Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com

JimT

I went to the Range early this morning. It was clouding up and sure enough, I got rained out. Ran about 50 rounds total through the sixgun and the rifle .. the most through the sixgun. When I started testing the rifle it began raining shortly thereafter. My last target has big old fat raindrops on i...

JimT

Dot Taffin gave permission to share news about John's condition. John has cancer on one of his kidneys. When they went to operate they discovered a heart issue that must be fixed first. He has a leaky heart valve. He is due to go into surgery to repair the valve the end of this month. Once that is t...

JimT

I have some fairly heavy .357 loads loads using Military Surplus AA#9. I shot a bunch of them at the CSA in April from my Model 92 Rossi levergun. The accuracy made me look like a decent shot! They functioned well through the levergun. I have them loaded with the Saeco 160 gr. SWC.

JimT

It rained last night and the grass was too wet to mow this morning, so while waiting for the grass to dry I decided to load the .357 brass that I had shot at the CSA in April. Since Alliant powders are getting a bit scarce I decided I did not want to use any of my 2400. I have some unopened H110 and...

JimT

I hadn't noticed that Scott! I don't remember where this can came from , I don't even know this is any good. Guess I should pour a little out and put a match to it. Just smell it. You can tell if a can of powder is good or bad by giving it a smell. If the smell ranges from no detectable odor to res...

JimT

Rube Burrows wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 3:45 pm What do you shoot them in?

My 480 Achilles sixgun ...

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The story of its development is here - https://leverguns.com/480/480_achilles.htm

JimT

I’m gonna guess around 8 , I’ve started using lead bullets and like to know the hardness and velocity people use for my own reference, thanks! I ran some through my hardness tester. The lowest number on the tester is 5. They do not come close to that. These are cast with almost pure lead. Dead soft...

JimT

I like 700X in the .45 Colt. I have shot a lot of it and it works well and is accurate.

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JimT

I’m on the hunt for a different powder to replace Unique and TightGroup may not be it. 231 is next. But there’s a whole lotta space in the case with 231. It takes up a bit more space than Bullseye. :D I've shot a lot of Bullseye loads with no problems. Since the powder shortage I am glad you are se...

JimT

4t5 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 8:25 am Mr. Jim , if you don’t mind me asking , what’s the brinell hardness of those bullets ?

I have no clue. I cast them pretty much out of pure lead. Not sure they would register on my Hardness Tester.

JimT

Scott Tschirhart wrote: ↑Tue Jul 23, 2024 7:14 am Thank God for the rain!

Amen! Rain in July? A Blessing from Above!

JimT

The property needs mowed but it's wet and raining off and on today, so I spent a good part of the day in shop loading the brass of the 480 Achilles that I fired last week. I decided to use the Huffaker Hollow-Base Heel bullet and 7.0 gr. of Unique. The hollow base is quite large and increases the si...

JimT

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JimT

Thank you for posting!

I copied it!

JimT

Good tip on covering the bags. I was shooting off the hood of truck over bags and walked down to check the target. Turned around to walk back to see the small flames of the bag on fire. so .. in addition to shooting glasses and hearing protection a small fire extinguisher might be handy ... :lol: I...

JimT

1894cfan wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:45 pm If shooting off sandbags, I'd suggest using a section of thick leather on top of the sand bags so the powder blast out of the barrel/cylinder gap isn't cutting into the bag. HTH

Hot .357's are especially hard on bags!

JimT

So you put the bottom of the frame on the forks? Thanks. The photos help a lot. Yes. It keeps from putting pressure on the barrel that might affect the point of aim. Shooting off sandbags or shooting bags I don't worry about it and have never noticed it affecting my guns. But the harder forks can p...

JimT

Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:06 am ..... the recoil of a powerful handgun will drive both into the surface they are resting on, which quickly destroys my concentration.

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JimT

weiler wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 8:41 am Jim, that Linebaugh Ruger remains one of my favorite custom revolvers and stories

Thank you.
It holds a special place for me also.

JimT

Not sure about "tutorial" but here are some photos .... I have been using this old thing since about the turn of the century. IMG_6914.JPG Outers Pistol Perch ... adjustable in many directions ...the front fork can be raised or lowered .. the entire platform can swivel on the base .. the a...

JimT

Jim, Your post didn't say how you fired these groups? Looks like very fine shooting no doubt. I would like to say I shot all these left-handed while standing on my head but the truth is I was using the Outers Pistol Perch. It's not a 'machine rest' but does help the shooter hold the gun fairly stea...

JimT

Bill in Oregon wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 8:58 am
And I want a shirt like his!

You'd look good in it Bill, but it would be tight on the neck and the arms would be too short.

JimT

I oughta shoot a hog with it. That would be a fitting thing to use it for.

JimT

It is a HUGE old thing. Not as big as the Walker but close.

My 8 year old grandson holding it.

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JimT

The Dragoon latch holds just fine.

JimT

That'll work just fine Jim! Nicely done. I didn't expect your 480 to be a long barreled smoke wagon, I envisioned as a short gun, 5.5 at the most. Must be tough clearing leather! :D I usually have it in hand when I need it. :lol: When I was in my 30's I could draw and hit just as fast with a 7 1/2&...

