I inherited a Colt SAA 44-40 many years ago when my dad passed in 1972. It’s an early smokeless frame and I have shot it a great deal, primarily with smokeless - it generally shoots to point of aim at 20 yards with most loads. Just for fun, I loaded some full charge BP rounds using the Accurate Mold 43-215C boolit at 40/1 lead tin, sized to .429, over 37 grs Goex FFFg and compressed about .375 deep. Lube was standard SPG.
Those loads grouped pretty well into about 3” but about 8” to the left - this was offhand with no rest. I recovered several slugs and it looks to me like they skidded on the rifling, which I assume would normally open groups but not throw them that far off centerline. I’m considering going to a 20/1 alloy to hopefully raise hardness a bit and hopefully still allow some expansion. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, HW