revolver bullets----v

[tom berwinkle]

Does any of you cap and ball shooters know if a .456 bullet will load in a chamber, or a cylinder loader? I would like to experiment with them. don'y know how they will load. I don't know always flux my lead with a product called lead ex I don't know if it's still available. I shot with a group of skirmishers at N . S. S. A for a combined time of 15 years. That's what most shooters were using at that time. Any way I try to get the purest lead I can. I thought some of you guys would know. thanks

 

[Grenadier1758]

I'm not going to give my opinion until you tell us what you are shooting, ball or bullet?

Oh, rats, you are going to catch me in a lie again. But please do tell us more of the particulars about this bullet or ball and your pistol (make and approximate age / condition).
Not in your Colt Patterson replica! Pattersons are 36 caliber (0.375" ball).

Based on your observation of 15 years of shooting with NSSA reenactors and they apparently had success with their shooting, I would say your bullet could be okay if it is made of the softest pure lead available.

Please measure the diameter of the chamber mouths and let us know. You should be able to load a 0.456" ball in the chamber.

It would be best if you used a loading press to take the strain off the loading lever.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I’ll butt in here and suggest a .456 bullet will probably be hard to load in a revolver cylinder if it is a typical center fire type bullet. I tried 200 grain .451 SWC in a Pietta 58 Remington and gave it up as too much trouble. Often the chambers are under size and getting the bullet to start straight is difficult. I bought a lee real mold instead.

After all that I still use round balls and haven’t even tried the REALs though I have molded up a bunch. I guess I need to give them a try the next time I go to the range.

 

[nkbj]

The front end of the bullet needs to be bigger in diameter than the chamber.
The hind end of the bullet needs to be:
1. Smaller than the chamber.
2. As large as the groove diameter.

If your barrel and chamber dimensions will not allow that, then accuracy becomes more difficult. If the hind end doesn't slip into the chambers then alignment becomes more difficult and the bullet base will be misaligned when it exits the muzzle, making off center thrust on the bullet.

 

[tom berwinkle]

I'm not going to give my opinion until you tell us what you are shooting, ball or bullet?

Oh, rats, you are going to catch me in a lie again. But please do tell us more of the particulars about this bullet or ball and your pistol (make and approximate age / condition).
Not in your Colt Patterson replica! Pattersons are 36 caliber (0.375" ball).

Based on your observation of 15 years of shooting with NSSA reenactors and they apparently had success with their shooting, I would say your bullet could be okay if it is made of the softest pure lead available.

Please measure the diameter of the chamber mouths and let us know. You should be able to load a 0.456" ball in the chamber.

It would be best if you used a loading press to take the strain off the loading lever.

 

[tom berwinkle]

The front end of the bullet needs to be bigger in diameter than the chamber.
The hind end of the bullet needs to be:
1. Smaller than the chamber.
2. As large as the groove diameter.

If your barrel and chamber dimensions will not allow that, then accuracy becomes more difficult. If the hind end doesn't slip into the chambers then alignment becomes more difficult and the bullet base will be misaligned when it exits the muzzle, making off center thrust on the bullet.

chambers mike out at.456 It is a Uberti

 

[tom berwinkle]

The front end of the bullet needs to be bigger in diameter than the chamber.
The hind end of the bullet needs to be:
1. Smaller than the chamber.
2. As large as the groove diameter.

If your barrel and chamber dimensions will not allow that, then accuracy becomes more difficult. If the hind end doesn't slip into the chambers then alignment becomes more difficult and the bullet base will be misaligned when it exits the muzzle, making off center thrust on the bullet.

 

[tom berwinkle]

thanks for the tectional info, I will try and follow your instructions.

 

[tom berwinkle]

I’ll butt in here and suggest a .456 bullet will probably be hard to load in a revolver cylinder if it is a typical center fire type bullet. I tried 200 grain .451 SWC in a Pietta 58 Remington and gave it up as too much trouble. Often the chambers are under size and getting the bullet to start straight is difficult. I bought a lee real mold instead.

