They always do that! They know darn well when we get paid! LOL
You would think they got money radar.
Point 1: I have not seen anything about the tighter twist in literature.
They don't get a hurry about posting specs, eh? Not surprising, if the new twist isn't popular, they have some deniability.
Point 2: No, the ball pretty much hits the forcing cone the way it went in. A .454 ball going into a .448 chamber is now a .448 ball.
I'm thinking kind of an oblong ball at that point.
Upon firing it engages the .440 lands and .448 grooves and begins to spin on it way down and out the barrel.
So not a horrible match, but not perfect either. I remember you saying the barrels were .450 groove, so you're fairly close and if the soft lead ball obturates a bit from the gas pressure, you're doing okay. If not, there's accuracy to be gained modifying the cylinder a bit.
For best performance, we want chambers .001 to .002 over groove diameter. Mine are close and my shooting skills not at the point where it'd make a difference anyway!
Yes, that's been the known standard here on this forum (Unlike most forums on the net.) that have a lead boolit over groove diameter a "bit" helps the seal, increasing accuracy,preventing gas cutting and the associated barrel leading. I would assume the soft lead does a better job of this, assuming a decent match of ball to chamber/groove.
Point 4: The 8" is the favorite except for the smaller statured shooters, they like the Belt Model but really enjoy the Colts.
Sounds like the 8 is the way for me to go, as I'm not at all small statured in any way. "Robust" might be a more generous term for me.
Point 5: Yes, using a lubricated felt wad that fits tight will help scrape the bore on its way out. Spent most of last year shooting with lube over the balls and that is how I keep them loaded, but for the range, we're going back to wads, the gun is much more accurate.
Interesting, I' was certainly thinking of using the wads in that manner. Made much more sense to me than on top of the powder. Provides lube ahead of the projectile as well as doing a little pre-ball cleaning. How does it lube the rod? (>ot sure I have the term right.) Any effect or do you need to lube that yourself?
Recently I ran 14 5-round tests and discovered that our 8" Remmy likes 35 grains of powder under a lubed wad with my Lee cast .454 round balls. Groups were under an inch if memory serves at 25 feet. The next closest was 15 grains of BP with 20 grains Cream of Wheat and 35 grains lube over the ball and both shot groups over an inch larger.
Thank you for posting the load information. Gives me a place to start. Mind if I ask what Lee mold, what brand of wads, what powder, etc.? Sometimes it's simpler to copy the wagon wheel than to reinvent it and these days, my time has gotten much more limited than I'd like.
I will complete the tests with Schuetzen (Grafs) powder as that's what we've been using, but will soon be switching to Goex Olde Eynsford. Then I'll test again and sight the gun in for use with the Olde Eynsford powder (adjusting the front blade).
Please keep us posted, I'm certainly interested in the information. Though likely, I'll do the research, buy the powder in an 8 pound can if I can.