starting over on black powder guns.

[troy_mclure]

my house was recently burgled, and the gun cabinet containing all my black powder gunswas emptied out.
all that was missed was my euroarms new model army .44(which just got dropped off by my buddy the day before and was on the kitchen table).

so im thinking of getting a .45 caliber rifle and boring the barrel out so i can use the .454 balls my revolver likes(and which i have tons of cast).

or am i better off just getting an appropriate(.440-.445) mould for the .45 i buy?

unfortunately i dont have a lot of money right now so itll likely be a bit fixer-upper gun.

[johnson1942]

for 32.00 dollars you can have a push through bullet sizer made by doughty enterprises includeing shipping and run those balls through one that is .445 and shoot them patched. they will be very slightly elongated and just start them that way. ive reduced .495 to .445 and they shoot well. center on a lubed patch, and start with a good starter and your in business.

[DIRT Farmer]

Some of the target guys run as much as .005 over, in my 40 I use a .400 and 20 thousands patching. Use pure lead and a short starter.

[451 Pete]

Round ball molds from Lee start at $26 retail so purchasing a new mold in .440 or .445 to properly fit a .45 cal. rifle is not a great expense. ( Click on the Lee banner at the top of the page to check these out. ) I'm not sure about the area where you are located as to availability or pricing but because of the popularity of the in-line actions around here good side hammer rifles used are very reasonable and can be found for a couple of hundred or so.

Pete

[IROCZ]

I hope you are insured.

[Maven]

"...or am i better off just getting an appropriate(.440-.445) mould for the .45 i buy?"

Troy, there are lots of those used/excellent condition iron moulds (Lyman, Ohaus, RCBS) on eBay as they were a common size.

[Hanshi]

Burgled, oh that is tough. I really hate it for you. Either suggestion presented is easily doable; $32 for a sizer or $26 for a fine Lee mold. Personally I kinda like the idea of the swaged down 140 grain (as opposed to 130 grain .445) 454 ball for a .45 rifle.