I now have brass for my 2 antique 41 lc colts.Any thoughts on the best kind of bullets;heeled or hollow based?I already have a can of unique powder so I'm leaning toward heeled.Crimping isn't a problem as I can make a crimper out of a set of cable crimpers.Anyone with experience?Thanks all
41 LC bullets
- Thread starter snurge
- Start date
Hollow base out of pure lead and bullseye. I tried heal base in my 41's and I wasn't impressed so I switched to hollow base and unique wouldn't work. I had to go to bullseye to get them to bump up properly.
- Location
- Not really sure.
^ I'm guessing it's because of the use of smokeless powder. BP tends to "flare" out the hollow base bullet to fit the bore snug and produces better accuracy and less fouling ect.
Have to wait for him to chime in on it though.
Have to wait for him to chime in on it though.
I've had good luck with 4-4.5 gr of Unique, but only with pure lead.
Bernie's Old West Molds...200 gr Hollow base.
Groups? I don't shoot groups, I shoot things. Cans, kindling; stuff like that, but I tend to try to get longer shots...like 60 yds on reactive targets. And it does OK...with pure lead. Even a sniff of WW and it's got them tumbling and hitting 3-6' from the POA
Colt 1889 4" bbl is the pistol.
4.5 gr Unique lights it up almost too good, it gets lively.
Bernie's Old West Molds...200 gr Hollow base.
Groups? I don't shoot groups, I shoot things. Cans, kindling; stuff like that, but I tend to try to get longer shots...like 60 yds on reactive targets. And it does OK...with pure lead. Even a sniff of WW and it's got them tumbling and hitting 3-6' from the POA
Colt 1889 4" bbl is the pistol.
4.5 gr Unique lights it up almost too good, it gets lively.
I've played with both heeled and hollow base bullets in 41LC. Soft lead, healthy powder charges, and a good crimp are needed to make either the HB or heeled bullets shoot.
Bullseye tends to work because it's a faster burning powder similar to 3F black in burning characteristics, which is what 41LC was originally loaded with. Unique will work but you will need to load warmer loads to maker it work, light loads won't expand the base.
The heeled bullet will work just as well as the HB but can be harder to find the right recipe. The answer again is to use very soft lead bullets with a "stout" powder charge and they will expand to fit the bore just like the hollow base.
A good solid crimp is critical for both heeled and HB bullets to shoot well. The Heeled bullets are harder to crimp, you can get a special tool for about $40 or make your own. I've done Ok by not expanding the case mouth and putting a little bevel on the bullet base and seating it like a rifle bullet.
Bullseye tends to work because it's a faster burning powder similar to 3F black in burning characteristics, which is what 41LC was originally loaded with. Unique will work but you will need to load warmer loads to maker it work, light loads won't expand the base.
The heeled bullet will work just as well as the HB but can be harder to find the right recipe. The answer again is to use very soft lead bullets with a "stout" powder charge and they will expand to fit the bore just like the hollow base.
A good solid crimp is critical for both heeled and HB bullets to shoot well. The Heeled bullets are harder to crimp, you can get a special tool for about $40 or make your own. I've done Ok by not expanding the case mouth and putting a little bevel on the bullet base and seating it like a rifle bullet.
I think you need to slug your bore and also take a chamber cast (paraffin wax will do) of your cylinder, first. I think there is considerable variation between guns in their internal dimensions. Also crimping the shell with cable crimpers stands a good chance of distorting the shell enough that it will not fit the chamber
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
The reason I moved away from unique is I didn't want an explosion. I didn't want to ruin my gun with hot loads. The heal base bullets wouldn't expand to one of my bores. One of my thunderers has a .411 bore and I had no accuracy. I switched to hollow base and it works in all of the 41's with good results.
Let me know if you have a 'Pet Load' that works well.
I've got a can of Bullseye that is redundant to my needs and it's time to reload for 41 LC again. I'd give it a whirl if it seems like a more sedate load;as I'd said Unique lights it up pretty good. If BP wasn't so precious I'd use more for my 'olden days' firearms.
I've got a can of Bullseye that is redundant to my needs and it's time to reload for 41 LC again. I'd give it a whirl if it seems like a more sedate load;as I'd said Unique lights it up pretty good. If BP wasn't so precious I'd use more for my 'olden days' firearms.
I would go with hollow base. I have used both and heeled were annoying. I made a crimper out of cable crimpers and then custom modified pliers, but it was still a pain in the ass. Also lubing was a messy #####.
I don't remember my exact loads so I won't publish anything but I used a few different powders and settled on Unique for a while then switched to Ramshot True Blue.
I don't remember my exact loads so I won't publish anything but I used a few different powders and settled on Unique for a while then switched to Ramshot True Blue.
