PCI Ammo 41 Long Colt Experience.

Interesting responses from everyone, but is nobody talking about the fact that the company/owner (who is extremely well known) sold a poor product and from what the OP has stated (no one can of course confirm this) then blatantly lied about it?…
 
Jon9021 said:
Interesting responses from everyone, but is nobody talking about the fact that the company/owner (who is extremely well known) sold a poor product and from what the OP has stated (no one can of course confirm this) then blatantly lied about it?…
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This is part of why I want to find a Lee hardness tester. By the sketch pencil method I have a BHN of approximately 20-23 but I’ve recorded everything with photos, including emails, and I intend to post everything here, id just like a slightly more scientific means of demonstrating the lead hardness, otherwise I just have sketch pencil indents and one recovered projectile with zero rifling contact or skirting obturation.

But yes that’s my biggest concern and warning, is clearly this shop is selling hand loads and taking zero accountability for any mistakes or malpractice. Of course a quick scroll down their Google reviews and the owners replies to poor reviews backs up my experience so far.

An update will follow.
 
MosinMan13 said:
I’m not going to call this a review, because I don’t own a chronograph, or any of the other tech required to break down the specs, but rather my experience with this “PCI Ammo” brand as seen at Rusty Wood Trading Co, and specifically the 41 Long Colt, 200gr Soft Lead ammunition.

The claim:
-New Starline Brass.
-Soft Lead 200gr Hollow Base Round Nose projectiles.
- Real Black Powder Charge.
- Suitable for all firearms of this caliber in good condition

$275 + Shipping etc for 50 Rounds.

After firing 6 rounds at 15 yards from a suitable firearm(1877 Thunderer) in excellent condition, at a 2’x3’ foam
board to pattern, I noticed a few issues.

- Sound report was a little sharp.
- Smell was different
- Less Smoke and Foul
- Every round that made the board key-holed the target.

My first suspicion was maybe the charge, did I accidentally get the smokeless loads, or could it have been a substitute BP?

I reached out to Rusty Wood Trading Co to find out, in the meantime I pulled 4 additional cartridges apart, documented all the weights and specs while I waited for an answer, my findings;

- 185gr Projectile, hard cast/linotype HBRN
- Some sort of liquid dipped lubricant that doesn’t seem like typical BP lube, empty ridges.
- 16-16.5 gr charges, looks like BP but doesn’t smell like any BP I’ve used.
-Low or no compression of charge
- New Starline Brass.

So overall not entirely misleading, I can live with the charge and the powder, but I don’t believe this to be the cause of the tumbling lead, at this point I believe the hard cast lead isn’t allowing the skirt of the hollow base to expand, to achieve a better seal to the bore, and seat the rifling to better stabilize the projectile.

Rocky Mountain replies to me, insisting genuine BP. I don’t know how to test it but at this point I believe to have found the issue, I explained my findings and questioned why the Ammo is hardcast when it’s clearly advertised soft lead, even pleading my case for the lack of proper performance. Essentially in so many words I was told “41LC is hard to load for” also “have you slugged your bore” and a direct quote “It was NEVER meant to be a target round -more just a noise maker – LOL”

For clarity I do my own hand loads and purely bought this ammo at a premium out of curiosity. My load, as taught to me by members on this site, as follows;

-200 gr MP mold HBRN Soft/Pure lead (196gr average)
-18-18.5 gr of Schuetzen 3FG BP (still playing with the amount)
-Slightly compressed charge
- Lambs tallow/ Beeswax lubricant pan lubed.
- Starline brass

To make sure I'm not crazy, I loaded up 6 of my own, took a similar sized foam board and printed a group to see, and sure enough zero keyholes, and for a guy with absolutely zero training and a century old revolver, the group was relatively good.

Conclusion, be careful as a consumer, I’m not saying avoid that brand, or that store, I’ve shopped there a lot before, but buyer beware. If you’re like me and your Colt revolver relies on a soft HB bullet to achieve a stable flight, this ammo is no good, or at very least inconsistent. The store is about the same if you run into trouble.
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I believe you are correct the alloy is too hard.

The original 41LC cartridges used a heeled bullet .386"/.406". The barrel groove diameter will be over .400", probably .406" to .408".

The diameter of the HB, non-heeled bullets will be about .386" and (intentionally) severely undersized. It needs to expand .015" or more to have any hope of touching the lands.

At 41 LC pressures, that bullet has to be very soft for the skirt to expand so much. These bullets should be BHN 8 or softer, and very light loads may not work. The good news is you'll probably never have to worry about sticking one in the barrel.

If you want to send some bullets i can check hardness for you. Send me a PM and I'll give you the mailing address.
 
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I finally got around to buying myself a hardness tester, about time I had one of my own. I tested 5 random from my case of 44 rounds I pulled apart.

Results;
4/5 at .052 (BHN 19)
1/5 at .059 (BHN 15)
Mine at .098 (pure lead)

IMG_3856.jpeg
IMG_3817.jpeg

I also will link an album under this to our email conversation just to be fully transparent or so you can see what you’re coming up against in the off chance your business runs into issue with Rusty Wood.

Final conclusion;

1. My box of PCI 41 LC ammunition as advertised as soft lead, was in fact hard cast, basically Linotype. This directly lead to my hollow base bullet not expanding to the bore, sealing/seating the bullet to the rifling and ineffectively turning my revolver into a musket.

2. Rusty Wood Trading Co has good customer service until you cross the owner the wrong way, from this point on you will be gaslit, blacklisted and told to pound salt.

I’m not saying all of their ammo is bad, but he basically admits they load the ammo themselves, PCI is just a roadname. From that same email I can conclude he’s just throwing together old inventory to clean out stock, with little to no quality control or care for your safety, or accountability for the outcome of his action or inaction. Be diligent, be informed.

https://ibb.co/album/Dg44J6
 
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