Conicals for revolvers

[rodwha]

Years I came across re-prints of after action reports filed during the Philipine Insurrection after the .45 Colt revolvers started being used in combat with the Moros.
Reports stated there was little, if any difference in stopping power between the .38 and .45 caliber revolvers. The only guns that put them down pretty reliably with almost any decent hit were the .45/70 Trapdoor Springfield, .30/40 Krag, and 12 gauge shotgun with 00 buckshot.
The Moro tribesmen were known to begin drugging themselves up a day or two before planned attacks with drugs that made them less susceptible to pain, and wrap their testicles with wet leather strips that shrunk as they dried. This enabled them to work themselves into a drug and pain and adrenaline-filled frenzied ceremonial dances immediately before an attack.
They were often psyched up and half out of their minds during battles.

I find this interesting as it seems common to hear how when it was brought back the soldiers became happy once again, much like how we’ve read of the Marines being reissued old 1911s and becoming as happy as a Marine can be.

 

[smoothshooter]

I find this interesting as it seems common to hear how when it was brought back the soldiers became happy once again, much like how we’ve read of the Marines being reissued old 1911s and becoming as happy as a Marine can be.

The larger caliber may have given the troops a psychological boost more than actual improved performance.
I think I would have much preferred the larger caliber myself, just because it would make me feel more confident if nothing else.
Increased confidence can make things go better even when nothing else changes.

 

[Crow Choker]

Everyone has their likes/dislikes but IMO conicals are a PITA to deal with. Tried them a few times in both 36 and 44 caliber Colts. Didn't like conicals due to the PITA tendency of them tipping when loading and inserting into the front of the chambers, nor saw any better accuracy. Round balls work for me and the shooting I do with a percussion revolver. Same goes for spending time and the PITA of rolling paper cartridges for percussion revolvers. In fact IMO loading with the lever is part of the fun in shooting a percussion revolver.

For hunting large game and/or defensive work there are way way better alternatives than a underpowered percussion revolver. One may get a shot that is effective, but the odds are stacked against ya in large four legged game or two legged if you are counting on a capper for defense. Approaching 53 years of black powder shooting revolvers and rifles, 21 years of past law enforcement, and around 61 years hunting. Just didn't take it up last year. There is a certain lure to the romanticism with percussion revolvers or single shot pistols in doing as 'they' did it back in the days before modern firearms evolved, but those same firearms of old have their limitations.

 

[rodwha]

The larger caliber may have given the troops a psychological boost more than actual improved performance.
I think I would have much preferred the larger caliber myself, just because it would make me feel more confident if nothing else.
Increased confidence can make things go better even when nothing else changes.

That and bigger bullets make bigger holes. It’s precisely why I’m making a bullet for my .44/.45s instead of using a .36. And when the velocity is lower like with black powder you upped the size of your projectile to make it more effective.

 

[rodwha]

Everyone has their likes/dislikes but IMO conicals are a PITA to deal with. Tried them a few times in both 36 and 44 caliber Colts. Didn't like conicals due to the PITA tendency of them tipping when loading and inserting into the front of the chambers, nor saw any better accuracy. Round balls work for me and the shooting I do with a percussion revolver. Same goes for spending time and the PITA of rolling paper cartridges for percussion revolvers. In fact IMO loading with the lever is part of the fun in shooting a percussion revolver.

For hunting large game and/or defensive work there are way way better alternatives than an underpowered percussion revolver. One may get a shot that is effective, but the odds are stacked against ya in large four legged game or two legged if you are counting on a capper for defense. Approaching 53 years of black powder shooting revolvers and rifles, 21 years of past law enforcement, and around 61 years hunting. Just didn't take it up last year. There is a certain lure to the romanticism with percussion revolvers or single shot pistols in doing as 'they' did it back in the days before modern firearms evolved, but those same firearms of old have their limitations.

The bullets I first created have a short seating base and can be tipped, but those with a longer seating base won’t do that.

When loading bullets I no longer need to deal with the extra loading step of lubed wads.

