What is the best pistol ball loader
- Thread starter mrappe
- Start date
Loader
I have the Powder Inc and I love it. When I go to the range I make a day of it taking my 1860 Armies and 4 cylinders. I will shoot 200 rounds a day some times.
I do wish the base plate was 6" longer in the front and a longer handle would be nice for a little more leverage.
I suppose I could mount the press on a board and put a cheater on the handle. It's a great unit and I most likely will never load a ball with the lever on the gun.
I have the Powder Inc and I love it. When I go to the range I make a day of it taking my 1860 Armies and 4 cylinders. I will shoot 200 rounds a day some times.
I do wish the base plate was 6" longer in the front and a longer handle would be nice for a little more leverage.
I suppose I could mount the press on a board and put a cheater on the handle. It's a great unit and I most likely will never load a ball with the lever on the gun.
robhof
I also have the Powder Inc. loader; I made the handle longer and mounted it to a 2"x4" a few inches longer than the base, extending the handle is easy; get a joiner nut- long nut and long bolt to fit the threads, thread onto end of handle add bolt to other end and cut bolt to desired length, wrap with silicone tape or electrical tape.
I also have the Powder Inc. loader; I made the handle longer and mounted it to a 2"x4" a few inches longer than the base, extending the handle is easy; get a joiner nut- long nut and long bolt to fit the threads, thread onto end of handle add bolt to other end and cut bolt to desired length, wrap with silicone tape or electrical tape.
Rifleman1776
New member
Easy enough project to make on your own from wood if you have some wood working tools.
madcratebuilder
New member
Lot of threads here on loading tools. At one time a member here, 6gun4fun, made a loader, but he disappeared after producing a few and collecting for many?? There is a guy a cas that makes a very nice loader.
6gun4fun loader
6gun4fun loader
I clamp my Powder Inc. loader onto my work bench. I have to get around to putting a longer handle on it.
I want to get some bushings to slip over the guide pin so I can load my Walker and Dragoon cylinders. I've been faking it so far.
I just had the idea to put marks on the the plate that holds the guide pin, so I can have marks for Colt and Remington to make it quicker to adjust.
I want to get some bushings to slip over the guide pin so I can load my Walker and Dragoon cylinders. I've been faking it so far.
I just had the idea to put marks on the the plate that holds the guide pin, so I can have marks for Colt and Remington to make it quicker to adjust.
madcratebuilder
New member
That's nice work zippy!
I dunno
I seat the balls with the loader and then feel the individual balls with the loading lever. This means that I don't lube the chambers until after the cylinder is back in the pistol.
The more I use this contraption, the more imperfections surface.
The jig I made, the one that is shown in the photo, only works for .44 caliber Remingtons and the ROA and the Rogers and Spencer. I have a sleeve that goes over the centering pin to fit Colt cylinders. But I now have to make a separate jig for .36 caliber pistls and well as a big one for the Walker. I may find it is more trouble than it is worth.
I have a variable volume spout for the CVA1400 flask I use which gives me a charge with excellent volumetric consistency. So I could seat the balls all at the same level and wind up with consistent compression. Notice that I did not say "correct" compression because as you say, it is impossible to feel the compression with this loader. I have not gotten good enough with it to know how far down to seat the balls and of course that would change depending upon powder and volume of charge.
This loader is a work in progress and those who have followed its developement are probably chuckling as you are reading this.
I seat the balls with the loader and then feel the individual balls with the loading lever. This means that I don't lube the chambers until after the cylinder is back in the pistol.
The more I use this contraption, the more imperfections surface.
The jig I made, the one that is shown in the photo, only works for .44 caliber Remingtons and the ROA and the Rogers and Spencer. I have a sleeve that goes over the centering pin to fit Colt cylinders. But I now have to make a separate jig for .36 caliber pistls and well as a big one for the Walker. I may find it is more trouble than it is worth.
I have a variable volume spout for the CVA1400 flask I use which gives me a charge with excellent volumetric consistency. So I could seat the balls all at the same level and wind up with consistent compression. Notice that I did not say "correct" compression because as you say, it is impossible to feel the compression with this loader. I have not gotten good enough with it to know how far down to seat the balls and of course that would change depending upon powder and volume of charge.
This loader is a work in progress and those who have followed its developement are probably chuckling as you are reading this.
HisSoldier
New member
My home made loader. There are no side loads generated and the mechanical advantage is adjustable. It is adaptable for many revolver types. I only have one though, a Pietta stainless 1858.
junkman_01
Moderator
I did some thinking about my RAI cylinder loader and decided on these two inexpensive mods. I cast and shoot 'hard cast' round balls, so the handle was a little lacking in the leverage dept, and while I was extending the handle, I decided to add a lever/ram return spring. This loader does not have, or need, an arbor to hold the cylinder (which I consider a plus). Most of my C&B revolvers are .44's, but the second ram will handle .36's and .31's. The brass ring (which also came with it) steadies Colt type cylinders on the base. It works quit well and think well worth it's $49.95 price tag.
Attachments
Smokin'Joe
New member
cylinder loader
SMOAKING'JOE, I am off to ACE HARDWARE to get the parts, wow this is the simplest one that I have ever seen. all of the rest either cost an arm & a leg or you need a machine shop to make them!! will let you know how it works ? the thin piece of plywood that the cylinder rests on, how did you get the groove cut in it? thanking you very much for the information and help!!.
SMOAKING'JOE, I am off to ACE HARDWARE to get the parts, wow this is the simplest one that I have ever seen. all of the rest either cost an arm & a leg or you need a machine shop to make them!! will let you know how it works ? the thin piece of plywood that the cylinder rests on, how did you get the groove cut in it? thanking you very much for the information and help!!.