Howdy folks. I've been having quite a time loading and shooting .38 Special with blackpowder out of my Cimarron Pistolero lately, but I'm ready to take it to the next level. I'm currently in the market for a SAA clone in .45 Colt, but for the time being, I'm limited to my '72 Open Top for choices in that caliber.
Of course developments in machining allow them to handle more powerful cartridges than the .44 Henry it was initially chambered in to my understanding, but the fact remains that it was a design historically meant to handle weaker cartridges than we have access to now. I have heard it mentioned that even regarding modern open top reproductions, it's important to consider limitations posed by their design.
So that leaves me wondering just what I'm going to be able to safely load this repro revolver with. Obviously I'm not talking about running Ruger loads through it or anything like that - I have a nice moderate smokeless load made up for it already, but regarding blackpowder, is it safe to simply fill up the case with powder (say 35 grains of 3F) under a 250 grain bullet as one might for a SAA, or is that going to prove too stout for an open top?
I'm mainly curious because I'm looking for a pretty stout load once I get a hold of a Model P (considering I already have my .38s for light plinking), and it would be nice to use the same load for both guns, even if a full charge of 35 grains is not really historically accurate out of the '72. But, if I'll need a lighter load in regards to safety, so be it. Just curious what you all have found to work best out of the open tops.
Thanks,
- Bear
Of course developments in machining allow them to handle more powerful cartridges than the .44 Henry it was initially chambered in to my understanding, but the fact remains that it was a design historically meant to handle weaker cartridges than we have access to now. I have heard it mentioned that even regarding modern open top reproductions, it's important to consider limitations posed by their design.
So that leaves me wondering just what I'm going to be able to safely load this repro revolver with. Obviously I'm not talking about running Ruger loads through it or anything like that - I have a nice moderate smokeless load made up for it already, but regarding blackpowder, is it safe to simply fill up the case with powder (say 35 grains of 3F) under a 250 grain bullet as one might for a SAA, or is that going to prove too stout for an open top?
I'm mainly curious because I'm looking for a pretty stout load once I get a hold of a Model P (considering I already have my .38s for light plinking), and it would be nice to use the same load for both guns, even if a full charge of 35 grains is not really historically accurate out of the '72. But, if I'll need a lighter load in regards to safety, so be it. Just curious what you all have found to work best out of the open tops.
Thanks,
- Bear