Walker Conical

[nkbj]

This is my solution to the conical for the Walker. It loads like a maxi, very close fit on the back end, slips in up to the front ring and then seats with the ram. Shaves a very thin ring of lead. 50 FFFg just fits. Because the recoil impulse is elongated the loading lever does not fall. As you might guess with the elongated recoil, care in settling the charge is necessary to avoid vertical stringing.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Very interesting. What's the weight of the Maxi? Are they home-cast or commercial? What's the lube too?

Dave

 

[nkbj]

It's an RCBS 45 mould that weighs in at 235 with straight lead. The two rear bands have been run in a sizer to just clear the chamber. The LOOB is homebrew Lanolin + Olive Oil + Beeswax.

Having so many 45 moulds in the world makes the Walker a real fun piece to experiment with.
Reckon that would work in a 45 rifle? If I had one I'd give it a try.

 

[RADeO]

Interesting idea. What kind of groups are you getting? More, less, or about the same accuracy as round ball?

 

[nkbj]

Just like with round ball...different moulds, different loading technique and amounts of powder produce different results. A hunk of lead is a hunk of lead so to speak, just another geometry, each with it's own benefits and difficulties.
I think that the one pictured is the closest thing I've found to duplicating the original service load. It might not give you as much powder space as the original because the grease grooves make it longer. But, the nose is a great fit for the loading ram. And, recovered bullets show complete full length rifling engagement.

These bullets are butter soft lead. The velocity is so low that recovered bullets show zero expansion after passing through over 6" of stacked, compressed, bound and water saturated paper.
Seeing that made me think about the indent in the loading ram, the pointy nose on the original and go "ah ha". Col. Walker was a fighter. He after penetration.

 

[nkbj]

Note the part about low velocity?
These revolvers were cutting edge for the material capabilities of 1847. And folks blew them up.
So don't forget that our Walkers are cheap, foreign made copies with lower yield materials than the originals.
My opinion, the powder charge should be reduced at least in ratio to the increase in projectile weight. Don't assume replicas are equal to the originals. If you max out the powder you can have a pile of junk parts and your insurance rates go up.

 

[bingo1952]

The originals were iron guns. All of the new reproductions are steel guns with a far higher yield strenth than the originals were. They stopped blowing them up when they began twisting the wrought iron stock they were manufactured from so that the silica inclusions did not follow parallel lines.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

So how much powder are you using, if you're afraid of blowing the gun up?

Dave

 

[nkbj]

Here's what I think is smart (that's the opinion of a total stranger so takes it for what it's worth).
60 grains is the legendary Walker load. The .457" ball is 144 grains. So, I figure this is a safe treatment with a 235 grain conical:
144 / 235 = 0.613 ratio. So, 60 grains x 0.613 ratio = 37 grains. I can get more powder under it but as explained earlier I don't think the yield strength of the steel is as high as the originals.
And, this bullet is a little heavier than the original conical.

 

[poordevil]

I am not sure, but I believe the Army load for the Cap & BAll Colts was always a conical bullet and not a ball. The .44 conicals weighed 228grs I think or there abouts. I do not know how much powder was used.

P

 

[reddog97]

What I think is smart is less experimenting with something that can take part of your hand off. Walker shooters are loading 50-55grs FFF, wad, and .454 roundball with good results.