"Cowboy" low-power 454 Casull/ 45 "Extra Long" Colt loads for R92?

[Begle1]

I'm sure I'll end up with a short-stroked 38 or 45 toggle link gun at some point; if anybody ever sees a great deal on one let me know.

In the meantime I'd still like to make the R92 run as well as possible. I have a few new things to try now thanks to ya'll's help. I'll report back on my findings.

[Jeremiah Jones]

Very interesting.  My R92 .454/.45 will feed any RN/RNHP/RNFP and LeveRevolution ammo with no problem.  It will not feed WC/SWC in either cartridge.  I reload the .45 but don't fire enough .454 to make it worthwhile.  In a typical year I fire one .454 for zero confirmation and one round to take a deer.

[Begle1]

Very interesting.  My R92 .454/.45 will feed any RN/RNHP/RNFP and LeveRevolution ammo with no problem.  It will not feed WC/SWC in either cartridge.  I reload the .45 but don't fire enough .454 to make it worthwhile.  In a typical year I fire one .454 for zero confirmation and one round to take a deer.

I also probably need to get more into the guts of the rifle.

I've seen a few conversations with folks talking about shimming things, and I haven't played around with that yet:
https://forums.sassnet.com/index.php?/topic/329844-rossi-92-jacking-out-live-rounds/

I bought the DVD from StevesGunz, but I didn't see how any of the modifications Nate discusses would improve feeding. According to Nate, "some guns just are sensitive to some ammo"... I'd rather this gun be allergic to Casull than 45 Colt. Like you, I'll probably only ever be shooting one Casull at a time.

And the biggest Casull rounds don't even fit into the loading gate... The only 454's any of my local gun stores had were DoubleTap's 400 grainers; 400 grains at 1675 fps, about as much muzzle energy as a 308, but they turn the gun into a breech loader!

[Jeremiah Jones]

for .454 I use 260 gr. Winchester Platinum Tip.  They feed with no problem.  They are RNHP.

[Begle1]

Very interesting.  My R92 .454/.45 will feed any RN/RNHP/RNFP and LeveRevolution ammo with no problem.  It will not feed WC/SWC in either cartridge.  I reload the .45 but don't fire enough .454 to make it worthwhile.  In a typical year I fire one .454 for zero confirmation and one round to take a deer.

How fast do you run your R92?

If I go methodically slow, then most anything feeds. Jams come with speed.
The guys I shoot with say I'm "outrunning the gun".


I had mine in a vise a couple days ago and cycled through a whole bag of assorted "snap caps" that I made while testing different bullet shapes and COAL's.

I think that when I go fast, the tip of the cartridge lifts up a bit, and is still in the air a bit when it starts getting pushed forward. This causes it to jam; I need to re-lever it or push the tip down into the chamber with my finger to get it chambered.
 
But watching in slow motion, it's pretty evident why bullet shape is a huge factor, because the bullet is what guides the cartridge into the chamber.  Certain bullet shapes work better at certain COAL's; as the cartridge bobbles a bit coming up into position, the point of the bullet needs to be in the right place to get itself into the chamber, and then the shoulders of the bullet need to be the right shape and at the right distance to guide the brass into the chamber before the brass edge gets pinched against the chamber lip. The magic seems to all be in the shoulders.

I also hypothesize that heavier bullets may keep the cartridge tip seated down in place better and reduce the chances of the cartridge flipping up and stovepiping.


No any major ah-ha!'s as I go about figured out what everybody else already knows, but it's pretty obvious watching in slow motion why bullet shape and COAL is such an important factor, especially once you start going fast. I develop a greater appreciation of the toggle link design with every passing week. 

[Coffinmaker]

  Begle1

Don't remember if I have mentioned before, and I'm too lazy to go back and re-read, but there are a number of things required to make a '92 "run."

Starting at the front, the Ejector spring is too heavy and needs replaced.  The extractor is sprung too heavy and needs reduced.  All the guide ways in the receiver need the sharp edges broken as do the sharp edges on the bolt.  The Lever latch needs polished and its spring reduced or replaced.  the raceways for the Locking Bars need polished as do the locking bars. Clearance the Cartridge Guides in the receiver sides.  The Right Side Guide may well need shimmed to stop/prevent stovepiping.  The right side guide should just "kiss" the cartridge side. Firing Pin needs changed to a "One Piece" and spring reduced.  The Magazine spring is likely way too heavy and too long.  You only need about two inches of spring beyond the end of the magazine.  Needs a stainless magazine follower.  Before you take all this on, contact Nate Kiowa Jones at "Stevesgunz". Invest in his DVD for tuning a '92 and invest in his "Parts Kit."  A '92 can be made to run extremely smooth and fast.  Understand though, you're still going to be fighting one very large Elephant in The Room.  The wrong '92.  You are correct though.  Bullet shape and COAL are very important for a fast funning '92. Burma Shave

PS:  I MAY be thinking about the wrong Firing Pin.  I have the memory of a Gnat.  Look at the Firing Pin anyway.