I've been shooting muzzle loaders for awhile. Since I was 10 or 12 years old. Dad taught me. Not revolvers, but Hawkens, Zouaves, Kentucky rifles, percussion single pistols. Made our own bullets and patches. Loads of goodies from DGW. I'm about to get into percussion revolvers. I've got some long experience in black powder shooting. That said, THIS IS THE BEST CHANNEL if you want to know about percussion revolvers. You get to know a thing when you live with it awhile. This guy Blackie ain't no bullshit.
Do you think they will pass a law that will treat Muzzleloaders and black powder as modern firearms? I feel like it’s just a matter of time. And I’m actually surprised that they haven’t already considering they have similar fps and penetration as some modern firearms.
@@stargod3064 I dont think it's there yet, but I wouldnt be surprised if something like that happens , I'd say, in ten years, give or take. But I sure hope not. Itd be the absolute death of the 2nd Amendment.
As much as I enjoy bushcraft this series of videos will be the most important you have done. The absolute lack of knowledge, even amongst our most seasoned percussion shooters, is a fact. So much myth mixed with truth is out there. The actual abilities of percussion weapons is on some levels on par with modern firearms. This is a long awaited testing for a lot of us that want facts to build on. THANK YOU BLACKIE!
I'm proud to have been of assistance to Mark Hubbs when finalizing the contour of the J&D conical. I still have the 3-D printed test slug in my collection. I have loaded several hundred combustible cartridges of both the .44 J&D and the .36 Colt-type mold Mark offers. I'm looking forward to your testing. As a testing medium, have you considered a Fackler Box? Being just a simple wooden frame and 1-gallon freezer bags it's something most any shooter could fab up in no time.
WintaFresh - If you are planning on getting a 1858 Remmy you might want to figure out what caliber you're interested in (they come in 2 different calibers , 36 and 44). Once you have that determined, you can get a Kaido Ojaama bullet mold in which ever caliber you prefer (it is a much better bullet than the Era's Gone). You can go to duelist1954 here on CZcams and look up "The 240-grain Kaido Conical" and see a good .44 bullet comparison for yourself (tried to put a link in here, CZcams kept killing it)! Joanie Kennedy has a video on his .36 bullet. Whichever one you choose, you can contact Kaido at kaido93@hotmail (dot) com ! Had to put the . as - (dot) - as CZcams went crazy, but worked it out. Good luck.
@@spud4ever290 1858 rem u can get in 36 i have been trying to get one in 36 but can't find one on the internet were did u find this at ? because i will buy it i can only find the navy 36 witch is colt and have one but i like the rem. much more easy to switch cylinders have 2 44 uberti rem love them
Chronograph, too, Blackie, please, So we can see the velocities of the different charges. Use both 2F and 3F powders in paper cartridges and loose. Thanks.
Blackie, we realize that all testing is a compromise, but it sounds like you are trying to be as completely authentic as you possibly can, both historically as well as modern in light of improvements. We truly appreciate that!
After watching your cap and ball series. I'm finally going to get one .I've wanted one for a long time I've also hunted with cap lock rifles for years..I'm going with a pietta 1860 44 ...this is a great series on the cap and ball and I have confidence to tweak it and make it mine..thanks from one Alabama man to another ..I'm in marshall co...
Properly maintained, no problem keeping a cap and ball loaded with hammer on empty chamber--the 1858 Remington Army is an exception because of where the hammer rests between chambers. Easy cleaning with soap and water, and re-oil. I don't use grease over the ball, but a manufactured wad, and compressed cream of rice. Grease or crisco, is unnecessary and a mess.
I'm looking forward to this series. I've tuned my Remington and 1860 by following your videos, and would like to try conicals. I wonder if you'll need to relieve the loading port for clearance? Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You have changed my opinion of the percussion revolver from a novelty to plink with at the range, to a practical and relevant tool. My beloved S&W is staying home this summer, because of my new passion. Happy 4th to you and yours.
A friend of mine, who was a World War II Army veteren, told me that after the war he was assigned to ammo testing. He would shoot goats with 30-06 out of a 1903 bolt action rifle. So they were still doing it mid 20th century.
The round balls I used to cast always shaved off a bit of lead all the way around. In my TC hawked I always used the maxi ball. Didn’t like using patches.
