.41 COLT not too bad!

[M. M. Wright]

I acquired this old Colt recently and since I had some 41s loaded up decided to try it. I load the hollow base bullet that I cast from pure lead over 4.5 grains of 231. I fired 2 cylinders from 15 yards using a two hand hold. Since the bore is .401 and I size the bullets .388 it's always amazing how well this works.

To me it's really ugly from all that gold plate but you can't do much about what people have done to these old pistols over the last 120 years. Yeah, it's from 1900 but the bore is shiny and a new set of Wolf springs made the action feel really good with a nice trigger of about 3 or 4 pounds. I like it.

[OldWin]

Nice! I hope to someday get a 4.75" Colt. I own 2, but they are both 5.5.

[AJMD429]

"Since the bore is .401 and I size the bullets .388 it's always amazing how well this works."



Tell me how that works....

[JimT]

"Since the bore is .401 and I size the bullets .388 it's always amazing how well this works."



Tell me how that works....

The hollow base opens up and the bullet slugs up to fit the bore.
This is the 480 Achilles heel bullet .. left unfired ... right fired .. note the increase in diameter

475_base.JPG

[Ray]

That is an amazing group and as good as can be expected with the all inside the case hollow based bullet....With a heeled bullet with both hollow base and full diameter like the one Rev. Taylor shows you might do as well at 25 yds.

In an italian clone I use a blank .38 s & w cartridge and a .410" ball swaged in from the front in the percussion revolver fashion.....

Yes, they do shoot low loaded that way....

[M. M. Wright]

Thanks Jim for that explanation. Doc, think Minie Ball. Colt originally used a heeled bullet but before the war (WWII) they changed to a hollow base bullet with the lube grooves inside the case. I have this Bisley which also digests the same load.

[Ray]

Thanks Jim for that explanation. Doc, think Minie Ball. Colt originally used a heeled bullet but before the war (WWII) they changed to a hollow base bullet with the lube grooves inside the case. I have this Bisley which also digests the same load.

That is the most interesting sixgun I've seen in a long time.....do you know anything of its history ?

[Jay Bird]

In the 41 L. Colt my best accuracy came with the 200 gr. hollow base with black.

You can always just slip in a 38-40 cylinder and use that too.--6

[KWK]

I have this Bisley which also digests the same load.

Nice looking Bisley. Do you shoot yours with the old style, bent elbow hold? Whenever I hold one at a store, I must if the gun is to point correctly for me.

[M. M. Wright]

Thanks Jim for that explanation. Doc, think Minie Ball. Colt originally used a heeled bullet but before the war (WWII) they changed to a hollow base bullet with the lube grooves inside the case. I have this Bisley which also digests the same load.

That is the most interesting sixgun I've seen in a long time.....do you know anything of its history ?

Not a lot but when I got it , it was wearing a Christy barrel and cylinder in 44 Special but had the original barrel and cylinder still with it. I sold the Christy parts to bring down what I had invested and returned it to 41 Long Colt. The guy I got it from is a long time friend and it belonged to his girlfriend who got it from her uncle, an old deputy in a neighboring county here. That's only the last 50 years or so and all I know.