Well, I finally got to the range the other day with my new Colt Peacemaker. I brought a variety of "Colt safe" .45 Colt loads with the intention of getting a feel for the gun, seeing what it liked, and getting a cursory zero on the sights (I even had my sight adjustment tools along - a big pair of vise grips and a mill file).
The loads all had the RCBS .45-270 SAA bullet cast from wheel weights and lubed with SPG. First load was my standard velocity, low pressure load of 8.0 grains of W-W 231, which clock at about 850 fps. The new Colt took to these like a duck to water, printing 2"-3" groups at 25 yards from a one handed hold. They hit a little high, though, with a 6:00 hold on 6" bull resulting in 12:00 hits. Rats - new Colts are supposed to shoot low, so we can file the front sight. Oh well, windage was right on, so no need for the vise grips.
Next up was 16.0 grains of 2400, which clock in the 950 - 1,000 fps range depending on the gun. The added velocity did the trick - these shot to the sights at 25 yards, and grouped better than the 231 loads. This was a big relief - it won't need anything special, shooting one of my standard loads with aplomb.
Now the fun starts - black powder time. Same bullet, but now with a full 40 grains of Goex FFFg. This was the original load for this cartridge way back in 1873, and the reason for its cavernous case. This is a very powerful load, often exceeding 1,000 fps in 7 1/2" Colts. It was soon reduced to 28 grains for military use, and loaded in a shorter case to fit the S&W Schofield break open revolver. That, and there were complaints over its recoil. But I digress...
So, another winner - the new Colt, true to its heritage, really shone with the black powder. It shot every bit as well as the 2400 load, and shot to the sights as well. I have a keeper.
Beyond all of that, though, is the interest that shooting black powder from such a gun elicits in the other folks at the range. I soon had the other dozen folks at the range making safe their respective guns and gathering behind me to see just what the hell was going on. Black powder speaks with a far, far deeper voice than smokeless, and then there is the huge muzzle flash and smoke from such a short barrel.
Soon, everyone was taking turns. Even a couple of ladies who, at first, thought it must be some sort of a monster magnum from hell, looking at all of the smoke and commotion. They both loved it, though, commenting on that while it kicked, it was a "push", and the gun rolled up so perfectly, absorbing most of it. "Is it supposed to do that...?" Of course it is.
I just love that stuff. Introducing folks to the "way it was", broadening their firearms knowledge just a bit. Everyone just loved shooting that thing. It's days at the range like this that bring so much of the enjoyment of the hobby to me.
