41LC help please

[billdick]

If you are using heel based bullets the dies won't crimp them you need to build a tool out of pliers to crimp the cases. The dies will crimp the brass when using hollow base bullets though.

 

[jethunter]

Well, since this thread was revived...
I bought a really old set of rcbs dies. Loaded the cases up with probably too much powder. Used too much force seating the very soft bullets. Could not get the dies to crimp properly (roll, not taper).

Couldn't hit a man sized steel target at 25 yards. Not once in 24 shots lol. The .41 does have more pop than I was expecting though. It actually recoils like my modern .40 guns.
I ordered new redding dies and just got them, so I'll give it another go sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Heeled bullets should be sized like any other cast bullet, which is 1-2 thousandths over groove diam. Properly sized heeled bullets have the best potential for accuracy but that is easier said than done.
HB bullet needs to expand into the lands or it's going to pattern like improved cylinder. bullet needs to be soft and the load needs to generate enough oomph to expand the hb. soft/light loads won't shoot well.

 

[Smcx]

For clarification, i'm using 200gr soft cast hollow base from jet bullets. Starline brass. A full case, with lots of compression (probably too mich compression) of Old eynsford black powder. We'll see how the new loads go this weekend.

These are being shot out of a colt 1877.

 

[jethunter]

For clarification, i'm using 200gr soft cast hollow base from jet bullets. Starline brass. A full case, with lots of compression (probably too mich compression) of Old eynsford black powder. We'll see how the new loads go this weekend.

These are being shot out of a colt 1877.

is the BP FFFg?

 

[Smcx]

Yup.fffg. Since i wasn't getting a good crimp with the old dies, i was getting bullets pulled during firing. I was also deforming the bullets during seating/crimping. I had to use too much force to get the bullets seated far enough. I'll have to trim my makeshift dipper to tailor the load a little better so I don't have to compress the charge as much. I'm betting that I was deforming the skirts.

 

[B.H.B]

I checked the Lee manual and found Lee dippers are also safe for black powder. The loads are listed in the appendices.