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Well, I picked up an 1890 dated Modelo 1889 Bodeo revolver a couple of weeks ago. After a great many adventures in reloading (some of the best advise for this was an old post here) I finally managed to get it to the range. I was using Buffalo Arms brass, which is just cut down .44 special. I used a .45 colt bell die and seating die to prep the case and seat the bullet. And a .303 British sizing die with the decapper removed to size and taper crip the rounds. The bullet was a .429" 200 grain lead flat nose sized down to .427". I could have probably just used a .427" bullet to start with, but I had a box of 200 grainers that I was never going to use. I have a .424" sizing die coming, but Lee is backordered for 3-4 months. The charge was 4.0 grains of bullseye. Winchester large pistol primers.
At 10 yards, the shots were landing about 4 inches high of the point of aim, dead on left to right. The grouping was about 2 inches, which was probably more me than the revolver. On a whole, I am quite pleased. The gun worked flawlessly. Extraction was easy, and there were no pressure signs. I am definately going to load up more of these, and do some accuracy testing for real next time. I wil not, however, be upping the charge. This load goes "BANG" just fine. And at just shy of 120 years old, I see no point in pushing this revolver. It ain't a self-defense piece. It is just a lot of fun to play with.
-Mb
At 10 yards, the shots were landing about 4 inches high of the point of aim, dead on left to right. The grouping was about 2 inches, which was probably more me than the revolver. On a whole, I am quite pleased. The gun worked flawlessly. Extraction was easy, and there were no pressure signs. I am definately going to load up more of these, and do some accuracy testing for real next time. I wil not, however, be upping the charge. This load goes "BANG" just fine. And at just shy of 120 years old, I see no point in pushing this revolver. It ain't a self-defense piece. It is just a lot of fun to play with.
-Mb