Thompson and LaGard.. grim reading.... For the second day, the test procedures were changed so that each animal would be rapidly shot in the lungs until the animal had died or 10 rounds had been fired. For this test, five to ten animals were used (LaGarde said sixteen cattle and two horses were shot. Cadavers were used the 2nd day. Try that today and see what happens in the press....wouldn't fly to well. Finally the Board reached the conclusion that " the only safeguard at close encounters is a well-directed rapid fire from nothing less than a .45-caliber weapon. With this end in view soldiers should be drilled to fire at moving targets until they have attained proficiency as marksmen". Great post again Blackie. Keep em coming. IAMFORAU
Really looking forward to this. I just started making my own .375 & .454 round balls and have been curious about the performance of Civil War period conicals. Can't wait!
Without a doubt Blackie Thomas is the best wealth of knowledge on shooting percussion revolvers I have ever come across and I've been researching them for years.
Round ball doesn't penetrate and caused the horrible disabling wounds you see in Civil War photos, but didn't always kill. The conical ball was higher velocity and tended to shoot through, as an FMJ would today--not good for self-defense. Just my opinion.
I realize I'm almost two years late to the party, but if these tests have not happened yet, would like to suggest stacking politicians & lawyers for the penetration test. I know Dick Cheney already did this test on a lawyer, but I believe it was only birdshot. Looking forward to this video.
Since it will be in your 1858, I am very eager to see the results. I have been eying Mark's mold for a while but could never bring myself to pay that price. Are you going to tell us the load you use in each? If so, are you going to vary the load size since not everyone uses the exact same loads in their guns?
I'm looking forward to your take on things in this series! Im sure you know... but there were a number of .44 & .45 caliber cartridges that came between the .44 percussion revolvers and .45 acp. Thanks for the video...
.44 RF; .44 Henry; .44 Remington; .44 Colt; .44 Merwin & Hulbert; .46 RF; 45 Schofield all come to mind. The 44 Colt/Remington were, basically, a 44 heel based bullet (Very similar to a percussion conical) loaded into a metalic case, used mostly in conversions of the 44 Colt revolver. Am sure you are aware of this. I purchased one of these moulds from Marks as soon as I saw his video. Whenever I get home, I will try it out.
in order as i know it the military adopt was...451 percussion+.44 colt(1872 open top)...45 s&w=that was the gov issue not the .45 colt..and then .38s&w..then .45 acp
BLACKIE THOMAS From My research.. In 1873 the Colt SAA was chambered for its proprietary .45 Colt cartridges. The US Army preferred the heavier Colt load to the S&W .44 and replaced the S&W Number 3 revolver with the Colt SAA revolver in 1875. Smith & Wesson adjusted to the situation and introduced the No. 3 "Schofield" revolver, using a new .45 S&W cartridge, but it was underpowered". Had Smith & Wesson not been so intransigent in refusing to elongate the frame and cylinder of their Model 3 Schofield by 3/16th of an inch to accept Colt’s powerful .45 cartridge, the Schofield and its .45 S&W cartridge may well have held sway in the history books. The US Army then commissioned the hybrid .45 Colt Government cartridge to fit both the .45 Schofield and the Colt .45, but it was underpowered and unsatisfactory.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I can no longer find the playlist that was the percussion revolver series since you updated your channel. If you could find the time to recreate that playlist I would apreciate it. I referance those videos frequently and recommend them to my freinds that use black powder. You provide quality informative content, and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
Thank you Blackie. I've been trying to find a good hunting round for my Griswold 44 Sheriff. Nothing for more then 15-20 yards and back up only, but still developing the load and such. I've heard good things about the Johnson and Dowes bullet.
Blackie, how long can a black powder revolver be kept loaded, before it needs to be unloaded and reloaded? I know that Wild Bill fired cleaned and reloaded daily, because he had to be sure.
i have had mine loaded for months before as long as they kept dry and clean should fire..but to be sure i would pull the caps and recap with fresh caps to be sure
@@BLACKIETHOMAS Thank you for your help! I have really enjoy watching your channel. You have a natural way of explaining subjects, that most anyone can understand! Stay safe.
"Ach du lieber, senor Blackie"! Penetration & knockdown power! .58 Minnie ball (Minnie spelling?). Sure would love to see such a test, shooting the Minnie loaded the conventional way, pointed nose forward, vs the hollow base forward!!! My guess is that the hollow base FORWARD would have much greater KNOCKDOWN power & not nearly the penetration when loaded the typical way. Can do???!!!
