Took this old girl out for the first time today. Results (10 rounds) are a pretty good group at 25 yds, offhand, but the aiming point was at 6 O'Clock on the black. I pulled two shots: the trigger pull, while crisp, is quite heavy.
The cases came with the revolver, probably cut down 44 Specials. Bullet was the Lee 240 gr RN, 1 part tin to 25 parts lead. I didn't size them: they came from the mould 423" while the groove diameter was .422". I loaded with a 40 S&W case full of fffg black. I don't think I'd like to fire smokeless in an M 1879 revolver. The 40 S&W case was a little too much powder: I had to seat the bullets out quite far. A 9mm Luger case full was too little, while a 38 Super case full was just about right. I'll try the new loading soon.
I don't know how much powder I've been using. I have an RCBS Chargemaster and Little Dandy powder measure, but RCBS warns against the use of black powder in either. I think that black pwoder builds up a charge of static electricity in the plastic containers, which is unhealthy with black powder. I also think the electrical system in the Chargemaster may not be adequately shielded from black pwder.
The cases came with the revolver, probably cut down 44 Specials. Bullet was the Lee 240 gr RN, 1 part tin to 25 parts lead. I didn't size them: they came from the mould 423" while the groove diameter was .422". I loaded with a 40 S&W case full of fffg black. I don't think I'd like to fire smokeless in an M 1879 revolver. The 40 S&W case was a little too much powder: I had to seat the bullets out quite far. A 9mm Luger case full was too little, while a 38 Super case full was just about right. I'll try the new loading soon.
I don't know how much powder I've been using. I have an RCBS Chargemaster and Little Dandy powder measure, but RCBS warns against the use of black powder in either. I think that black pwoder builds up a charge of static electricity in the plastic containers, which is unhealthy with black powder. I also think the electrical system in the Chargemaster may not be adequately shielded from black pwder.
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