Black Powder Cartridge at the Range

Dave T

Dave T

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2003
Messages
1,780
Location
Mesa, AZ
Due to serious illness suffered by my wife I haven't been shooting since mid Dec of last year. I finally got out to the range today with one of my single action 45 Colt revolvers and some of my BP hand loaded ammunition. That was 34-35g of OE FFFg behind 253g Big Lube bullets cast of 20-1 alloy.

Put up a 10" steel plate at ~10 yards and a 6" square at ~15 yards. Had to relearn how to hold on to the gun with the full power BP loads as I only shoot these guns one handed. When I started hitting consistently at 10 yards I switched to the occasional shot at the little square. Confess I didn't always hit it and more often than not when I did the momentum of these loads knocked the little bugger off the steel stand.

Here's the USFA black powder framed revolver I was shooting:

fullsizeoutput_316.jpeg

Managed about 60 rounds or so and despite the disappointment of the early misses had a pretty good time. It was good to get out again and burn some charcoal.

Dave
 
I like starline brass myself, but during the bs of 2020 I ran across a good deal on a few bags of winchester brass and I really like it too.
I like that the thickness of the brass is little thinner then starline but id still rather have 500 starline then 500 winchester
 
Blackpowderwarrior,

I have a couple hundred old Winchester 45 Colt cases left over from my CAS days in the 1980s-'90s. I have loaded them with BP and you are correct about the difference between S-L and Win brass. The Winchesters size a bit easier than the Star-Lines.

Shortgrub,

I don't know who made the simulated ivory stocks. Several years back I bought a USFA Gunslinger (I hate that name) model and it came with them. The Gunslinger (still hate the name) versions came pre-aged. It didn't look right with shiny new looking stocks so I replaced them with USFA's hard rubber looking plastic stocks, sanded down to look worn and tired like the rest of the gun. The fake ivories set in the back of the safe until I bought this gun. Tried them and they were as close to a perfect fit as I could want from stocks that weren't custom made. I think they look good on the B&C gun.

Dave
 
I've been contemplating loading some BP loads for my 45 colt Winchester lever gun. Maybe some 44 mag BP loads too.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Oh oh...they didn't actually print/stamp that on the revolver did they??
Click to expand...

Thank goodness no. I thought I had a picture of it but apparently I never got around to taking one. I'll have to do that show it to y'all.

Dave
 
This could be considered a bit of thread drift but since I started the thread and it's still related to things discussed here I'm hoping our overlords won't get mad and yell at me. (smiley face goes here)

Although I berate the name "Gunslinger" which USFA decided to hang on their "aged" models, I actually like the guns. They have the look of a well used working tool. In fact they look a lot like many guns I see in museums. Because I like the look, despite the name, here are the three I acquired before USFA prices went bat guano crazy.

DSC00295.JPG

The 7-1/2" gun has the original style black powder frame, with the cylinder pin being retained by a diagonal screw. The lower two have the later style (~1896) spring loaded retainer to hold in the cylinder pin. The 7-1/2" and 5-1/2" guns are chambered for the 45 Colt cartridge while the 4-3/4" is a "38 Colt and Smith & Wesson Special".

This may give a better view of the two styles of frames.

DSC00300.JPG

Finally, I mentioned above sanding down the 'hard rubber' grips after taking off the fake ivory stocks. Here's what that looks like:



DSC00296.JPG

Dave
 
Dave T said:
Due to serious illness suffered by my wife I haven't been shooting since mid Dec of last year. I finally got out to the range today with one of my single action 45 Colt revolvers and some of my BP hand loaded ammunition. That was 34-35g of OE FFFg behind 253g Big Lube bullets cast of 20-1 alloy.

Put up a 10" steel plate at ~10 yards and a 6" square at ~15 yards. Had to relearn how to hold on to the gun with the full power BP loads as I only shoot these guns one handed. When I started hitting consistently at 10 yards I switched to the occasional shot at the little square. Confess I didn't always hit it and more often than not when I did the momentum of these loads knocked the little bugger off the steel stand.

Here's the USFA black powder framed revolver I was shooting:

View attachment 1143192

Managed about 60 rounds or so and despite the disappointment of the early misses had a pretty good time. It was good to get out again and burn some charcoal.

Dave
Click to expand...

What a very attractive revolver that is. Puts me in mind of the High Standard SAAs. Very nice proportions and a great finish. And the (presumably) faux ivory grips look just right. :thumbup:
 
Blackpowderwarrior said:
@Dave T favorite barrel length?
Click to expand...

Man is that a hard one to answer. During the 10 or so years I shot CAS back in the 1980s and 1990s my primary gun was a 45 Colt SAA with a 4-3/4" barrel. If asked back then I would have said it was my favorite barrel length and even some 28 years later I think the short, standard length single action is the best balanced. However, every time I take my 7-1/2" to the range and fire a cylinder of fully loaded 45 Colt BP ammo it puts a smile on my old face.

Dave
 
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