You're right about the nipple Ron - didn't like the looks of the one that came on the barrel,and the hammer didn't strike it correctly. Have already replaced it with a TC short nipple. Good thought about putting lock tight on the screws. I'll do that. As for powder, I've got a load of GOEX FFFg and that's what I'll be using. If it doesn't shoot well with that I'll try some Pyrodex RS and T-7 FFF that I have on hand and need to use up. But I'll be surprised if the GOEX doesn't do well.

I cleaned and oiled the bore and tried to load the Crush Rib sabots and .410 Gold Dots. No way will they go down the bore.

The land-to-land bore diameter is dead on at 0.451. In fact, I can push a .451 .45ACP FMJ bullet into the bore with firm thumb pressure. I've got a Lee .457 405 grain mold and some wheel weight bullets from that mold. I sized one to .452 (don't have a .451 sizing die) and could force it intothe borewith very hard thumb pressure. I think I need to cast some of those in pure lead and get a .451 die and see how they shoot over a wad. That would be a great bullet if it shoots well - a 45-70 twin. Shucks, I wasn't really looking for a .45 but I'm getting excited about it now.