Testing my first black powder loads!

[Cliff Fendley]

Glad you found your problem.

In a 44-40 with the Mav Big Lubes you can literally run all day with a rifle and usually with a colt style revolver. I usually pull the cylinder and wipe the main pin and front of the cylinder off during lunch break just to be safe.

[Coffinmaker]

Hey Cliff   

What is this "Lunch Break" of which you speak??   

Places where I shoot just go straight through.     Then we have a nice lunch. 

Before the match we also have the best Biscuits-n-Gravy-n-Bacon-n-Potatoes on the PLANET!!

[Cliff Fendley]

We usually stop for a lunch break at our local matches since we have a nice shady area. Unless it's going to be so hot and everyone wants to finish up early. On winter months it's nice to sit by the fire for a few minutes and put some hot chili in your belly.

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[olskool]

I do not shoot matches, but a year ago or more I bought a Mav Dutchman bullet mold in 44 it is fantastic! I have been handloading since 1967 and started casting in 81 I use the 200gr. boolit in my 73 carbine and use it in 44 special hand guns with smokeless. I use my lube of beeswax and olive oil or SPG. I love the big lube it holds enough and with my lube or SPG I get no fouling. it is a great mold!

[greenjoytj]

What I took to be a fouling problem (cylinder was tight and sometimes wouldn't turn)  was primers backing out.

How was the primer backing out problem solved?

[Dick Dastardly]

Primers always back out.  The problem is solved with enough pressure to seat them again.  Primers that back out and stay out generally are the result of too little pressure to reseat them.  They back out and stay out.  In a revolver this is death.  With black powder a full charge solves the primer question.  If you want lighter recoil, use shorter brass.  With a lever rifle there could be feeding problems with shorter brass.  Be sure your rifle is tuned to use the shorter brass.  With a 44-40 you don't have options for shorter brass.  With my 1860 open top revolvers with Kirst Konverter cylinders I shoot Cowboy 45 Special brass.  Think of it as 45 Colt short.  No primer problems.

DD-MDA