.36 caliber pistol loads?

[B-Davis]

To All:
Anybody have a reliable load for .36 caliber? I am buying a pistol from a gentleman on this board, and the pistol is .36 cal. I have limited experience with this caliber. Any advice of mould size and powder charge? Inquiring minds want to know!!http://www.n-ssa.org/vbforum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif

Bryan Davis

[Carolina Reb]

Unless it has been tuned and the current owner can tell you what ball size to use, don't buy a mold until you get the revolver. They vary quite a lot. I have a Palmetto Whitney that came with 0.368" chambers, but had to be reamed up to 0.374" before it would shoot. Both a Colt 51 and Remington Navy want 0.380" balls. Some molds aren't exactly what they claim to be either. My mold collection includes an old Lyman "0.375 round ball" actually drops balls at 0.382" in soft lead. Start with about 12 grains of FFF + filler and work your way up. The Navys are easy to shoot since they are light and have low recoil. I don't know why more folks don't take them to the line.