These have a reduced base that makes them MUCH easier to load into a front stuffer revolver. I bought a few .451 swaged bullets (made for .45 ACP), thinking they'd be an easy way to try conicals in my Pietta Remington, and no go. They won't even start in the cylinder. Sure wish there was a place mass producing these Kerr bullets -- I have trouble finding time to cast and my partner doesn't like me running the little camp stove (we live in a mobile home, which feeds paranoia about fire, valid or not), but if I had the bullets, I could make them up into paper cartridges and be able to shoot my Pietta more.
Great vid! I just cast my first batch with the Kerr mold i recently purchased from you. Works perfect, thank you for a unique and quality product. Quick question: Any way to lube these as you show in this vid and then use them in a paper cartridge? Or, is the lube too much a problem when adhering the paper to the bullet? Thanks again.
Probably in the same general ball park. Volumetric measures assume a specific density of whatever they're ment to measure and as such the work on the the premise that x volume of material averages out to x weight in whatever unit they're calibrated in.
Fun fact: oversized bullets are also not the be all end all solution for chain fires. The bore of a cylinder chamber can be wallowed out and larger in diameter the deeper you go due to worn out machines, worn out tooling, etc. You could have a nice oversized bullet squeezed in there, but once you get the bullet deeper, you could have a half thou or more space between the bullet and the cylinder chamber allowing fire to go around the bullet. Some tools for measuring bore diameter can be expensive, and I'm not sure what reproductions have inconsistent cylinder chambers, but it's just some food for thought. I'm sure there is more than one way to prevent chain fires and I feel it should be the shooters responsibility to do everything they can (within reason) to address chain fires rather than just identify and internalize one solution. Crazy shit happens all the time to everyone in life. No need to risk thinking it won't happen to you, right?
TankEpidemic - Chain fire can also occur at the rear of the cylinder. In addition to the "wallowed out" chamber that you described, a loose fitting cap can cause chain fire. Similar to a flintlock, firing one cap can send fire to the adjacent chambers. If those caps are loose, that flame will ignite those caps also, and consequently the powder charge. Traditionally, everyone thought it was always the chamber mouths, but many many many tests have shown that chain fire can occur from both ends of the cylinder. And the cure is indeed a good tight fit - but that fit needs to include the caps.
I use slix shot nipples to help with cap jams ... I have watched slow-mo footage of the cap blowing the hammer back to the point the cap can fall down in the action...I would like to find some stronger hammer springs for my 60...the slix shot throw fire out in 4 different directions but the cap stays on the nipple.....unless something holds the cap against the nipple there is always the chance of flame liting off cap on either side...I've got an old hammer spring, when I get time I may try remembering hammer spring and see how that works out
Loved the video, i sure do get so much info out of your vids. Kind of new to the black powder world and sure do enjoy it. Thanks for filming your exploits..... please record your competition, im positive your viewers would love it......
Your authentic conical bullets, as well as the tools/methods for making cartridges, have stoked new life and excitement into the percussion revolve genre! I absolutely love it! I began making paper cartridges in the early 1990s, using a Dixie Gun Works published booklet. I hade a 44 cal brass mold (with wood handles) that made a good conical. I was using cigarette papers. I now have 2-3 of your molds and will adopt your materials and methods. This is great!
Thanks so much for the advice about warming up the bullets before dipping them in lube. I use the minie ball cast lead bullets but found with conventional cold bullet dip method you get a big wad of lube in the cavity and around the bullet that is messy and wasteful.
Loaded both the 44 Kerr and 36 Colt paper cartridges today. The 44 Kerr's were a snap. The 36 Colt bullets took a bit experimentation with the powder charge. The 17 grain load was loose. It was much tighter fitting/ more compressed with 18-19 grains of powder. If I want the 17 grain charge to fit well, I will have to trim the paper shell back about 1/16" inch. I found a similar issue with the round ball in 36 caliber. I upped the charge to 20 grains.
I've went with the Jhonston bullet mold. I was originally going to purchase the kerr .44 mold for my Pietta Navy Sheriff. I had seen those vials earlier this week! Great idea, except I was looking for the type large enough that would hold the bullet, a charge and the cap, then just keep about 20 vials in my shooting bag. Finally decided to just go with cigarette paper cartridges. Love the channel, keep up the good work! 🇺🇸👌
Today I just loaded some combustible 44 Kerr cartridges with the bullets lubed. I just lightly went over the driving bands with a clean rag to ensure that the glue stick would adhere to the paper before I seated them. They seemed to work well.
One can always just grease the bullets grooves with your fingers. Just press a small piece of lube into the grease groove, then whipe off the excess, then apply glue and load into the paper cartrige.
I wonder if SPG lube would work well for dipping the bullets in? I think it has a relatively low melting temp since it was designed for black powder cartridge shooting.
I dip mine in Lee liquid alox. Up to ribs. Once that dries I run them through a liquid wipe on rinse off car wax high in carnuba. After that I don’t get any lead on my fingers at all when handling them. The top is nice and slick and shiny.
Love to use the Johnson and dowd in my rogers and spencers but i no longer live in an area where i can safely cast. The few guys if saw trying to sell pre cast bullets are ridiculous. I'd gladly pay a fair price if anyone knows a place to buy 2 or 3 hundred at a time
@@erasgonehistoricalmolds2400 I'm loading 38specail home cast bullets as we speak...dont have a cap and ball yet...but it's in the near future.. I'd want the best ..most accurate copy of a colt 1861 navy....mind blowing on thick one to buy. ...then the period correct bullet mold..I enjoy your channel
A little heads-up: Lard works great, but be careful. a lot of the lard you can buy at the store is salted. Try to avoid that. And, the package doesn't always say whether it's salted or not. If in doubt, taste it.
This is true, which is why I don't generally use it. Lamb tallow is fantastic, but not always available. Beef tallow also works just about as well. My favorite is bear grease, but it's also hard to get, unless you get lucky and get yerself a bear!@@michaellankford8358
