The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - Sounds like a great load. Thank you

Sounds like a great load. Thank you (reply)

stonewalrus — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 10:58:59 +0000

Moderate... (reply)

Sarge — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 05:32:25 +0000

850 to 925 fps on 4-6 inch revolvers. the 8.5 grains of Universal load I mentioned is listed in the 3rd Edition of Metallic Cartridge Reloading, page 326. It was tested at 14,200 CUP with a 250 grain jacketed bullet. I substitute a 255 grain lead.

is the 8.5 grains of Universal a mild to moderate load? (reply)

stonewalrus — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 04:36:24 +0000

may have to try that. I need to do some serious 45 Colt (reply)

stonewalrus — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:45:45 +0000

Reloading this winter.

There is an ingenious way to lighten the trigger pull (reply)

stonewalrus — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 02:44:19 +0000

Under the grips. There is a ring the trigger spring hooks into. By moving the spring's end to another hole in the ring it adjusts the trigger pull.

Astra DA 45 Colt (reply)

Cherokee — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 01:47:10 +0000

Results look good to me, and so does the Astra. I foresee lots of fun

Got it pretty well dialed in... (reply)

Sarge — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 23:47:30 +0000

this afternoon. 6 shots at 25 yards including one vertical sight adjustment. All six went into 2 1/2" and the five, fired after the adjustment, spanned 1 3/4". Same load, 8.5 grains of Universal with a Lee 452-255-RF sized to 0.454" I believe the old revolver will shoot.

I have one identical to it. Great gun and lots of fun to (reply)

stonewalrus — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 22:42:52 +0000

Shoot.

Astra DA 45 Colt (reply)

Sarge — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 21:07:44 +0000

Thanks guys. I gutted it out today, polished the DA bearing surfaces and cleaned up a substantial burr that was on the single action sear point of the trigger. The gun was dry inside so it got scrubbed & oiled, too. The cylinder was sluggish so I cleaned & polished the arbor, while I had the cylinder out.

My trigger scale only goes to 8 pounds so I can't measure the DA pull, but I'm guessing it about 10 pounds- and it is really slick now. The SA trigger finished at 4 pounds and is as crisp as any S&W I ever owned.

Bore appears to be 0.454 and cylinder throats are YUGE at a uniform 0.458"... at least I won't need this one reamed, LOL.

Astra DA 45 Colt Looks new! Tom has one as well. (reply)

Rob Leahy — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 19:16:32 +0000

Looking forward to seeing more on this Sarge. (reply)

Hoot — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:51:15 +0000

We don't really see very many Astras up here in the Hinterland. Usually only the semi-autos show up and not very frequently. A fella just has to like the Colt round in a manly sized revolver.

Astra DA 45 Colt

Sarge — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 12:45:05 +0000

I picked up a near new 6" Astra in 45 Colt. The DA pull on this revolver rivals my late nickel 29. The SA has a little creep but will be fine after a little sear clean-up. Cylinder lock-up exhibits utterly no movement at the 'moment of firing' position or with the hammer at full cock.

I ran three cylinders of my basic 45 Colt load (8.5 Universal/255 RNFP) through it, to get a feel for it. Function is perfect DA or SA and it left deep, centered hits in fired primers. I didn't shoot long as we just fertilized the range pasture with turkey scat and SCUBA equipment would be needed for anything more. It still managed a six shot, 3" 25 yard group on the steel plate with some overlapping bullet splashes. I'm going to have some fun with this one.