Hi All - New 1858 Owner Questions

[72coupe]

Gas Checks

Here is 5 30 cal bullets with gas checks. Next to them is 2 224 cal bullets with no lube or gas check and next to them are 3 lubed and checked 224 bullets.

 

[Springbok_Rider]

Just updating on progress so far. After experimenting quite a bit, I've found a pretty accurate load:

1) 30 grains of black powder
2) Lubed felt wad
3) Fill chamber with French equivalent of corn meal
4) .454 ball

That and getting used to the sights means I can hit what I want most of the time. Enjoying it... now to refine the loading process so it doesn't take 3 weeks.

 

[BCRider]

If that beeswax polish dries to a solid wax you could pour it out onto some felt, let it dry and that would give you some waxed felt which could be used as lube wads.

Since you're in a rural area check around for a bee keeper. Such folks are fairly common in farming areas as the bees ensure proper pollinating. And the bee keepers make even more money by raiding the hives for honey. Along the way they end up with a lot of good beeswax that they commonly sell for not a lot of money.

Otherwise if/when you find it at some hoity toity art store you'll pay through the nose for a little piece.

Much has been said about using filler to let the ball seat up near the forcing cone. It's supposed to enhance the accuracy by not letting the ball build up a lot of speed before entering the rifling. But with my old guy eyeballs and old guy shaky nerves the small advantage seems to be lost on me. Depending on your own ability and body condition the gain in accuracy you get from using a filler might be hidden by your limitations as well. With that in mind I'd suggest try loads that skip the filler unless you NEED filler to hold the ball up far enough that the rammer can seat things correctly. If you notice the accuracy fall off with the deeper ball seating then go back to using a filler.

 

[Crawdad1]

I agree there. Keep experimenting but since you are close to your desired accuracy level then change only one component of your load at a time.

For example, my 1860 Army likes 25 Grains of 3Fg GOEx, one wad and a 454 ball. But next spring I want to experiment further and will add another wad to lessen some of the 'free bore' just to see if she likes that, if not, then its back to one wad. Then maybe I'll add powder using the half way point between the 25 grain and 30 grain "notch" on my powder measure. If accuracy improves then I'll mark my brass powder measure with a knife for that load calling it 27 grains or 27 1/2 grains. If not then its back to 25 grains. Its a blast reloading at every shot without a press and all the other stuff you have to buy.

 

[OYE]

1858 sights

It's good fun to shoot, but definitely puts the lead about 6 inches to the left. From the different loads I put in, oddly 40 grains seemed to be the most accurate and consistent.

Looking down on the rear sight channel from above, if it hasn't been altered,
the channel narrows down near the hammer. You should be able with needle files to correct your 6 inch "shooting to the left problem". It's fairly easily done.
Just be on board with which way you want to file. Think through it. We like to "square up" the 1858 sight picture even on one that is dead on. It's just our preference. OYE

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

After you really get smitten with shooting a Remington, and wanting better accuracy with this revolver design, you may want to increase your "arsenal" a 100% by looking out for a Uberti Remington .44 or .36 revolver. Slicker inside, and superb finish, the Uberti Remington comes with an over-height dovetailed front sight, which makes windage adjustment a breeze.

A slimmer chance of finding, especially in the US, but highest on the ladder of accurate Remington revolvers will be the "Hege" Remington Revolver, made in Germany by FWB, about $ 1,700 US, Hege also offers a step-down grade Remington made by Uberti and accurized by Hege for about $1,200 US.

Look up your French International Muzzle Loading Team. Members of the team will likely part with an arm or leg before parting with their Hege Remington revolver. It is the most accurate Remington made anywhere in the world. Second best was the Remington Deluxe Model made by Pietta in .44 caliber, loading the .457 RB. Its now called the Pietta Remington Army "Shooters" Model. DGW price $ 950.00.

Mine still hits the ten ring at 50 yards with 18 grains of Schuetzen black powder, C.O.W., .457 RB, & T/C Bore Butter. I'll try to post a photo.

Check it out at Dixie Gun Works at: http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_92_187_189&products_id=4098

 

[Crawdad1]

Here's a dealer in France that can get you stuff:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=752788&highlight=Hege

This is his web-site;

http://www.westernguns.fr/

I included the thread because we talk about what Mr. D Buck was saying about the Hege revolver. He said he can get them if you want one.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

A neighboring website devoted expressly to 1858 Remingtons has a post from Tony from Finland who bought the "Step-down" Uberti/Hege. To see photos of his gun and outfit,

go to:http://1858remington.com/discuss/index.php/topic,8227.0.html

or http://1858 Remington.com & click on the "Welcome Wagon" (new members) Scroll down to: "Hello From The Nordic". For Finland, he has some neat stuff.

Check it out, and "enlist" on the Forum. Just another source for Remington Shooters.

 

[Crawdad1]

There is also the Pedersoli Remmy (I believe. I don't know for sure but I believe, that Pietta is in some way involved with this revolver maybe supplying the rough forgings) that is making some headway against the competition.


