I'll get one soon as I can and find out those measurements
Ruger old army loads
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A caliper is a must have. I'm thinking your cast balls are under sized. Keep at it. She'll shoot.
How dare you accuse my balls of being undersized hahaha. I'll get the tool today if possible
Pick up a 12mm arch punch on ebay for @$20 and punch 0.472" wads from cardboard and/or felt. I buy scraps of 1/8" thick felt from Durofelt, put them in a small container and pour some cheap olive oil on them. I load powder, then a 1/16" cardboard wad, followed by an oiled felt wad and finally the ball. Cylinder mouths seal nicely and the olive oil keeps fouling to a minimum. Works for me and experimentation is always fun!
Cream of Wheat and corn meal are common fillers but there are others. I would only use a full charge for deer and I (personally) would keep the max range to about 25 yards. Hogs? No way I'm using that pistol for that animal. Others may disagree and I'm fine with that.
I use 20 grains of 3F and 20 grains of cream of wheat under a hand cast 457. I hate to tell ya but a consitant 3 inch group at 25 yards is about the best I have ever done. 3 inches at 25 yards is actually a fine group with any handgun.
I used to mess with reduced loads and fillers 30+ years ago. I have for a long time now used a measured flask to load a nominal 35g Goex 3f, 0.457 swagged ball, and smeared with white bearing grease with CCI #11 caps. It is more accurate than I am. Even I can shoot a ragged one hole group at 10y, and I'm a lousy pistol shot, perhaps the worst in Texas.
Besides, I enjoy the recoil. And I really LOVE how the suppository-type shooters go quiet at my public range after the first shot or two wondering WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?
Besides, I enjoy the recoil. And I really LOVE how the suppository-type shooters go quiet at my public range after the first shot or two wondering WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?
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Blackpowderwarrior
45 Cal.
This is my load in all 44s . 35 grains 3f and some home made lube
What does your grouping look like
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These guns are known for their accuracy. Something will click and he'll be OK.
Blackpowderwarrior
45 Cal.
Depends on how I'm shooting that day. Usually around 2 - 3 inches
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What distance?
Blackpowderwarrior
45 Cal.
Depends on the day... I live in the mountains so it varies on how froggy im feeling but usually around 20 yards offhand . always offhand.
That's about what I get with my colt 1860 and lemat. Lemat shoots about a 2 1/2 group at fifteen.
I use a 50/50 mixture of beeswax and beef tallow then throw in a little olive oil. Smear that over the mouth but I'm gonna give wads a shot. Would I just heat that up and soak them in it, then when they hardensl punch them out?
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Offhand's good; that's how the old ones were used; the modern "Weaver combat stance" is for the modern 9's and such.
Blackpowderwarrior
45 Cal.
Yes sir...
I've never been a wad guy but alot of people swear by them.
I have tried them just prefer my lube
I use plain old cheap olive oil and pour some in a jar of felt wads and shake them up. Add more oil until they are mostly all coated with oil. While target shooting, I dump a few out onto the lid and if they seem to wet I squeeze a drier looking wad between two wet wads to transfer some of the oil.
Side benefit - keeps your skin moist, but also gives me a craving for Italian food
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Wads are too fussy for me, too. To be a bit corny, Jackson's mounted troopers weren't fooling around with a bunch of tiny wads.
What would your wad look like if you were keeping a hunting load?I use plain old cheap olive oil and pour some in a jar of felt wads and shake them up. Add more oil until they are mostly all coated with oil. While target shooting, I dump a few out onto the lid and if they seem to wet I squeeze a drier looking wad between two wet wads to transfer some of the oil.
Side benefit - keeps your skin moist, but also gives me a craving for Italian food
