Pietta 1858 .44 for Flo

[Ceddie]

they are more fun that should be allowed! have you looked into paper cartridges? they are a little work up front but make shooting WAY more pleasant.

[Rocketvapor]

We'll get to paper cartridges one day.
For now it's 30grain pellets.
I have a pound of Pyrodex P and 30grains by measure is just a little much with a wad.
29grains is about a full charge without really compressing hard. Shaved down a Lee scoop.
Using 4 scoops in a 120gr measure comes out to over half way between the 110 and 120gr mark.

Two cylinders each then take a break, clean and reload. 

[Rocketvapor]

I bought enough stuff to start off with the pistols, a couple hundred rounds.
Now that we KNOW it's fun I ordered enough to last to maybe black Friday
Have a 1000 caps coming, 700 balls, 200 pellets, another pound of powder.
Caps cost more than regular rifle primers, the pellets aren't cheap, balls are about the same as clearance bullets.

[xtriggerman]

I had a 1858 as my first handgun back in the 70's. The problem it had was any more than 3 cylinder loading while in the frame scuzzed up the cylinder pin so bad, it was hard to rotate the cylinders and worse trying to get the cylinder pin forward to get cylinder out. When I went to gun school in 79, I still had it and made a school project out of it by turning the cylinder face back by some .080, leaving the pin hole surface alone. Then turning the barrel shoulder back to extend the barrel mouth back to the cylinder face. Now the cylinder gap scuzz would blow down on that bushing like cylinder protrusion, keeping it entirely off the pin. Worked like a charm. Never had any trouble pushing the pin foward after that no matter how many rounds I fired. How remington missed that from the original design.....I'll never know. Good luck with them thar smokers!

[Rocketvapor]

Sounds like a great mod.
We are still loading out of frame with a lube wipe on the pin and a brush down the center hole. 
Gun still gets DIRTY

Two cylinders each and maybe reloading the first over again, then taking a break then all over again is probably enough for one session.  Sure is different than taking a couple 1911s and 100 or so rounds. We still do some prone rifle trigger time to fill in the morning.  Missed the last F-Class match due to aches and pains, getting old sucks   
Doing two things for a range trip breaks up the monotony some and makes the drive worthwhile.
Nothing like the 800 mile, 3-4 days down in south Florida for the SKS meets. 
Now that was fun, and we blew though some ammo. 
 
I've spent more on BP supplies than I anticipated but now have a adequate supply for the two of us for SEVERAL range trips.
2025 COLA has been spent
The double barrel 12 ga. pistols might be an option if the DOGE check comes through  

[Rocketvapor]

made a third trip with the Piettas.
Loaded and shot some Pyrodex-P loads (about 29gr/Volume), thin Walters wads and .454 balls.
Found out the load compresses a lot and 30gr would have fit easily. 
Using powder isn't as quick as dropping a 30gr pellet but not a problem at the bench. 
Target at about 50ft standing offhand was about the same as last trip.
Load tuning might improve groups, a little

[Rocketvapor]

Last trip  was at a FULL 25 yards
Groups a little larger, about 6 inches.

Bought another BP pistol. this one is MINE.
1858 12 inch Stainless Target.
Ad photo attached.
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=153414.0;attach=11729;image

[Onepoint]

That's a nice one.

[Danjal]

Last trip  was at a FULL 25 yards
Groups a little larger, about 6 inches.

Bought another BP pistol. this one is MINE her backup.
1858 12 inch Stainless Target.
Ad photo attached.
http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=153414.0;attach=11729;image

Fixed it for ya. :P

[Rocketvapor]

Supposedly will ship out Monday.
Spare stainless cylinders ain't cheap.
Will have to try a blued cylinder (when no one is watching).
We now have 6.