Pistol Projectiles

[rodwha]

What Duelist's videos showed was that the conical tended to divert it's trajectory once it hit the water jugs.

In another of his videos where he tested Kaido's 240 grn version alongside a 220 grn conical through his '60 Army using Goex showed the Kaido projectile penetrating 2 additional jugs.

The heftier weight ought to give better penetration. And from what many claim, the wide flat meplate does a better job at wounding. But being that these aren't an actual hard cast that may not be the case.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

the problem with conicals in a cap and ball revolver is that the chambers limit the total volume for powder and ball. You can't use a conical that takes up more room in the chamber with out a equal volume reduction in powder.

No matter what powder you use, the reduction occurs.

So the question becomes a trade off between a round ball and max charge of powder vs a conical and less powder. (not to mention the powder room taken up by over powder wads if you load that way) In the First Lyman Black Powder manual, a max load under a round ball gave more ME than a conical with reduced powder. Round balls don't significantly lose velocity in the first 50 yards, so I don't think the conicals heavier mass over comes the round balls higher velocity at pistol distances.
Seems to me the only way to change this would be a broad flat nose short bullet that takes very little or no additional powder room than when a round ball is loaded.

 

[rodwha]

Lee has a 160 grn FN bullet mold that could very well be modified and would likely be close enough to the same length.

The difference that I see between either end of the spectrum is the lighter, faster RB will mushroom easier and wider, and with it's smaller sectional density, won't penetrate as deeply. In many cases I'm not sure it matters enough.

This is another reason why I'm actually feeling the projectile in the middle may be the better choice. Kind of a compromise.

But I'm still not sold that anything over a RB is necessary. If I can just improve my groups I'll be able to find out for myself. But until I can prove that a RB is all that's needed it would make me feel better knowing I have loaded a projectile that can penetrate well.

 

[Dphar]

The Colt conical used in percussion revolvers was sharp pointed.
The Ruger has enough powder capacity to use a short fat conical even a Keith Wadcutter for the 45 Colt if the diameter is right. Conicals in the Colt Navy/Army take too much powder capacity.
If penetration is a concern a harder RB is an option but too hard and they are hard to load. I suspect that 1:20 tin:lead would be a good option. Its hard enough to resist deforming at revolver velocity and should load OK.
Dan

 

[nkbj]

In about '89 a fellow I knew in northern Alabama showed me a stainless steel percussion revolver he'd built in his spare time offshore. It was a smoothbore .41 caliber with an elongated 1858 Remington frame and cylinder. And he wouldn't sell it.
With a rifled barrel instead of smoothbore, shooting .41 caliber cast bullets, that would be just about the bestest percussion revolver I could imagine.

 

[rodwha]

That is cool!

 

[M. De Land]

Wonder if they would back out under recoil and tie up the cylinder?
Perhaps a bit of melted bee's wax on top of each conical would make them stay put better if this is a problem. MD

 

[Dphar]

I shot a few from an OA I had for a short time. Don't recall any problems. Recoil is about like 45 Colt.

Dan