45 longcolt 2 ball load?
 

Quite awhile back someone mentioned a 45 longcolt load using a couple of 44 caliber lead balls in the case. Anybody got the information on this load still?

Just curious

GoodOlBoy

I played with that combo years back. It's fun. You use two .451" muzzleloader balls. Surprisingly, two round balls will weight about the same as a regular bullet. IIRC, the roundballs I weighed went about 130 grains in .45, so two of them are 260 grains. They do take up a lot more room than a regular bullet, so you MUST reduce the powder charge to compensate. Use no higher than START load of your chosen powder.

Size and expand the case as usual, prime and charge. Now press in the first ball with your thumb as far as you can. Rub a bit of lube (case size lube, beeswax, bullet lube) in the space between the top of the ball and the case. Now seat the second ball on top, right to its equator. Crimp lightly.

You get two holes on target with every trigger pull, which is amusing. They'll stay surprisingly close together out to 25 yards or so.

I prefer a variation on this load.

Run the .451 ball in just like with the 2 ball load; but instead of the 2nd ball, use a very light bullet. I've used the Lee 190gr.

You will discover that the bullet will shoot low to the ball. But the ball has an inferior ballistic coefficient. It will fall faster than the bullet. The result (unless the ball goes adventuring off to left or right) will be that at some point downrange, the ball will fall in line with the bullets point of impact. This will be a consistent range.

I have used this to good effect on ground squirrels at ranges of about 35 yards. (This was the range my Dan Wesson 6 inch barrel revolver grouped) Pretty neat. Real cute when you engage steel targets; as the ball hits long enough after the bullet to hear 2 distinct "TINK"s.

Should be said that it only seems to work well in long barreled heavy guns.

Remember to work up the powder charge carefully on these. Rocky is quite right. This load takes up lots of case room and it increases pressures a bunch.

So that how the quick draw folks fake us out thinking that two shot went of. Not bad.

erm no. Don't misunderstand the two ball load is not THAT accurate. Sure there are some quickdraw fakers out there but if you are referring to Bob Mundan (sp?) he is 100% real.

GoodOlBoy

In my bullet&ball load, I've found the bullet to be pretty accurate. The ball is the one that is prone to mischief.