26th MLAIC World Championships in Granada, Spain

Our individual silver medalists:
•Donald Malson R: Adelino Rocha (POR) with a Remington percussion revolver

Our individual bronze medalists:
•Remington R: Rudolph Lambert (BEL) with a Remington percussion revolver

Our team gold medalists:
•Peterlongo (Mariette team): Belgium (1 Pedersoli Reimngton revolver)

Our team silver medalists:
•El Alamo (Team Malson): Belgium (1 Pedersoli Remington)


More results here;

http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/new...ith+Davide+Pedersoli+Guns+-+World+Championshi

 

[Springbok_Rider]

Howzit,

WesternGuns.fr is who I used to purchase my revolver and some of the supplies - Maxime. Great customer service.

On the other hand, I ordered from Midway France 3 weeks ago: CVA powder flask, cleaning patches, and 200 lubed wads. Finally got the package yesterday, and they forgot the lubed wads. Not sure what Midway USA is like, but absolutely disgusting customer service from the French one. Waiting on a response for my refund request on the wads.

The lube I made for my wads worked great, but wouldn't mind something less messy. Maxime has some wonder lube and wads, so will see if that's better. Although he doesn't have the pre-lubed wads. Might order a few hundred from Cabella's at some point.

Good call on the different revolvers. I'm still getting the hang of this one first, and unless I know we are staying in France for definite I probably won't spend more on another gun. If I did, I'd be tempted by a colt or a bp rifle, or spend the money on a cartridge conversion. Still good to know there are more refined versions out there.

Will also see about the windage, it could be that I'm compensating for it, but I had it fairly accurate the last time I shot it. Well accurate is still not good from what I'm used to - hitting a Heinz baked beans tin can 4/5 out of 6 shots at 20 yards or so.

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

For definite accuracy with any revolver to see where it hits with fixed sights, you need to be sitting at a shooting bench/table, which itself is solid concrete or heavy wood.

You are sitting down with the revolver barrel resting on either a machined bench rest (Hoppe's Expert's Bench Rest Front Shooting Rest
Product #: 768004 Hoppe's #: 3000 UPC #: 2628551191 with a leather sand bag in the cradle)

Or at the least, stout sand bags to rest the revolver over with you sitting and holding it with two hands.

Keeping the gun still while pulling the trigger maximizes the accuracy of the shot, thus reducing any errors attributed to the gun and/or the shooter.

"Accuracy is 99% mental concentration", Bill Blankenship, Camp Perry, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, National Pistol Champion

 

[Springbok_Rider]

"Accuracy is 99% mental concentration" - I don't doubt that at all. Used to shoot a lot years ago in South Africa and then briefly in the UK. Used a work bench to sight my rifle scopes. Do try to concentrate on my breathing. In particular, breathing out as I bring the sight to the target rather than try keep it steady. Used to be pretty good at shooting on intuition rather than aiming, and need to have a go at shooting from the hip as I haven't done that yet.

Will definitely sit down and test it properly at some point. For now just getting the hang of the gun and loads. Never really liked revolvers until I bought this... changed my opinion of them entirely.

 

[Springbok_Rider]

Accurate Shooting

Been experimenting a lot. Have found that it's most accurate/consistent without a wad or filler. 36 grains of Swiss black powder and a .454 ball with the cylinders greased. Have ordered .457 balls since I'm only shaving a semi circle of lead off to see if accuracy improves further.

Seems to be less variables this way and is quicker to load.

 

[DD4lifeusmc]

loading

spring bok
if you are shooting a traditional 1858 replica and you have 30 gr of powder a lubed wad and a .454 ball
there is no need for any filler.
It will shoot just fine without it. That will eliminate a day or two out of your week long loading.
The best homemade lube is beeswax and lard/ tallow/ or olive oil.(1 of the 3)

Start with equal amounts of each )wax+ lard or wax+tallow or wax + oil) in liquid form (melted)
Blend them together soak the wads in it, lay out to cool and dry. Maybe squish the excess out with a rolling pin while still warm and liquid.
Or some people just pour the wax into a small tin. Use a wad cutter / gasket hole punch to cut little circles out. these look just like a wad.
load powder, felt wad, the lube pill the ball.
No real wrong way as long as it is safe.

 

[Springbok_Rider]

Hi,

That's what I was saying. I've tried various wads and the most accurate I've had the gun so far is without wads.

Approximately 33 grains of black powder from CVA flask spout -> .457 ball -> grease the cylinder ends with Armistol grease. Also had no issues with Remington N10 caps.

Shooting spot on now. Could just be the gun, but this works for me.

 

[Crawdad1]

That's what I was saying. I've tried various wads and the most accurate I've had the gun so far is without wads.

Exactly, shoot your revolver and find out what your revolver likes and dislikes. I've been working on mine for 2 years now and I still need/want to keep experiment some more with it trying to find its limits. I don't know about other Uberti built Colts but my Colt is real picky at least that is as far as I know now. We'll see in the Spring.

 

[BCRider]

SB, I've got a pair of Italian Colt open tops that like the same recipe. 30'ish grains of 3f, no wad. They shoot as tight a group as anything I own and better than some others. I've never tried fillers or other loads. And truly with these two there would be no point. They are already shooting groups that are sized according to MY limits. Which means the guns are some degree better than me already.

As said already it's down to what the gun likes.