John - give Steve Garbe at Wyoming Armory a call and ask him about your Cody Ballard. He was there when it was made and will be happy to discuss.

Thanks SSShooter…  I’ll give Wyoming Armory a call.   I did do some poking around on the #3 question and it looks to me like that is just the profile for the octagon barrel and really doesn’t tell you anything other than that.    

I read hear about some complaints about gain-twist in early Cody guns but I’m near certain about the twist and this was originally purchased in 2000, so not one of their earlier productions.   I checked the twist myself and found with a tight jag and cloth that it read 1 in 16.   Could be doing something wrong because the proof sheet states 1 in 15.   But I did it three times and my index mark came vertical at 16” give or take and 1/8” all three times.   

40_Rod,
Not sure if your post was meant for me or the OP…   Regardless, I’ll for sure give IMR 4227 a run and work up – probably from even lower, using Westerner’s figure of 16gr.    I do like 4759 but had even better results in my original Ballard (40-63) and a 300gr bullet with IMR 4198, so those will be my three candidates.   I’ve been buying every can of 4759 I come across but everything runs out eventually so know I’ll have to cross that bridge soon enough.   

Posted a thread on it a while back.  

A simple device that will not allow one to double charge a case. 

Ledball made one that uses a round ball on the end of a wire.  Very simple. 

  Joe.

Neat tool Joe!

I use a wooden dowel and have to be sure a grain or two is not clinging to the bottom as I bring it out.   

Btw.. I did contact Steve Garbe (via email).  He was very thorough in his answers and helped me identify the barrel  as a Badger.   He said during his tenure they used three different suppliers.   Thanks OP for the opportunity to tag on here.   

John