1860 2nd Gen Loading Issues

[mazo kid]

If you pull the nipple, you should be able to work most of the powder out.

[ShotgunDave]

Like has already been said, if the bullet is stuck, just pull the nipple and push the bullet out from the back.

Since the bullet is already stuck, I'd try taking the cylinder off and tapping the bullet in as far as it will go. Just to see if it does actually fit. If not, you'll have to figure out how much powder you can actually use with the J&D in your gun.

Do you have an adjustable powder measure? If so, put a charge in it from your spout, and push the measure up to see how much it's actually throwing. You might be surprised and find out it's throwing more than 30gr.

[Ambaryerno]

My old adjustable measure goes from 50 to 120 grains. It's one of these:



Two charges from my 25 grain spout doesn't quite fill it all the way at the 50 grain setting (I'm certainly losing a bit of capacity from cupping my finger over the spout. I used to have one that went by 10 grain increments, but I'm only just getting back to shooting again and I have no idea what happened to it. So unless the adjustable measure is really inaccurate, the spouts are about right.

Also, the only thing that trying to tap the ball in any further does is flatten the nose.

Finally, since I'm jammed anyway I tested a a ball without any powder at all as far as it would go, and it loads with about 1/4" between the tip of the bullet and the front end of the chamber.

I noticed that the chamber interiors are rebated (you can see the small "step" in the picture of the interior). Is that standard?

[ShotgunDave]

I'll look at mine tomorrow and see if the chamber is rebated.

[Ambaryerno]

I'll look at mine tomorrow and see if the chamber is rebated.

Thanks, let me know what you find.

Out of curiosity, could there be a difference between loading loose powder and loading it packaged together in a cartridge? Like if your chambers ARE rebated, maybe the loose powder isn't compressing in the back of the chamber properly, but loading it via a cartridge will funnel it in better?

[Hawg]

The opposite would be true. Loose powder would fill the chamber better.

[Ambaryerno]

@ShotgunDave did you have a chance to check your cylinder chambers?

[ShotgunDave]

Ambaryerno, thanks for reminding me. I knew there was something I was forgetting to post!

It would appear that there is a very small step in the bottom of the chamber. Don't know how it compares to yours though. It doesn't look like much of a rebate.

[Ambaryerno]

It's hard to tell. I'd like to see what others would have to say, though mine MAY have a bit more significant step.

[ShotgunDave]

I'll put them side by side. Maybe we can see a difference.

   

They look pretty much the same to me.

[Ambaryerno]

Extracted the two bullets. The one on the bottom came from the chamber with the powder. Pardon the chewed up tip. I was having issues knocking it out from behind and tried using a screw instead (which just ripped out) before I was finally able to pop it.

It almost looks like powder was creeping up around the heel.

[Hawg]

It almost looks like powder was creeping up around the heel.

When you have a base smaller than the body that is to be expected.

[Ambaryerno]

It almost looks like powder was creeping up around the heel.

When you have a base smaller than the body that is to be expected.

My point is could the powder getting up around the heel be preventing it from seating all the way?

[Hawg]

No, that wont have any effect on it. From the pics it looks like half the bullet is sticking out of the cylinder. A J&D should work fine with a 30 grain charge. I don't see that little bit of chamber step taking up that much powder space. To me it looks like your powder charge is 40 grains or better. Do you have a scale you can weigh a charge on?

[Ambaryerno]

No, that wont have any effect on it. From the pics it looks like half the bullet is sticking out of the cylinder. A J&D should work fine with a 30 grain charge. I don't see that little bit of chamber step taking up that much powder space. To me it looks like your powder charge is 40 grains or better. Do you have a scale you can weigh a charge on?

No scale. And aren’t you supposed to be measuring by volume and not weight?