon]

Thanks for the load info guys. I just loaded up 50 round ball loads for further testing, but it's always good to have a back-up plan. JW

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks for the load info guys. I just loaded up 50 round ball loads for further testing, but it's always good to have a back-up plan. JW

You know, of course, that you have to leave lead visible ahead of the case mouth.  When I load RB, I seat it somewhat above flush, but with a small groove left that will accept some BP lube rubbed around the perimeter of the ball with your finger.

[Slowhand Bob]

I use the Cowboy 45special brass and really like it for the '58conversions (actually all my 45 caliber pistols).  I use around 25grs +/- of APP and do not nead to worry about lube.  If I can ever get a few coppers together I want to try the new Barnstormer bullets when I order brass again.  My daughter actually carries the stubby c45s in her dbl action revolver as defense loads, based on 45acp load data.  One hundred years of testimony to its effectiveness.