Tom Herman
09-22-2008, 12:16 AM
Hi Folks,
I ran into a deal that I just couldn't refuse: An unfired Taurus Thundebolt rifle in .45 LC at a gun show: The price was right, and no paperwork, so it followed me home.
Taking it to the range later that day was a monumental disappointment: The gun wouldn't feed well at all with my rounds, dropped from a Lyman 452424 mold.
Reading up on the Thunderbolt revealed that it doesn't do well with long rounds.
Mine ran 1.650", 50 thousandths longer than industry standards.
The longer rounds are not an issue with any of my revolvers.
Fast forward several weeks, and I ordered and received a cartridge carrier from Taurus. It looked like I could file the back end down about 80 thousandths, and get the clearance I needed.
A few hours of filing, a few more of cursing at the rifle putting it back together countless times, and I was off to the range.
The rounds now were able to clear the feed ramp on the upward stroke, but were too long to chamber well.
Fortunately, I had some shorter rounds made from (ugh) hard cast commercial lead. They fed 100% reliably.
The gun was a hoot to shoot, although I would regularly wind up with some unburned powder spit into my face.
This now begs the question: I'm looking for a 250 grain .45 LC round nose flat point that will load at 1.600" COAL or less.
My casings average about 1.270". So, I need a bullet that is about .300-.330" max from the top of the crimping groove to the top of the bullet.
Does the Lyman #452664 fit this bill? Any ideas on this or any other possibilities?
Thanks for all your help.
Happy Shootin'! -Tom
I ran into a deal that I just couldn't refuse: An unfired Taurus Thundebolt rifle in .45 LC at a gun show: The price was right, and no paperwork, so it followed me home.
Taking it to the range later that day was a monumental disappointment: The gun wouldn't feed well at all with my rounds, dropped from a Lyman 452424 mold.
Reading up on the Thunderbolt revealed that it doesn't do well with long rounds.
Mine ran 1.650", 50 thousandths longer than industry standards.
The longer rounds are not an issue with any of my revolvers.
Fast forward several weeks, and I ordered and received a cartridge carrier from Taurus. It looked like I could file the back end down about 80 thousandths, and get the clearance I needed.
A few hours of filing, a few more of cursing at the rifle putting it back together countless times, and I was off to the range.
The rounds now were able to clear the feed ramp on the upward stroke, but were too long to chamber well.
Fortunately, I had some shorter rounds made from (ugh) hard cast commercial lead. They fed 100% reliably.
The gun was a hoot to shoot, although I would regularly wind up with some unburned powder spit into my face.
This now begs the question: I'm looking for a 250 grain .45 LC round nose flat point that will load at 1.600" COAL or less.
My casings average about 1.270". So, I need a bullet that is about .300-.330" max from the top of the crimping groove to the top of the bullet.
Does the Lyman #452664 fit this bill? Any ideas on this or any other possibilities?
Thanks for all your help.
Happy Shootin'! -Tom