Shot my Antiques for the first time.

[41 Colt]

Took my antiques out for the first time today. Colt 1873 SAA and 1896 DA in .41 Colt. I mostly shot the SAA, the five wadcutter looking holes on the left are from the DA.

I shortened the bullets by 0.10" so the rounds would fit in it's shorter cylinder (as opposed to trimming the cases), and shot it mostly one handed in DA. I used heeled base bullets from Ben on the forum here. Nice bullets, though crimping was an issue with the heeled base and I ended up modifing a pair of wire strippers to crimp them.

Shot smokeless powder as I found blackpowder difficult and expensive to come by here. I used 3.8 up to 4.4 grains of Universal, chronied at an average of 393 up to 506 FPS. I thought this to be a little slow based on a load I saw for Universal in .41 Colt and had alot of funny colored unburnt powder in the cases, not sure what is going on there.

This target was shot at about 12 yards off hand.

 

[hedgehog]

well done. im a tad jealous that's for sure.

 

[starpuss]

nice guns. if you ever need parts for your 1896 let me know i have lot's of new parts for that gun.

 

[41 Colt]

nice guns. if you ever need parts for your 1896 let me know i have lot's of new parts for that gun.

Thanks. I saw your ad and have been thinking about getting a few spare parts just in case.

 

[ben hunchak]

Matt: i think you have found the secret to making the old ones work, improvise! Actually the converted wire crimpers are kinda standard for crimpin' the oldies....Ben
I think that shortening the cases may be easier...

 

[41 Colt]

I think that shortening the cases may be easier...

I have a case trimmer on order, but couldn't wait to get out to try the DA.

 

[DEZ]

Well done looks like you are on the right track thats a nice looking set of irons enjoy.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

there's nothing quite like shooting a piece of history.Your SAA looks like it groups pretty well.
an +1 to trimming the cases...you only have to do it once as opposed to every time you load that case.
I've trimmed hundreds of 44spl cases to 44Russian length and it wasn't bad even with a manual trimmer.I did the first 20 with a pipe cutter and file...I'd still be trimming the first 500 MTchambers 240gr cast bullets instead of shooting if I was trimming bullets.

 

[dingus]

Looks good.
Try useing Unique Smokeless powder instead of universal.

 

[41 Colt]

Looks good.
Try useing Unique Smokeless powder instead of universal.

I was thinking about this too, do you know who carries Unique? I've always bought from Higginsons but they don't carry Alliant.

 

[dingus]

I was thinking about this too, do you know who carries Unique? I've always bought from Higginsons but they don't carry Alliant.

Unique! everyone i know carrys it as its Shotgun and pistol powder.
Id say unique is one of the most comon powders out there.
At least on the Wet Coast.
Just phone a few places.

 

[41 Colt]

Just found 1lb locally, thanks.

 

[dingus]

Just found 1lb locally, thanks.

Great thats the best gun powder for Antique revolvers next to trail boss.
Your guns are both strong well built colts so they can handle 4.5 grs of unique with the 180 to 200 Gr bullet if there cylinders are in good condition.
Elmer keith recomends 5 grs of Unique for the 41 LC in SAA colts or colt 1892s, and i agree with him.

Id not do that in a 1877 colt Thunder tho they have very light cylinders.
Try 4.5 to start im sure you will be impressed with Unique

 

[41 Colt]

You think Trailboss is also a good choice? Higginsons carries it and I may be ordering from them soon, would it be worth buying a pound?

 

[TBMH]

Man, that there is some nice lookin' iron............
I just bought my first antique! Now I'm waiting very calmly for it to arrive. By calm I mean sweaty palms...........pacing and checking the mail box every ten minutes.

 

[dingus]

You think Trailboss is also a good choice? Higginsons carries it and I may be ordering from them soon, would it be worth buying a pound?

Trail boss is supose to be better in biger dia cases than 41 LC but if i were still shooting the 41 id try it.
Its great in the 45 Colt and 45 Schofield.
from my reading Unique is supose to be better in the Shorter 455 cases and long skiny cases like 41 LC or 380 british ect.

Maby someone here has Tryed TB in the 41 LC and can give you some ideas i have only used Unique in the 41 LC.

 

[starpuss]

Can you post pic's of the crimper you made? i am new to reloading and have no brass left, where did you buy your's? i was looking at buffaloarms but do they ship to canada?

 

[Killer Kanuck]

i was looking at buffaloarms but do they ship to canada?

Up until a couple of weeks ago they did, but not any more.

 

[41 Colt]

Can you post pic's of the crimper you made? i am new to reloading and have no brass left, where did you buy your's? i was looking at buffaloarms but do they ship to canada?

Here is the crimper. The first side is flat (90 degrees to the plane), the second picture is a tapered side (tapers toward the bullet). The surfaces are smoother than the pictures show. I got some brass from Ardent.

 

[starpuss]

nice thx's for the pic's

now seeing buffaloarms will not ship to canada. where is the best place to look for ammo or reloading stuff for 41 colt?