A New Chapter About The 3rd Model Dragoon.

[JimT]

The title of this chapter is "WELL ... THAT DIDN"T WORK OUT!"

Went to the range this morning with the idea of shooting some of the .45 Colt bullets out of the Dragoon as well as the hollow-base Achilles bullets that I sized down.

Did I try them before I went to the range to see if it could be done?
Of course not!

It turns out that the 480 Achilles bullets and the 454190 .45 Colt bullets are long enough that I could not turn the cylinder so they were under the loading lever. If I had looked at them in the shop I would have seen it .. but ....

Secondly .. It's too hard to start .457" bullet. The diameter is large enough that I do not think the loading lever would be able to seat them. So I brought them all back to the shop when I was done shooting and resized them to .452" ... the hollowbase bullets should work just fine and I will try them next time.

I fired groups at 25 yards using the .457" round ball. The first group was with 30 gr. FFFg.

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Next group was with 35gr. FFFg.

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Last group was with 40 gr. FFFg

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I hope to learn to shoot this thing over the next couple months.

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[Ysabel Kid]

Great update Jim!

I know that the Italian reproductions do not have the same cutout as the original Colts had for paper cartridges with conical bullets. In fact, the rammer on the Pietta's isn't even shaped for anything other than round ball. I know because I replaced all of mine with Uberti rammers, which are shaped for conicals. Still, for most, you either load off gun, or load loose powder and work the conical bullet into the loading area. Or... you can relief the metal so the "port" better resembles the original Colts.

Good luck as you continue on this project!

[piller]

Looks as if you had fun.

[JimT]

Looks as if you had fun.

A day at the Range ... even if things don't go as well as you planned ... is better than the best day in an Office.

[piller]

Can't argue with that point.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I hope you are bringing that hogleg to Arkansas!

[JimT]

I hope you are bringing that hogleg to Arkansas!

If I go I will. Not sure at this point. One of my grand-daughter's is getting married in April and wants me to do the wedding. I relented for her. BUT she has no clue that I am gonna show up in cowboy boots, vest, levi's and wearing my pistol. I may carry black powder loads just to confuse folks if it comes to that.

Anyway .. with the dates not being too far apart I am not sure if I am gonna make Arkansas. We shall see.