Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
I had a chance to shoot a group each with the Eras Gone Johnston and Dow and the Eras Gone Kerr in my Uberti 1860 fluted-cylinder .44 this afternoon. I had hand-lubed them by rubbing an SPG clone into the lube grooves -- only one on the Johnston and Dow. The latter bullet was pretty fiddly to get into the cylinder mouth because of its longer nose, and I had to be careful to keep that nose below the mouth of each chamber. The stubby little Kerr was much easier to handle and seat. I fired the groups from 25 yards rest over my chronograph. The load consisted of 22 grains by weight of Triple 7 FFF, sparked by ancient CCI No. 11 caps given a pinch to stay on the nipples. Oddly, the Kerr, just two grains lighter than the Johnston and Dow at 226 grains, gave a higher average velocity of 826 fps than the J&D at 801 fps. But the Kerr also gave me a five-inch-plus group vs. the 2 3/4-inch group yielded by the J&D. Both groups were about 11-12 inches above the point of aim -- common in my experience with the Colt open tops.
I'll shoot more groups in the near future, but at this point, it is pretty clear my Uberti prefers the Johnston and Dow over both the Kerr and the round ball. And to keep things in perspective, the J&D is virtually duplicating the muzzle velocity and speed of John Browning's .45 ACP.
This was my first outing with this Uberti 1860. It is rather stiff -- perhaps the famous arbor issue -- and sucked a few caps.
Kudos to Jefferson Arsenal for selling me 30 each of the J&D and Kerr for this purpose, and of course to Mark Hubbs of Eras Gone for bringing molds for these historic bullets to the market.
British Kerr on the left, Johnston and Dow on the right.
I'll shoot more groups in the near future, but at this point, it is pretty clear my Uberti prefers the Johnston and Dow over both the Kerr and the round ball. And to keep things in perspective, the J&D is virtually duplicating the muzzle velocity and speed of John Browning's .45 ACP.
This was my first outing with this Uberti 1860. It is rather stiff -- perhaps the famous arbor issue -- and sucked a few caps.
Kudos to Jefferson Arsenal for selling me 30 each of the J&D and Kerr for this purpose, and of course to Mark Hubbs of Eras Gone for bringing molds for these historic bullets to the market.
British Kerr on the left, Johnston and Dow on the right.
Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Nice shooting ,I'd say it would trickey loading these
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Pat, both are heeled bullets, but even then they are still a bit tricky. Both were provided in large quantities of loaded paper cartridges in the "recent unpleasantness."
Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Nice work Bill. I still prefer the round ball but not because it shoots better .. I just like them.
Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Glad you had fun.
D. Brian Casady
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
Quid Llatine Dictum Sit, Altum Viditur.
Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
- Ysabel Kid
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Bill -
I have both molds and really enjoy them. I also have EGB's dragoon mold. The heels help in loading, just like the originals, and really make using them in paper cartridges a breeze. Unfortunately a paper cartridge using the J&D bullet is darn near impossible to load in the Italian replicas without modifying the loading "port" or "window" to better match the originals. At least while loading the cylinder on the gun - no issues off the gun. I still have the modification on my "to do" list. I did modify or replace all of the Pietta rammers to a conical profile (the originals used this, and the Uberti's do as well).
I have both molds and really enjoy them. I also have EGB's dragoon mold. The heels help in loading, just like the originals, and really make using them in paper cartridges a breeze. Unfortunately a paper cartridge using the J&D bullet is darn near impossible to load in the Italian replicas without modifying the loading "port" or "window" to better match the originals. At least while loading the cylinder on the gun - no issues off the gun. I still have the modification on my "to do" list. I did modify or replace all of the Pietta rammers to a conical profile (the originals used this, and the Uberti's do as well).
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- Advanced Levergunner
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- Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:05 am
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Jay, yes, Mike Beliveau --"Duelist 54" on Youtube -- shows those loading port modifications. I'm tempted to try this as well. I had forgotten just how much punch the 1860 offered. Wonderful sixgun!
Have you done anything about raising the front sights on your cap and ball Colts?
Have you done anything about raising the front sights on your cap and ball Colts?
Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Front Sights on 1851 Navy and 1862 PoliceBill in Oregon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:29 am Jay, yes, Mike Beliveau --"Duelist 54" on Youtube -- shows those loading port modifications. I'm tempted to try this as well. I had forgotten just how much punch the 1860 offered. Wonderful sixgun!
Have you done anything about raising the front sights on your cap and ball Colts?
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- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
Jim, but you have talented hands, see?
You are as good at gunsmithing as you are at hermeneutics.
You are as good at gunsmithing as you are at hermeneutics.
- Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
I like those front sights.
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- Ysabel Kid
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Re: Civil War conicals in the Colt 1860
I've seen the same videos When I get brave enough to do the project, I will rewatch the videos a dozen times.Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 6:29 am Jay, yes, Mike Beliveau --"Duelist 54" on Youtube -- shows those loading port modifications. I'm tempted to try this as well. I had forgotten just how much punch the 1860 offered. Wonderful sixgun!
Have you done anything about raising the front sights on your cap and ball Colts?
I actually have an old kit that I put together for a Pietta "Reb" (a brass-framed 1851 in .44) that I will learn on. My plan is to enlarge the window, replace the front sight with a taller one using a dovetail like Jim has done, and even try my hand with a draw file and remove those obnoxious Pietta markings (also like Jim has done).