Blowing Smoke

[Mark@Sea]

Hi All,

See you Sunday, XD.

TDR, try Track of the Wolf for your balls... on the mold, if you get the same pistol XD did and you two are close enough to share, why not use his until you decide you need your own? You guys will also need a dipper, a cast iron pot, and a way to melt the lead - a campstove works fine.

From the pictures, the color case hardening on XD's pistol is as nice or nicer than any of mine, it looks to be a good piece. Hard to go wrong at the price, but that is a closeout, if you're gonna jump, jump quick. Next best would be the $140 brass frame '51 from Cabelas... I looked at Mikes, and it is a steal at the price.

The biggest difference between .451, .454, and .457 balls will be the amount of lead shaved away when you seat the ball; from none to a healthy ring. You want a ring of lead when you seat the ball in the cylinder. First, it greatly reduces the possibility of a chainfire (spark from the cylinder being fired finding its' way to the powder in another cylinder) and second, the more lead shaved away, the longer the bearing surface of the ball that will ride on the rifling - greater accuracy. Each revolver seems to be different, so I can only tell you to try them to see which one your pistol likes.

[xd shooter]

Hey Mark I already had the 20lb Lee bottom pour melting pot. TDR if you would like to use these just let me know I can bring them to work & we can make up all we can shoot. All you need is to help me find as much pure lead as we can. I have plenty of tire weights but they are usually too hard. Though the stickon tire weights are a little softer.

Mark I casted a few .454 out of just stickon tire weights so we can try them out. What do you think?

[Mike.357]

XD where you at today? I did not expect to see you posting here since you are road tripping.

wish I was gonna be making smoke with you all tomorrow. Not that I am hurting on the discharge of forearms here. But just the same I bet you all have a great time.

[TripleDigitRide]

Hello all!

I just wanted to see if I could post on TGO while using my new Sprint Treo 700wx.

[TripleDigitRide]

Yep, it worked. Now, when y'all are borin' me, I can chat with myself.

[TripleDigitRide]

Hey Mark I already had the 20lb Lee bottom pour melting pot. TDR if you would like to use these just let me know I can bring them to work & we can make up all we can shoot. All you need is to help me find as much pure lead as we can. I have plenty of tire weights but they are usually too hard. Though the stickon tire weights are a little softer.

Mark I casted a few .454 out of just stickon tire weights so we can try them out. What do you think?

Sure, I'll give it a shot. Now, to figure out where to find pure lead. I was thinking about that last night, but I also was thinking about tire weights. If those aren;t going to work, what do you suggest?

[Mike.357]

Yep, it worked. Now, when y'all are borin' me, I can chat with myself

At least you will be able to connect with someone who gives a crap.

Sorry I crack me up sometimes

Just kidding dude

[Mark@Sea]

I don't know about the lead.

Spent the day weed eating and lawn mowing. Looks a little better around here, anyway. My back is gonna give me a fit tomorrow, though. Oh well...

I'd go with the weights, I don't know of another source, except maybe a battery recycling place??

[Marswolf]

Mark didn't mention that I was at his place too and got to shoot his pistol with the paper loads. I'll let Mark give more details if he likes.

He also was kind enough to not mention my backing out of his drive and wiping out my driver side mirror on a tree. I'm getting clutsy.

Should have been drinking beer rather than Mr. Pibb. That never happened to me when drinking beer.

BTW Mark, Gorilla Glue fixed the mirror. Good as new.

[Mark@Sea]

True, true...

Mars, there is a tourist on ebay going for more than a hundred with 5 days to go.

Had to prick the paper cartridge. Going to have to find some potassium nitrate and treat the papers so that pricking will not be necessary. If I can do that, reloading will be almost as fast as a cartridge gun.

Mr Clean and his grandfather (great guy, lots of good stories) also spent the day here, helping me clean the place up a bit. Hope to see 'em today for the cookout. Wish you'd show, Mars - park in the clearing!

[TripleDigitRide]

Sorry I crack me up sometimes

I'm not surprised. Simple minds are easily amused.

[TripleDigitRide]

Have any of you attempted buying used wheel weights from local tire shops? I'm not sure if they'd be willing, or even allowed to sell used lead. Anyone aware of any laws preventing them from selling/giving lead to the public?

[TripleDigitRide]

Another question about the lead issue. I searched ebay, and found many ads for lead ignots, but I'm not sure what a fair price would be.

As an example, I saw an ad for 25 pounds of lead from old bullets and lead shot. The bidding was around $16.00, plus roughly $10.00 shipping.

There were other simial ads where they ignots were made from wheel weights and other types of lead.

Well, I'm off to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds for the flea markets.

[Marswolf]

True, true...

Mars, there is a tourist on ebay going for more than a hundred with 5 days to go.

Had to prick the paper cartridge. Going to have to find some potassium nitrate and treat the papers so that pricking will not be necessary. If I can do that, reloading will be almost as fast as a cartridge gun.