Hi. I have a original Colt Army 1860 .44, but it likes .454 balls a lot better due to slight wear I suspect. Will I be able to use these conicals / can they pass under the piston in the frame? I would like to try Lee conicals in it. Will the mold you show work for me? And what are the part number of the mold if I want to order it?
if the gun is original the rounds should fit well..after all that's what they were made for in the the first place..mark hubbs..of eras gone make the mold..he has a face book and well as a youtube channel..
Pigdoc1 I actually got an email from Mark Hubbs earlier about where to buy one from. His Bonanza page is down right ow but he says you can order one directly from him.
I find it mildly annoying that you spent so much time on the history lesson and neglected showing us the "big news" mold that I thought was the subject of the piece...............All we got was a look at the box,
very sorry you feel that way..i have a full series planned with this mold..and will be doing casting/ lube and shooting with it..it was to be a backstory so that when i got the actual videos i would not have to use a lot of time with the history...hopefully you will enjoy my up coming videos more..thanks for the comment..safe journeys
I said "mildly annoying". You could have shown the mold in 4 or 5 seconds. Don't get me wrong. I think you are a good person for taking the time on this matter, and I look forward to the upcoming subject matter. M
Blacky,l have the J&D mold ,lm looking forward to your test, the 1st. Thing l did when l cast them was to slug the bore of my Remington and then slugged the cylinders to see if l was going to get good contact in the bore making sure that the bullet was not shaven down too much when it was seated. It was a perfect fit from one to the other.
I've been shooting muzzle loaders for awhile. Since I was 10 or 12 years old. Dad taught me. Not revolvers, but Hawkens, Zouaves, Kentucky rifles, percussion single pistols. Made our own bullets and patches. Loads of goodies from DGW.
I'm about to get into percussion revolvers.
I've got some long experience in black powder shooting.
That said,
THIS IS THE BEST CHANNEL if you want to know about percussion revolvers.
You get to know a thing when you live with it awhile.
This guy Blackie ain't no bullshit.
Do you think they will pass a law that will treat Muzzleloaders and black powder as modern firearms? I feel like it’s just a matter of time. And I’m actually surprised that they haven’t already considering they have similar fps and penetration as some modern firearms.
@@stargod3064 I dont think it's there yet, but I wouldnt be surprised if something like that happens , I'd say, in ten years, give or take.
But I sure hope not. Itd be the absolute death of the 2nd Amendment.
As much as I enjoy bushcraft this series of videos will be the most important you have done. The absolute lack of knowledge, even amongst our most seasoned percussion shooters, is a fact. So much myth mixed with truth is out there. The actual abilities of percussion weapons is on some levels on par with modern firearms. This is a long awaited testing for a lot of us that want facts to build on. THANK YOU BLACKIE!
I'm proud to have been of assistance to Mark Hubbs when finalizing the contour of the J&D conical. I still have the 3-D printed test slug in my collection. I have loaded several hundred combustible cartridges of both the .44 J&D and the .36 Colt-type mold Mark offers. I'm looking forward to your testing. As a testing medium, have you considered a Fackler Box? Being just a simple wooden frame and 1-gallon freezer bags it's something most any shooter could fab up in no time.
That's pretty cool.
I've known Mark Hubbs for 30 years - he's top notch, a top notch historian and his products are top notch.
Hope you and yours have a safe and happy Independence Day. Thanks for all you do Blackie.
Recently started watching your old videos about the 1851 navy and bought one for myself. Love your videos!
Very accurate and sufficient, the chosen weapon of Wild Bill Hickok even in preference to cartridge revolvers.
One of the few CZcamsrs where I watch most of their videos. That mold is pretty sweet I might get one if I purchase a Remington 1858.
WintaFresh - If you are planning on getting a 1858 Remmy you might want to figure out what caliber you're interested in (they come in 2 different calibers , 36 and 44). Once you have that determined, you can get a Kaido Ojaama bullet mold in which ever caliber you prefer (it is a much better bullet than the Era's Gone). You can go to duelist1954 here on CZcams and look up "The 240-grain Kaido Conical" and see a good .44 bullet comparison for yourself (tried to put a link in here, CZcams kept killing it)! Joanie Kennedy has a video on his .36 bullet.