When loading paper cartridges I still have to seat them with the loading lever. I wouldn’t want to need to remove the cylinder to load as some do off the gun, it’s why there’s a lever provided. And my shooting bag is filled and heavy enough as it is.

I wouldn’t call a .44 shooting a 230 grn bullet with 370 ft/lbs underpowered, and even less so if I were to use my Ruger producing about 475 ft/lbs. Kaido’s 240 grn bullet has been shown to go nose to tail through an adult hog. For myself a handgun is a secondary weapon, though I’ve seen some good footage of a NMA being used as a primary in Africa to great effect.

 

[nick_1]

I feel its less wear and tear on the gun to load on the bench. also easier and faster for me but then again I shoot an 1858. If I was buying paper cartridges that would be different. I usually have two cylinders loaded up anyways. also i load on my kitchen table and just step outside to shoot. in the field if I did not have extra cylinders obviously i would use the loading lever.

 

[AlexB]

I feel its less wear and tear on the gun to load on the bench. also easier and faster for me but then again I shoot an 1858. If I was buying paper cartridges that would be different. I usually have two cylinders loaded up anyways. also i load on my kitchen table and just step outside to shoot. in the field if I did not have extra cylinders obviously i would use the loading lever.

That's about how we do it I much prefer using a press.

 

[nick_1]

just shot my biathlon course. 9 targets. four of them are 5 inch steel. five of them six inch steel ranges from 20yrds to 40 yrds with just two shots on 5" steel circles at 20 yards but its in dark woods and not a give away. Two 5" steel @25 yrds and five 6" steel at 40 yrds. Shot it with the .50cal trapper with hunting loads and shot a 6. Shot it with the 1858 with 200g lee and shot a 7. Got my 1911 out of the safe which admittedly I have not touched in 11 months and popped off 16 shots at station one 25yrd 5"steel. Shot a perfect goose egg. That folks is why my every day gun is the 1858.... I suspect that would change if I had a .45LC Black Hawk but I don't.... Haven't had a missfire since I switched to conicals...

 

[French Colonial]

After shooting the 200g lee conical in my 1858 for the last few weeks I am completely hooked. I put a brand new front sight on the 1858 from Taylors and benched it for a few shots. ground down the sight and then a few more shots until I got a 6 o'clock hold that I am happy with. I have not gone crazy benching the gun or trying to get perfect groups on paper off hand so don't have any pretty pictures for you. I mostly shoot steel and am happy when I can consistently get hits on 5" steel @ 25yrds and 6" steel at 40 yrds. I shoot a little bit of paper 50 and 60 yrds and am happy if I can get on an 8 1/2 x11 letter sheet and ecstatic if I occasionally hit my hand drawn bullseye with a revolver with crappy trigger. . no luck yet hitting the 50yrd 6" steel off hand with the revolver. I do not have the bench set up on that 50 yrd target but perhaps I will do that today.

Pros. I feel I am getting better consistency with conicals than I was with RB.

Once the bullets are waxed the loading process is faster and easier than RB. No looking for and positioning the spru, less pressure on the loading lever, no need to lube after loading.

Better reliability? perhaps its the wax seal? perhaps not using bore butter as a rb lube? but I have not had any slow fires or missfires since switching to conicals. Don't know the exact reason but not complaining.

Historically accurate. Any union soldier would have been issued paper cartridges with conicals. Any western lawman would have bought paper cartridges at the hardware store. This is what the gun was designed to shoot. It feels much more powerful and I am getting good hits.

The conicals are easy to cast and fall out of the mold easier than RB. perhaps I just have a lucky Mold.

Cons. They use a lot more lead to cast.
Applying the wax lube takes extra time and effort.

Summary. I wish I had started shooting conicals 50 years ago. its a hoot.

I have tried conicals using the paper cartridge method and was not a fan at all.

I think I might try conicals loaded over powder next, so the questions I have are..

You say you wax your bullets, with what wax?

How do you apply it? With your fingers?

 

[nick_1]

I have only lubed about 400 so not an expert. I used Lyman black powder bullet lube from track of the wolf and lubed by hand. Might try melting and dipping next?