Mr Clean and his grandfather (great guy, lots of good stories) also spent the day here, helping me clean the place up a bit. Hope to see 'em today for the cookout. Wish you'd show, Mars - park in the clearing!

Sue gonna make you keep the Tourist?

Potassium Nitrate (Saltpeter) is used in food prep too. I think it is still used in corned beef production. Maybe something related might be a source. It used to be available at drug stores. I'd check with a locally owned drug store and see if they can get you some.

Another possible source is as magician's flash paper, although it's made with sulphuric and nitric acid. Any magic shop should carry it. I think there is still a magic shop in Bristol.

Mr. Clean is a good guy and I'd love to sit around and tell Army stories with his grandfather. He'd fit in well with our Bristol Mall coffee get-togethers.

BTW, I have bought lead from the local plumber's supply. It is what I need for my minieballs but I think is softer than you want for pistol rounds.A tire shop should have a bunch of old wheel weights to mix in with the pure lead.

Edited May 25, 2008 by Marswolf

[Mark@Sea]

We (Sue and I) are still having that discussion.

Actually, I wouldn't mind keeping it - a neat little outfit. We'll see - if it goes on Ebay, though, I'll split the difference with you. I just have to justify another stove to myself, seeing as I have at least 20 pocket stoves. Heck, Sue (who claims every model 502 that comes in the door) must have at least that many 502's. By the way, if you want your lanterns rebuilt just bring 'em over. I have all the parts, tools, etc. required to return them to factory new performance, and it takes about 30 minutes to do a thorough job. You'd be amazed how much of a difference cleaning the fuel-air pickup makes.

XD is on his way here, he just called. I think he is about 2 hours out. Mr. Clean and co. are also coming over today sometime, and James as well. I'm about to break out the .22's along with the BP revolvers. You sure about watching the race? You missed some great burgers yesterday, by the way...

[Mike.357]

wish I was closer. sounds like you all will have a big ole time today!

[Mark@Sea]

Mike, you are more'n welcome - and I don't have to leave until some time tomorrow. We'd have time to fool around out in the shop.

[Mike.357]

I wish I could mark. I suspect though if I took off for the hills today I might be sleeping in the dog run tonight. Speaking of which I am supposed to clean it out today and try to figure out how to raise the roof on it. Karin uses it for her gardening stuff and it is a real mess. I get to fix it up.

Shoot some rounds and get into some fun stuff for me. I will be missing it for sure.

[Marswolf]

You sure about watching the race?

Yeah, I guess I had better stay around here. I do enjoy the races and just got back from the store. The refrigerator is full. I'm starting off simply with hot dogs and chips for lunch (my standard mustard, ketchup, onions, chili, sweet pickle cubes and kraut) and a super burger with grilled onions, bell peppers and mushrooms with barbecue sauce and provolone cheese with broiled olive oil drenched tomato, French fries & bread & butter pickles for supper. I better check the Pepsid supply first.

Oh yeah, I also happened to buy a mini-keg of Heineken. Might not want to drive too far if I get into that. ("If"...yeah right - I have three beer mugs in the freezer right now. One belonged to my Civil War g-g-grandfather. I'm his namesake.) You know how my driving is when I'm sober - at least in reverse.

And I'm going for locally grown strawberries for shortcake with enough whipped cream to clog my arteries until next year.

The South shall rise again!

[Mike.357]

I hope you all had more fun today than I did. I got most of the dog house rebuilt but still have more of the roofing to create. I salvaged everything from the original build of that dog kennel thing that was here when we bought the place. I tell you it was not easy. For sure I could have used an extra pair of hands. I about killed myself putting the existing roof back on after I raised the supports for it. Now I get to build roofing over about an 8X15 section that has always been uncovered. Actually that will probably be easier as I will use new plywood, 2X4's and shingles.

I hope you all had a big day up in Kingsport. I am looking forward to hearing XD's range report on that '51.

wish I could have been there.

[Mark@Sea]

Well, I think XD and family had fun. That '51 he got has really pretty case coloring - prettier than my ubertis.

[Mike.357]

make you keep the Tourist?

meant to ask what this is?

[Marswolf]

meant to ask what this is?

Sigg-Tourist cook set for a SVEA 123 backpacking stove.

[Mike.357]

Sigg-Tourist cook set for a SVEA 123 backpacking stove.

wow, I have a sort of homemade version of that and I did not even know it.

Many times I have used this old Maxwell House can with some vent holes cut in it. I simply light a can of sterno and set the coffee can over it. The can is big enough to support a skillet or pot and I can cook most anything using this.

[Marswolf]

The SVEA stove is a fantastic gadget. Basically a small blowtorch with the flame pointing upward. It gets very hot on gasoline and is self pressurizing.

Mark told me they quit making them, then someone started making them again but the quality wasn't as good. Apparently they quit again. That's a shame It would boil a quart of water in no time. Much better than those butane things.