Whichever one you choose, you can contact Kaido at kaido93@hotmail (dot) com ! Had to put the . as - (dot) - as CZcams went crazy, but worked it out. Good luck.
@@spud4ever290 1858 rem u can get in 36 i have been trying to get one in 36 but can't find one on the internet were did u find this at ? because i will buy it i can only find the navy 36 witch is colt and have one but i like the rem. much more easy to switch cylinders have 2 44 uberti rem love them
All I know is of their .31 pocket pistol. Never seen a
.36 1858 New Army.
@@tbear68- i just like the remington 1858 but i had high hopes in a 36
Chronograph, too, Blackie, please, So we can see the velocities of the different charges. Use both 2F and 3F powders in paper cartridges and loose. Thanks.
i have a chrony and will be doing just that
duelist 1954 has a video of that bullet!
Blackie, we realize that all testing is a compromise, but it sounds like you are trying to be as completely authentic as you possibly can, both historically as well as modern in light of improvements. We truly appreciate that!
After watching your cap and ball series. I'm finally going to get one .I've wanted one for a long time I've also hunted with cap lock rifles for years..I'm going with a pietta 1860 44 ...this is a great series on the cap and ball and I have confidence to tweak it and make it mine..thanks from one Alabama man to another ..I'm in marshall co...
Always enjoy your videos, interesting and informative! Thank you!
I can hardly wait, you see I am just getting into black powder again ! Thank You so much for your time and videos !
Properly maintained, no problem keeping a cap and ball loaded with hammer on empty chamber--the 1858 Remington Army is an exception because of where the hammer rests between chambers. Easy cleaning with soap and water, and re-oil. I don't use grease over the ball, but a manufactured wad, and compressed cream of rice. Grease or crisco, is unnecessary and a mess.
Great addition to an awesome series. Keep up the content please.
Can't wait for the next videos 😎
I'm looking forward to this series. I've tuned my Remington and 1860 by following your videos, and would like to try conicals. I wonder if you'll need to relieve the loading port for clearance? Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You have changed my opinion of the percussion revolver from a novelty to plink with at the range, to a practical and relevant tool. My beloved S&W is staying home this summer, because of my new passion. Happy 4th to you and yours.
Also curious about the altering of the rammer, as the Pietta Remmies have a ridiculous shape.
Looking forward to it. Interesting. Thanks Blackie. Happy Independence Day.
I will be waiting and watching!
I have one in .36 caliber, the Colt factory bullet, for my 1851 navy. It is a great shooting bullet and a really nice mold.
This man seems fairly knowledgeable and wise. Well presented too.
A friend of mine, who was a World War II Army veteren, told me that after the war he was assigned to ammo testing. He would shoot goats with 30-06 out of a 1903 bolt action rifle. So they were still doing it mid 20th century.
The round balls I used to cast always shaved off a bit of lead all the way around. In my TC hawked I always used the maxi ball. Didn’t like using patches.
Thompson and LaGard.. grim reading.... For the second day, the test procedures were changed so that each animal would be rapidly shot in the lungs until the animal had died or 10 rounds had been fired. For this test, five to ten animals were used (LaGarde said sixteen cattle and two horses were shot. Cadavers were used the 2nd day. Try that today and see what happens in the press....wouldn't fly to well.
Finally the Board reached the conclusion that " the only safeguard at close encounters is a well-directed rapid fire from nothing less than a .45-caliber weapon. With this end in view soldiers should be drilled to fire at moving targets until they have attained proficiency as marksmen". Great post again Blackie. Keep em coming. IAMFORAU
Really looking forward to this. I just started making my own .375 & .454 round balls and have been curious about the performance of Civil War period conicals. Can't wait!
Without a doubt Blackie Thomas is the best wealth of knowledge on shooting percussion revolvers I have ever come across and I've been researching them for years.
Round ball doesn't penetrate and caused the horrible disabling wounds you see in Civil War photos, but didn't always kill. The conical ball was higher velocity and tended to shoot through, as an FMJ would today--not good for self-defense. Just my opinion.
That should be very interesting! Cant wait to see the tests.