After all that I still use round balls and haven’t even tried the REALs though I have molded up a bunch. I guess I need to give them a try the next time I go to the range.

thanks, i'll try it.

 

[tom berwinkle]

the bullet is from a steel mold mikes out at .456.. My gun is a Uberti apk 20 yrs. old

 

[tom berwinkle]

The front end of the bullet needs to be bigger in diameter than the chamber.
The hind end of the bullet needs to be:
1. Smaller than the chamber.
2. As large as the groove diameter.

If your barrel and chamber dimensions will not allow that, then accuracy becomes more difficult. If the hind end doesn't slip into the chambers then alignment becomes more difficult and the bullet base will be misaligned when it exits the muzzle, making off center thrust on the bullet.

thanks for all the good advise. Tom
thq

 

[tom berwinkle]

I’ll butt in here and suggest a .456 bullet will probably be hard to load in a revolver cylinder if it is a typical center fire type bullet. I tried 200 grain .451 SWC in a Pietta 58 Remington and gave it up as too much trouble. Often the chambers are under size and getting the bullet to start straight is difficult. I bought a lee real mold instead.

After all that I still use round balls and haven’t even tried the REALs though I have molded up a bunch. I guess I need to give them a try the next time I go to the range.

thanks for the advise,

 

[tom berwinkle]

the gun is a Uberti,about 20 years old like new cond used to try lee revolver bullet mold in.454 but didn't have good luck. Loaded good while the cylinder was on the bench,but too hard to load with the loading lever. do you know of any molds that might work for me? thanks for responding to my question. Tom



I

 

[tom berwinkle]

the pistol is a Uberti, I have tried Lee mold I think it is a .454 bullet. it loads good when the cylinder is off the gun but to hard to load with the loading lever.Do you think maybe I can size them, or this can't be done?

 

[Grenadier1758]

If you have a press, and it is hard to load a 0.454 bullet with the lever on the revolver, then a 0 456 will be more difficult. You want a friction fit on the front band of the bullet. This is most often accomplished by the sizing done in loading. No need for an extra sizer.

Tell us more about the 0.456 bullet.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

For many years I shot a Uberti 58 Remington in N-SSA competition with .457" round balls cast of pure lead. No problems loading, cut a nice ring off the bullet and created a tight seal. Specific load was 18 grains FFFg, corn meal to just below the top of the cylinder, pressed .457 rb to just below flush, greased with a homemade lube. Excellent accuracy to 50 yards.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Bad Karma]

the old lee roundnose bullet used to drop out of the mold at .456 and 220gr. pure lead. They’ve never been a good fit for any revolver I’ve owned. Shoot just fine, hitting anything was another matter.

 

[Desperate Lee]

I have 2 '58 Bealls style NMA in .44 cal. The chambers on both pistols measure .449-.450 . I dont cast. I use Hornady .454 PRB in both. I also use Hornady 230 grn LRN and 200 grn LSWC both of .452 dia. I have a taper crimp die, dont remember which one, i run bullets into base first for a partial taper on base. These load straight, seal good, and with my lube cookie, 28 grns SWIS 3f is a good stout accurate load at 20 yrds. Little rough on the ring finger but for 2-3 cylinders i can put up with it.

 

[rodwha]

I had Accurate Molds create my custom designs. Way back then I assumed my Ruger would need .456” bullets as it’s what I recalled Lee selling their RN for it being at. That I’ve also been loading in my Pietta NMA that has had the chambers reamed to .449” and chamfered. This isn’t hard to load (pure lead).

But I found that a grossly oversized bullet isn’t necessary. I’ll be modifying my design(s) with one being to decrease the diameter to .453-4”.

If those bullets you have aren’t hard to align or seat then I’d guess there’s no reason not to.

 

[Desperate Lee]

rodwa
Once i taper the base they load easy and straight. If i was to use them only i would modify the bullet ram head. Been thinking about paper patching them and using them in my 10" 4 5 cal barrel. That barrel measure .448-.449. My Patriot 45 measures .450-.451 dia.