Thanks Abilene!

Trailrider, I greatly respect ya, but some old stories just won't die.

Why are the 45 Colt and the 45 S&W the way they are?  Why are most things the way they are: Money.

The original 45 Colt powder charge was 30 grains, and that is the only charge ever loaded by Frankford arsenal. That amount of powder filled the case beneath the bullet, that seems to be the criteria at the time. It is often forgotten that those early cases were inside primed, with a copper cup inserted into the case to hold the priming compound, giving an internal volume surprisingly close to a modern W-W case.

The 1st prototype was chambered in 44 Russian, soon changed to 44 American.  In late May, 1873, the Army sent a request to Colt for a 45 caliber cartridge.  The first 45 Colt cartridge was fired on June 7th 1873.  Yes, the 45 Colt was developed over the span of a couple of weeks. It was a 1.285 case with a 250 grain bullet over 30 grains powder.  Colt seemed to have simply designed the case to fit the cylinder. 

 All Prototypes (there were only 3) survived initial testing and 2 are still in existence, with the other still known in the 1890s.  The Frames were Iron prior to 1880.

Soon after its introduction, commercial manufacturers began upping the powder charge, because then as now, power sells.  35 to 38 to 40 grains, with the 40 grain charge 1st documented in 1880.  Also, these were outside primed "Balloon head" cases that had more volume than the early inside primed cases.  That 40 grain charge was loaded well into the 1930s, with no reports of blown up guns.

S&W cylinders were the length they were because that was the length they were tooled up to make.  Selling 10s of thousands of guns to the russians they were not interested in changing that tooling.  As well the long small rimmed Colt case did not lend itself well to their extractors.  Easier to talk the army into taking a cartridge using less copper, less powder and less lead (The country was in the middle of a financial panic).  That a 230 grain bullet in the low 800s fps turned out to be a dandy combat load was a happy accident.

(C. Kenneth Moores "Colt Single Action Army Revolver Study: New Discoveries")

I've got a small jar of JB Bore Paste at home somewhere that I've had for 25 years.  I have no idea where I got it, nor why.  I think maybe I had read it was good to break in new bores, but never did.   Hope I never need to use it. 

That was very cool and I LOVED the intro!   

Kid Rich was there shooting WB but he was on another posse and I don't know if he was shooting BP this time or not.

THANKS GUYS!!  I'm gonna try the "quick and dirty" first and if it doesn't work well enough, I'll source up a Wheeler Kit and do it the "long way."

I took my old pre10's to a pistol match a few weeks ago.  I realized after the match, that a buddy had a modern, gen 1, M&P.  The handguns were introduced 100 years apart and decided to do a little verses video.  I didn't so do well, but I a least had fun.

That was cool.

Looks good Deacon!  A traditional trigger will make it look even better.

Quote from: Coal Creek Griff on April 16, 2025, 11:36:53 PMI keep wishing that Tisas made a traditional-styled 1911A1 in Super .38. Even better would be a nickel version.

Griff, look for a Tisas Regulator, it may be what you seek:
https://tisasusa.com/1911a1-regulator/

Had a stress test yesterday, pulled a groin muscle during it, more medical fun tomorrow, endoscopy and colonoscopy   starting at 6:30 am, Getting old isn't for wimps.