I realize I'm almost two years late to the party, but if these tests have not happened yet, would like to suggest stacking politicians & lawyers for the penetration test. I know Dick Cheney already did this test on a lawyer, but I believe it was only birdshot. Looking forward to this video.
haha yep life she get int he way often
Fantastic Looking forward to future videos
Since it will be in your 1858, I am very eager to see the results. I have been eying Mark's mold for a while but could never bring myself to pay that price. Are you going to tell us the load you use in each? If so, are you going to vary the load size since not everyone uses the exact same loads in their guns?
I'm really excited for this. I hope it does well cause I'll buy that mold myself.
Meat target a la Paul harrel
lonestarprepper01
Agreed, that would be interesting to see. Possibly having two to three set up in a row to simulate firing into a formation.
lonestarprepper01 id love to see that, it would be interesting to see what various loads would do.
I agree with the Paul meat target. Had a patient with a 380 ACP GSW to the chest and his injuries were exactly the same as Paul's.
PipeBear 703 while it sucks for your patient, its pretty cool to hear Paul's method is accurate
Interesting, I'll be watching...and learning!
Learn more in 1 hour on your channel . Thanks Good work
safe journeys
thank you, I have been waiting for some one to do this.
I have been trying for the last month to get one of those molds without any successes
I'm looking forward to your take on things in this series!
Im sure you know... but there were a number of .44 & .45 caliber cartridges that came between the .44 percussion revolvers and .45 acp.
Thanks for the video...
.44 RF; .44 Henry; .44 Remington; .44 Colt; .44 Merwin & Hulbert; .46 RF; 45 Schofield all come to mind. The 44 Colt/Remington were, basically, a 44 heel based bullet (Very similar to a percussion conical) loaded into a metalic case, used mostly in conversions of the 44 Colt revolver. Am sure you are aware of this. I purchased one of these moulds from Marks as soon as I saw his video. Whenever I get home, I will try it out.
jason60chev
And my favorite.... .45 Colt. :-)
in order as i know it the military adopt was...451 percussion+.44 colt(1872 open top)...45 s&w=that was the gov issue not the .45 colt..and then .38s&w..then .45 acp
BLACKIE THOMAS
From My research..
In 1873 the Colt SAA was chambered for its proprietary .45 Colt cartridges. The US Army preferred the heavier Colt load to the S&W .44 and replaced the S&W Number 3 revolver with the Colt SAA revolver in 1875. Smith & Wesson adjusted to the situation and introduced the No. 3 "Schofield" revolver, using a new .45 S&W cartridge, but it was underpowered".
Had Smith & Wesson not been so intransigent in refusing to elongate the frame and cylinder of their Model 3 Schofield by 3/16th of an inch to accept Colt’s powerful .45 cartridge, the Schofield and its .45 S&W cartridge may well have held sway in the history books. The US Army then commissioned the hybrid .45 Colt Government cartridge to fit both the .45 Schofield and the Colt .45, but it was underpowered and unsatisfactory.
Paul Harrel has come up with an interesting medium for testing ammunition , includes bone and soft tissue . a bit expensive though .
Yo go for it!!! This is going to be really interesting.
I can’t get this mould in the uk from lee I’m using the alternative RNFP mould equivalent available from lee.
Back in the day if you could penetrate a one inch PINE board that was a lethal round. 400 yards for even handguns did that.
Excellent. Thanks.
ill be watching it will be interesting to see how that bullet perform"s
Using nitrated paper for the cartridges?
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I can no longer find the playlist that was the percussion revolver series since you updated your channel. If you could find the time to recreate that playlist I would apreciate it. I referance those videos frequently and recommend them to my freinds that use black powder. You provide quality informative content, and I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
i will check that..thanks for bringing it up
When we gona be able to get caps again? Ain't been able to get any in 2 years
Paul Harrel does the meat target. you need to watch his vids
Where can I find this series of tests? I can't find anything on you site.
What camouflage are you wearing in this video?
Thank you Blackie. I've been trying to find a good hunting round for my Griswold 44 Sheriff. Nothing for more then 15-20 yards and back up only, but still developing the load and such. I've heard good things about the Johnson and Dowes bullet.
if it proves its accurate i think it would be a great choice for such a job easy to go deep enough to reach the vitals
Blackie, how long can a black powder revolver be kept loaded, before it needs to be unloaded and reloaded? I know that Wild Bill fired cleaned and reloaded daily, because he had to be sure.
i have had mine loaded for months before as long as they kept dry and clean should fire..but to be sure i would pull the caps and recap with fresh caps to be sure
@@BLACKIETHOMAS Thank you for your help! I have really enjoy watching your channel. You have a natural way of explaining subjects, that most anyone can understand! Stay safe.
