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MtnDon
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# Posted: 1 Apr 2012 10:52am
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Quoting: mrcvs Do you think it is safe to shoot with smokeless powder or should we stick to the black powder?
NO. Do not even think about using any smokeless powder. That is a guaranteed recipe for blowing it up and messing up your hand and/or face. In fact unless you or your friend is very well skilled in determining the safety I would not fire even blackpowder in it until it has been looked at by a competent gunsmith who blesses it.
Old guns are cool.
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Malamute
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# Posted: 1 Apr 2012 11:04am - Edited by: Malamute
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The 41 Colt used heeled bullets. There may be regular type bullets available, but the originals had a heeled type, like the 22 long rifle. Loading heeled bullets is a bit of a nuisance, I'm nor sure regular dies work. It may take a special seating die.
What make and model gun is it?
If it's a Colt Single Action Army, or other Colt solid frame gun, it may be safe to shoot light loads of smokeles, in, but you really need to get it checked out by someone competant to do so.
Loading black powder in cartridges isn't quite as simple as just usinga different powder. The bullet lube that works for smokeless loads often doesn't work well with black, leaving a nasty fouled mess thats hard to clean up, and accuracy can fall off quickly. A certain amont of powder compression is desirable also. Do some research on the cowboy action sites about it before tackling it if you decide to load for the gun. It isnt rocket science, but there are a few things that will give much better results than using smokeless loading components and techniques.
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mrcvs
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# Posted: 1 Apr 2012 02:05pm
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It's a Colt 1895, manufactured in 1897, according to the serial number. I think it is safe to shoot--it's all there and functions just fine. It may have been re-blued a LONG time ago, but it is mechanically sound. I wish it was one of the old single action army models--I could just about retire with what one of these first generation guns are going for--even in horrible condition!
I did some research and 19 grains of FFFg black powder is what it takes, or the original smokeless load was 3.4 grains of Bullseye Powder.
Okay, how do you reload black powder without blowing yourself up?
Anyone know where I can get a set of .41 Long Colt dies CHEAP???
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Malamute
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# Posted: 2 Apr 2012 12:19am - Edited by: Malamute
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I would go over here http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php?s=a388e539d49143969b96d9bbc4147006
and look around, sign up, ask questions, and see what the guys that do it regularly are doing. It isn't about blowing yourself up or not, black just has different things that work better than the standard components that are used with smokeless loads. Black is fun, and not nearly as dirty as most think it is, including gun clean up.
May be a good place to ask about dies also.
I looked up the 1895, it looks like the "Army Special" or "New Army". it should be alright to shoot, so long as it's relatively tight, and the chambers line up with the barrel correctly, and it indexes fully into place when cocked slowly. I'd keep loads mild, but so long as its in decent functional shape, it should be alright. If theres ANY doubt, have a decent gunsmith that has experience with older guns look at it. Many so-called "gunsmiths" are people with a few tools and basically change parts to make guns work, they aren't old school gunsmiths, capable of corectly assesing and diagnosing true probems, and making them right, fabricating parts, etc. If it need work, I'd very definately get someone very experience in Colt double actions to work on it. I'd NEVER have an averge gunsmtih work on a Colt double action. There arent many that truly understand them and know how to correctly time and work on them. It's fast becoming a lost art. It's easy to ruin one and make it worse than it was. Smith & Wessons are easy compared to Colts.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 4 Apr 2012 08:06pm
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I have 2 new additions to my collection. The Sig Sauer 556 Classic and the Colt LE6920, or law enforcement version of the military M-4, but has a 16.1" barrel.
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MikeOnBike
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2012 02:08am
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Just inherited:
1956 High Standard SK100 22lr
1967 High Standard SK103 22lr
1954 Winchester Model 74 22lr
1925 Winchester Model 12 16ga.
My grandfather didn't pass away but he recently moved into assisted living and gave these to me. That about doubles my collection.
Previous:
Ruger SS GP100 .357 6"
Ruger Single Six New Model 22lr/22mag
Remington Model 572 pump .22
Remington Model 788 .243
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Cotton Picker
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 02:13pm
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Hello folks,
Retired Military & Vitnam Vet here.
I have 17 weapons.
They are a mixture of revolvers, rifles & shot guns, black powder & (relatively) modern.
I was born & raised in the country & cannot imagine a time when I will be without a weapon of my choice.
I will do whatever it takes to see my status remains quo!
Cotton Picker
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Dillio187
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:20pm
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I used to have a few guns, but I lost them in a tragic canoe accident in the middle of the lake last summer.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:48pm
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Wow, lost all my in a boating accident too. Seems to be a common problem.
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Borrego
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:09pm
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Redirecting this thread a little, has anyone got a FFL type 3 license (C&R)? I just found out about these from a friend and have applied for mine. Perfect for collectors/enthusiasts, particularly in restrictive states like California 
I'm looking at getting some Mosins for starters - cheap guns, and more importantly, cheap ammo.....
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:57pm
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My son & I have a type 3 license. As well as being able to receive the interstate shipment of qualifying arms, vendors like Brownell's Midwayusa, Graf and some local dealers offer a discount to a C&R holder. The discount varies with the merchandise. G/L
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 08:42pm
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I had a buddy who had an FFL and he let it go. They added too many hoops to jump through. Just sign up on gunbrokers.com, its like ebay, but firearms stuff only and there is a list of licensed FFL dealers there that you can have it sent to. I do have a good buddy who has a gun store and I have them shipped to him, he charges $25 and does all the paperwork.
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OwenChristensen
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:55pm
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I shoot long range buffalo guns, I hunt deer and enjoy target shooting, and reload for most. I also have several pistols, cowboy action and some modern.
Owen
Some, but not all my leverguns
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 11 Jun 2012 11:02pm
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One of the advantages to the type 3 C&R is you avoid all those $25 to $35 fees the dealers collect for doing the small amount of paperwork required. As long as the firearm is 50 years or older most of them qualify as a C&R. Type 3 is much easier to have than a type 1. My son is in the process to get a type 1 as a gunsmith.
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Swamphunter
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# Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:30am
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I agree with flatwater and Jerry.... I list nothing.
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