JimT

The Bullseye load is close to 880 fps.
The Unique load is 850 fps or so.

JimT

The 480 Achilles 480Achilles_large.JPG 480blackback ground.JPG for_background.JPG I had a box of ammo loaded with mixed bullets but all the same powder charge - 6.0 gr. of Bullseye .. and a box of ammo loaded with the Huffaker hollow base heel bullet and 6.6 gr. of Unique that I wanted to shoot up. ...

JimT

Pass, the hazmat fees are a killer these days! Which is likely what the anti-gunners are looking for! You can easily whittle down the Hazmat if you get some friends to join with you and make a large order. By watching the sales you will find Hazmat fees waved at times if the order is large enough.

JimT

https://www.midwayusa.com/s?promotionid=1687372&gd

Natchez also has some on sale ..
https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/primers

JimT

I would never oil a 1911 like that unless I was gonna put it away for awhile. In the dusty country I grew up in that would become a dust magnet and would be gunked up in no time. Carrying during harvest and when making hay! Or just out back country exploring. I guess for city carry it would be OK bu...

JimT

..... Loaded with a Kerr, Johnston and Dow or Kaido bullet, it seems the Dragoons step well up into deer and hog hunting territory. Yessir I believe it would work quite well. In truth, the round ball would also. I hunted with the 1858 Remington .44 and the round ball in it worked very well on the g...

JimT

Nice Looking! I like both long barreled and short barreled and intermediate barreled sixguns.

JimT

Scott T has been posting about his Ruger "Dragoon" .. which is what Elmer Keith always wished Ruger would have named the big frame .44 single action. Many of us agree with him. But for fun I thought I would post a couple pictures of the original Dragoon. I don't have a real original. This ...

JimT

.30 Super Carry .312” diameter bullet 100 gr. Bullet @ 1250 fps pressure = 50,000 psi .32 H&R Magnum .312” diameter bullet 100 gr. Bullet @ 1208 fps pressure = 21,000 CUP .327 Federal Magnum .312” diameter bullet 100 gr. Bullet @ 1400 fps or 1655 fps pressure = 45,000 psi (maximum) Nothing &quo...

JimT

Uh ... not to cause any problems, but if referring to the "454 Casull" ... there is no period before the number, indicating it is not a caliber designation but a caliber name. Just like the "480 Achilles" which is .475" diameter.

JimT

Been haying here in Texas for a month or more.

JimT

The .45's they shot with the Hornady critical defense rounds did exactly what they were designed to do. expand dramatically at close range. As far as penetration I'd bet that even the old 900fps round nose 255grain bullet would amaze these "experts". I killed a 1400+ pound Hereford cow us...

JimT

Went out on the Range this morning ... trying to beat the heat. It was a .22 Day .. using my Old Model Single Six, practicing trigger control and sight alignment. I ran 150 rounds offhand and two-hand hold. Ran an additional 25 rounds using my Outers Pistol Perch checking the accuracy potential of t...

JimT

I blame all the misinformation on President Clinton. When he was President he had a program giving computers to those who could not afford one. He started with the group of people who were not allowed to use pens or pencils but were given crayons instead. They became the experts who post about every...

JimT

They will hurt you. Years ago a friend was killed at a sale when the auctioneer asked him if the bull was tame. He said, "Yes. I raised him from a calf." Got in the pen with him and the bull killed him in front of his family and the sale crowd.

JimT

You have a nice Bar B Cue rig there! Great for a Sunday-Go-To-Meeting.

JimT

A friend came to me one day and asked me if I would teach him how to cast bullets. I told him, "Yes. When the weather cools off." Then I told him, "Til then, go around to the tire shops and ask them if they will give you their old wheelweights." When the Fall was going good and i...

JimT

And as I and others have said, it's not about "saving" money, it's more shooting for the money spent. As Wiresguy said, it leads to spending more money!

I can attest to that for sure.

JimT

This is based on already having the equipment to reload. You might check my math. I have been known to screw up adding and subtracting. .45 ACP Bullseye 1 pound = 7000 grains a 5.0 grain load would make 1400 loads from 1 pound at $47 per pound the powder costs a little over .033 cents per shot ........

JimT

Jim T, way you shoot a revolver and all you know and can do with one, you don't even need a rifle! Well .. that ain't totally true but it's nice of you to say. I am "Old School" which means in part, do the job with what you have. When it's all said and done it comes down to the person, no...

JimT

It's a beauty as well as SPECIAL!

JimT

GunnyMack wrote: ↑Wed Jul 10, 2024 4:47 am Gotcha, I didn't see a heater under you sizer.
Do you mix your own or did you get a large supply years ago?

Back when Paco was making it he gave me two #10 cans full. I still have part of one can left ...enough to last the rest of my life most likely.

JimT

I see they FILL the cylinder! Is Paco's Apache Blue one of the hard wax type lubes? Need a heater? No it's not. Kinda 'gummy' ... doesn't run in hot weather ... works pretty well down in the middle 30's. I haven't used anything but that since the 1980's. Paco used it in some fairly fast rifle loads...

JimT

Thank you Gunny.
I added more photos to the above post.

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