Now that I have gone black I will never go back!

[G.W. Strong]

I've been shooting black powder in my large caliber military rifles for several years now (577, 577-450, 45/70, 50/70, etc) but I've never shot it in a pistol. I had been loading 777 in .45 Colt for one of my Vaqueros but this looke like it would be more fun.  Consequently I've been toying with shootin' black in one of my revolvers for a while now. After much thought, reading here on his forum, and discussion I have selected the revolver Colt 1860 Richards Conversion (R&D did the work) and bought an appropriate mold (Mav Dutchman) for my .44 colt cartridges. I spoke at length with Steel Horse Bailey and he gave me all the advice I needed. I loaded them up and shot them last weeknd. I have never had so much fun shooting! My 13 year old son also loved it. This was SO MUCH FUN! The cleanup with Moose Milk was super easy as well. I am hooked. Now I am thinking about shootin' black in my 1872 open tops and my 1866 yellowboy all in 44 SPL. I guess I will have to shoot a bunch of rounds to make some empty cases!

Thanks for all the help.

I meant to post this in the Darksider's den rather than the Barracks. I posted it over there as well.

[Pony Racer]

HS welcome to the Darkside and the power of the One True Powder!

I too went through this process a few years back now and have more fun now shooting all black than I ever had shooting that smokeyless stuff.

I shoot 44 ruskie loads in my open tops and 38spl in my two sets of conversions (had to have a full length set and a 5 inch set of 51 Conversion don't ya know:))

I have also had my 44 spl 1866 short rifle converted to shoot 44 ruskie as well!

PR

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

I've been shooting black powder in my large caliber military rifles for several years now (577, 577-450, 45/70, 50/70, etc) but I've never shot it in a pistol. I had been loading 777 in .45 Colt for one of my Vaqueros but this looke like it would be more fun.  Consequently I've been toying with shootin' black in one of my revolvers for a while now. After much thought, reading here on his forum, and discussion I have selected the revolver Colt 1860 Richards Conversion (R&D did the work) and bought an appropriate mold (Mav Dutchman) for my .44 colt cartridges. I spoke at length with Steel Horse Bailey and he gave me all the advice I needed. I loaded them up and shot them last weeknd. I have never had so much fun shooting! My 13 year old son also loved it. This was SO MUCH FUN! The cleanup with Moose Milk was super easy as well. I am hooked. Now I am thinking about shootin' black in my 1872 open tops and my 1866 yellowboy all in 44 SPL. I guess I will have to shoot a bunch of rounds to make some empty cases!

Thanks for all the help.

Congratulations

Your post is one of the best validations of our lobbying on this and other forums!

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!

[Jubal Starbuck]

   Welcome to the fold, Hopalong!  I think you will be very well satisfied with the MAV D mold also.  I use it for my .44WCF loads as well as . 44 Russians.

Best Regards,

Jubal Starbuck

[Grapeshot]

Now you have to shoot the military load out of your .45 Colt Brass.  This was 30 grains of 2Fg a one-quarter inch thick cork wad and a 250 grain pointed nosed Boolit, Layman's 454190 is the copy of that boolit.

Or, you can go with 28 - 30 grains of 2Fg in the Schofield Case and a 230 grain, hollow based pointy boolit of the same profile as the 454190.  This is a mild, but hard hitting load for either the Schofield or Colt SAA revolvers.

Compare this to the Original Frankfurt Arsenal load of 40 grains of 2Fg in a .45 Colt length case.  I've done this with Winchester Brass, a magnum large pistol primer, and dropped the powder thru a drop tube and added a card wad cut from a soda can carton.  Once compressed in a separate die to the depth needed to seat the boolit and taper crimped in place it's ready to go.  On personal experience, the recoil is manageable but stout.

The concussion will drive the spectators back and the timer operator will cringe every time you step up to shoot.  It's almost as much fun as touching off a 12 pounder Napoleon.

GO ORDNANCE!

[G.W. Strong]

Now you have to shoot the military load out of your .45 Colt Brass.  This was 30 grains of 2Fg a one-quarter inch thick cork wad and a 250 grain pointed nosed Boolit, Layman's 454190 is the copy of that boolit.

Or, you can go with 28 - 30 grains of 2Fg in the Schofield Case and a 230 grain, hollow based pointy boolit of the same profile as the 454190.  This is a mild, but hard hitting load for either the Schofield or Colt SAA revolvers.

Compare this to the Original Frankfurt Arsenal load of 40 grains of 2Fg in a .45 Colt length case.  I've done this with Winchester Brass, a magnum large pistol primer, and dropped the powder thru a drop tube and added a card wad cut from a soda can carton.  Once compressed in a separate die to the depth needed to seat the boolit and taper crimped in place it's ready to go.  On personal experience, the recoil is manageable but stout.

The concussion will drive the spectators back and the timer operator will cringe every time you step up to shoot.  It's almost as much fun as touching off a 12 pounder Napoleon.

GO ORDNANCE!

I will make up some loads tonight! I do not have that bullet but I will look for one of mine that might work.

[Tascosa Joe]

Hopalong:

Master Craft Bullets at Tyler, Texas sells the 250 gr 454190 style bullet.  I buy them from him without lube and add my own SPG.  I have had good luck with this bullet and he is very competively priced.  They call the 2 groove bullet the Schofield bullet, but it aint really.

T-Joe

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I love it when a plan comes together.



I eagerly await more good reports from my new friend, Hopalong.  I love the fact that he's already sunk in the hook to his 13 year old Son, too!  Hooked and reeling him in!


Since he shoots 44, I doubt that 454190 bullet will work.  His Conversion is definitely the more modern 44 (.429"-.430") caliber chambering of 44 Colt, not the true old 1860 converted gun which would require a heeled .451"-.452" bullet in the old 44 Colt round.  He and I went to great lengths to find out for SURE what his gun "eats."  He was unable to "slug" the bore, at that time, so we wrestled with it until we were sure.  From his post, we chose correctly.

My own 1871 (Uberti) Colt Open Top is chambered in 44 Spl, and I've been shooting 44 Russian and 44 Colt (new) and I like the caliber, 'tho I AM a 45 Colt fan for all my other guns.  'Cept my 12 ga. Coachgun, my 45-70 caliber 1874 Sharps, my 38 S&W antique pocket pistol, and my C&B guns.  But aside from them I only shoot 45 Colt.


Yee Haw!

[G.W. Strong]

I've loaded up 100 rounds with black to play with in my rifle and my pistols.