Adjustable Length .36 Conical 1858 Pietta

[nkbj]

This is a conical made with a Lyman .375 round ball mold altered to provide an adjustable length. The body of the conical slips into the chamber and the original spherical portion shears on the chamber lip, avoiding misalignment and difficulty in loading. The chamber is smaller than the groove diameter, hence the hollow base.

I suspect about 135 grains will be optimum for the revolver.

 

[nkbj]

Oh, by the way, those slugs were recovered from a stack of paper that had been kept soaked and allowed to gel. Went through about a hands length of the stack.

 

[nkbj]

Did the same routine with the mold adjusted out to 155 grains and 20 grains of Jacks Battle, no wad, LOOB in the front.

This is just about the practical limit on useable length.
Depth of penetration was the same. The paper stack is pretty well blown up.

 

[nkbj]

It appears that the 155 grain with a .38 Special case of Jacks Battle is a good load in this .36. The bullet measures .600" in length before loading. After loading with the case full of powder the sprue is flattened down to the spherical contour of the nose.
The .600" length loads easily, slipping into chambers and seats on the powder when the nose is even with the front of the cylinder.

All in all, the bullet length and the handiness of the powder measure just worked out fine.
This recovered slug was fired through a gallon jug of water backed by a gallon jug crammed with dry shredded paper. It passed through both and hit the tree behind.

Testing has confirmed that the bullets get full barrel contact with expansion to fill the grooves. I'm still not practiced with the revolver and shooting 3" at 15 paces. I should practice more. It doesn't have the steady hang of the 1861 Colt and this one has a creepy trigger yet... it'll get better.

 

[RADeO]

Interesting concept! Thanks for the info and please keep us posted. :thumbsup:

 

[F.G. Ford]

I would love to see your adjustable mould.
Great looking bullet design.
Thank you
Old Ford

 

[nkbj]

Oops. Will go take pictures.

 

[nkbj]

The blocks are a single cavity Lyman .375 round ball bored to provide a cylindrical rear that casts just under chamber diameter. The hollow base plug is adjustable for length with the set screw.
The piled up conicals are some shorter 140 grainers. Humh, reckon they're more ball-cans than conicals seeing as they're not made pointy to burrow through wool uniforms and jackets. Ok, I'll just call them balcans.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

interesting write-up. I'll bet that slug has good bit more penetration than a rb.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Thank you much for the photos.
Fred