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Thread: Busy day.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,200

    Busy day.

    Hello, everyone. Well, the BACO .433 sizer die arrrived yesterday..I needed this size for a first model Richards conversion to a 1980's era Colt1860 army .44.
    The bullet I plan to use is from a Rapine hollow base mould. I pan-lube these & since I like to size nose-first..I surface grind the push-rods face flat. A flat-faced top punch does the pushing. Bullets are now a snug fit in cyl. mouths. As I was getting out the RCBS .44 Colt die set, I paused..and decided to do something I had been putting off long enough.
    There have been a few changes to the die-lock rings over the years. The originals had the lead pellet under the set-screw. Then came the split-ring type. Now, as I noted on my latest RCBS dies, brass set-screws. These different die-lock ring types are present on Lyman M dies also.
    I never cared for the split ring type..if your all set up in press & tighten..it will pull threads & nearly make it impossible to remove die. So you have to tighten these with die slightly loosened. That brass set-screw can damage threads! I have a 7X57 M die that I had to use a thread file on.
    I like the "old fashoned" lead pellet under the set-screw the best. By slightly backing out screw..a light tap with either a plastic or small rawhide mallet loosens them right up.
    So using some #4 lead shot, I "converted" all those brass set-screw types. BY the time I finished with die-sets & M dies..I ran out of time for the .44 Colt loading...oh well tomorrow.

  2. #2
    Boolit Man
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    98
    Isn't the 1860 Army 44 actually a .451 ?
    I'm pretty sure mine is.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    1,200
    Hello, digger44..yes I believe it is..original .44 Colt used heeled bullet. My cyl. throats are bored for an inside lubed hollow base bullet...I made a hurried call to Jay Strite (Ravens Roost did conversion)..he assured me that all would be well..I guess I will find out? Only thing I can think, is that the bullet will be guided straight thru throat..and hollow base keeping pressure bottled up..until bullet base clears cylinder mouth..then pressure will expand to forcing cone/bore dia...sounds like alot going on..hope it works!

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,053
    Only thing I can think, is that the bullet will be guided straight thru throat..and hollow base keeping pressure bottled up..until bullet base clears cylinder mouth..then pressure will expand to forcing cone/bore dia...sounds like alot going on..hope it works!
    That is my understanding of the theory also; but .018" sounds like a lot of expansion to hope for every shot.

    Robert

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check