Lee molds for 1860 Colt replica pistol????

[Marlin Hunter]

I want something other than a ball to shoot out of my 1860 Colt pistol.

Lee has several molds that might work.

the improved Minnie
http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/shoppingcart/impminie.jpg

the real in either 200 or 250 grain.

http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/shoppingcart/realblt.jpg

or maybe a standard 45 ACP bullet made of pure lead and sized down to .451

http://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/bullets/l4522302.gifhttp://www.leeprecision.com/graphics/bullets/l452230t.gif

Does anyone have experience with any of these bullets in an 1860 or other black powder pistol?

Are they any better or worse than a ball?

Do I still need to wax each cylinder?

[docone31]

You need a conical.
The molds you show here will not work.
You will find though, the ball in that pistol is probably the best solution. In .454, it has a tighter band. The .451 is good, and slightly easier to seat, but the .454 is a good fit. So far, no chain fires at all. No leading either. I have used .457 in my Colt. Tough to load, but it fits also.
You will need to grease each hole. Makes clean up a snap.
24.4gns, stuff the bore, grease, and fire.

[Mtman314]

I use a 454RB in my colt and a 457RB in my Remington. I also use wonderwads so I don't have to grease the cylinders. Crisco will work in place of grease over the ball.

[JIMinPHX]

This is the mold that you are looking for -
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=0000690382
(I'm assuming that you have a .44. There is also a .36 cal version)

I either use a wonder wad under or a smear of grease over ANY boolit that I load in a C&B revolver. It's a small price to pay to prevent something as catastrophic as a chain fire.

[StrawHat]

The molds referred to by JIMinPHX were at one time available as HPs.

The looked good but were not authentic and did not expand in either my 1860s or my 1861s.

The did, however, make a good boolit for my Richards 1860 conversion. (Not authentic but good looking).