January 2009 Tests January 22, 2009
Powder Bullet Avg.
Firearm Caliber Ammunition Powder Weight Weight Vel. E.S. SD PF Group
Taylor Smokewagon 5-1/2" barrel
.38 Special Ten-X 105 457 64 25 48 2.0
Black Hills 158 840 71 28 133 0.7
APP 3f 10 gr. 105 797 108 49 84 0.9
Ten-X-BP 777 130 688 26 11 89 1.5
Great Basin 125 718 31 14 90 1.8
Ten-X 130 607 16 7 79 1.9
Great Basin BP APP 3f 125 465 78 29 58 1.9
A full test is being done on this gun, for The Cowboy Chronicle.
Obviously it is quite accurate with all of these loads.
I liked this gun, Except for the hammer and minor differences in the action job (wire bolt spring vs.
flat, for example), it is quite similar to the Cimarron Evil Roy since it's based on an Uberti cattleman.
I'll go into that in the test article. Cody Conagherdoes the action work on these.
EMF Alchemista 5-1/2" barrel
.38 Special Ten-X 105 488 34 15 51
Black Hills 158 827 28 11 131
Ten-X BP 777 130 742 76 29 96
Ten-X 130 585 55 25 76
Great Basin APP 3f 125 540 52 24 68
Great Basin 125 552 47 21 69
APP 3f 10 gr. 105 776 78 28 81
A full test is being done on this gun, for The Cowboy Chronicle
The Alchemista (named after Allesandro Pietta's alias) is a Great Western II Custom with a 1860 Army grip frame (brass).
The trigger is wide and set back. The long, checkered grips make a really great feel.
I was planning on doing Ransom Rest testing until I realized I don't have Ransom Rest inserts for 1860 Army grip frames.
Essentially the same gun with stock SAA grip frames is the Great Western II Custom, which I tested last year
with good accuracy. When you're deciding between these guns, accuracy won't be a factor.
I liked the long grips and set back wide trigger. I would have liked a wider rear sight notch.
Longhunter USFA SAA 5-1/2" barrel
.45 Colt Ten-X-BP 777 165 738 145 52 122 2.8
Ten-X-BP 777 250 596 45 19 149 2.3
Ten-X 250 684 48 21 171 1.0
Ten-X 165 556 78 28 92 1.8
Ten-X 200 679 53 20 136 2.0
Trail Boss 5.0 gr. 200 574 93 45 115 2.5
Clays 4.6 gr. 200 556 75 24 111 2.6
.45 Special Adirondack Jack 777 13.2 gr. 160 685 48 22 110 1.3
Adirondack Jack Bullseye 5.0 gr. 160 802 12 5 128 4.5
I've been intrigued by AJ's .45 Special brass, essentially a .45 ACP case with .45 Colt rim.
Jack sent 2 loads. The gun liked the Triple 7 load but didn't like the Bullseye load. Both were
still loaded pretty hot for SASS match usage. If I ever get conversion cylinders for my ROAs,
I'll probably use this brass, 160 gr. bullets, and 15 gr. (vol) APP 3f to get as close to the percussion
load as possible for practice without the hassle of feeding percussion pistols.
.45 Colt Pinnacle 3f 17 gr. 160 660 128 45 106 2.1
.45 Scholfield Ten-X-BP 777 165 764 76 36 126 2.0
Ten-X-BP 777 200 749 100 42 150 2.5
Ten-X 165 556 106 42 92 2.0
Ten-X 200 638 118 50 128 0.5
A full test is being done for The Cowboy Chronicle. This is a beautiful gun, with exquisite color case
hardening and flawless fit and finish. I really liked the checkered grips when testing the warmer loads.
The hammer pull and trigger pull are absolutely flawless, light hammer pull. The trigger is just what
I specified, 2.5 lb. and crisp as a glass rod. Note that 200 gr. Ten-X Scholfield group!
WILD BUNCH LOADS
Uberti '73 Carbine 19" barrel
.45 Colt Trail Boss 5.0 gr. 200 750 48 18 150
Clays 4.6 gr. 200 676 148 52 135
Colt Government Model 5" barrel
.45 ACP HP38-SWC 5.0 gr. 200 784 72 29 157
HP38-RNFP 5.0 gr. 200 759 60 28 152
The power factor for SASS Wild Bunch matches is 150, with a 180 gr. minimum bullet weight.
The results of this test tell me that my match .45 Colt load will be a bit above 5.0 gr. Trail Boss
and a 200 gr. LRNFP bullet, and the .45 ACP load tested is the minimum acceptable in my gun.