Looking forward to the results! I presume the Johnson and Dow will be the .44 mold ? Are you thinking about any .36 testing with the Colt conical?
i will begin with the .44 and then later do the .36 if the series is well recieved
Well, we all very much appreciate the work you do, and look forward to seeing your work. Thank you!
Damn that's a TALL door! 🤪
"Ach du lieber, senor Blackie"! Penetration & knockdown power! .58 Minnie ball (Minnie spelling?). Sure would love to see such a test, shooting the Minnie loaded the conventional way, pointed nose forward, vs the hollow base forward!!! My guess is that the hollow base FORWARD would have much greater KNOCKDOWN power & not nearly the penetration when loaded the typical way. Can do???!!!
possible i have a friend with a 58..we shall see what we can do..
You going to do comparisons to modern loads if so maybe i missed it great series though loving it ! Take care brother
i will compare it to say a 45 acp..since that is a direct decendent of the .44 cap and ball
love it!!!!!
How much for that mold? where to find? thanks Blackie for another few videos to look forward to...
facebook.com/erasgonemolds/
Better get yourself a new and improved, high tech fleece bullet stop. ;)
Blackie did they also use something called ballistics clay?
Hi. I have a original Colt Army 1860 .44, but it likes .454 balls a lot better due to slight wear I suspect. Will I be able to use these conicals / can they pass under the piston in the frame?
I would like to try Lee conicals in it. Will the mold you show work for me? And what are the part number of the mold if I want to order it?
if the gun is original the rounds should fit well..after all that's what they were made for in the the first place..mark hubbs..of eras gone make the mold..he has a face book and well as a youtube channel..
Awesome
Are you testing any .36 caliber bullets?
I wish pietta made a brass frame 36 cal 1851 to reduce stress and be a little historical in going to have to settle with a 44 for now
john Mullholand because no everyone can afford 100 dollars more
john Mullholand and they don’t make a 36 brass frame not pietaOn Cabela’s at least
john Mullholand can’t find it on Dixie or Cabela’s but I’ll take your word for it
john Mullholand oh I guess I was doing it wrong thanks
To be historicaly correct ? The 51 navy was never made in a brass frame back in the day by anyone...
I'm looking forward to the videos. Do you have an item number or part number for that bullet mold, I'd love to get one.
erasgonebullets.webstarts.com/johnston_and_dow__44_caliber.html
Pigdoc1 I looked there and it doesn't show that it's available or a price for it.
I haven't ordered one myself yet, so don't hold me to it. erasgonebullets.webstarts.com/how_to_order.html.
Pigdoc1 I actually got an email from Mark Hubbs earlier about where to buy one from. His Bonanza page is down right ow but he says you can order one directly from him.
Good to know, thanks!
The Meat Target!
yep
The balls are probably under sized for a very good reason, they are generally used with a patch, even in a revolver.
I can't find your Percussion Revolver Series on your site anymore. Can you tell me how to access it? Thanks.
Forget it. I found it under "Created Playlists". It defaults to "Playlists".
that thumbnail lol
where did you get the cool hat?
Several "Thousand" yards?
I find it mildly annoying that you spent so much time on the history lesson and neglected showing us the "big news" mold that I thought was the subject of the piece...............All we got was a look at the box,
very sorry you feel that way..i have a full series planned with this mold..and will be doing casting/ lube and shooting with it..it was to be a backstory so that when i got the actual videos i would not have to use a lot of time with the history...hopefully you will enjoy my up coming videos more..thanks for the comment..safe journeys
I said "mildly annoying". You could have shown the mold in 4 or 5 seconds. Don't get me wrong. I think you are a good person for taking the time on this matter, and I look forward to the upcoming subject matter. M
One in every crowd
Blacky,l have the J&D mold ,lm looking forward to your test, the 1st. Thing l did when l cast them was to slug the bore of my Remington and then slugged the cylinders to see if l was going to get good contact in the bore making sure that the bullet was not shaven down too much when it was seated. It was a perfect fit from one to the other.