Civil War Colt's Patent bullet mold- what caliber ?

[jonathan butcher]

Does anyone have any idea what caliber this reproduction Colt's Patent bullet might be ?

 

[erhunter]

7/16 equals .4375, but a micrometer would be better to use. That's what I can see from the ruler measurements.

 

[jonathan butcher]

So, .44 cal ?

7/16 equals .4375, but a micrometer would be better to use.

 

[mooman76]

44 cal Pistol, revolver probably. It is a common mould for pistols. I usually see it in brass. Some times you would see the two together in a wooden case.

 

[ZUG]

Cast a bullet and then measure it with a accurate caliper then you will know for sure what you have.

 

[Grenadier1758]

For a different opinion, I see the measurement of the conical being a bit more than 3/8". So, its a vote for a 36 cal mold.

Now, follow @ZUG's advice. Get a caliper. Cast some bullets and measure. Avoid the opinions.

 

[mooman76]

Yes you need to cast to get an accurate reading. Do you have a good drill bit set? See what drill fits best, it will get you close.

 

[Pete G]

.44 cap & ball revolver

 

[Notchy Bob]

I would agree with casting a ball and a bullet of pure lead and measuring with a micrometer. I think balls for the original Colt 44's would have been in the neighborhood of .454", while balls for the original .36 caliber Colts were .378". I don't know if they made any guns or moulds in sizes in between those.

I think those moulds were very popular, back in the day, and rifles were often built to use those sizes of balls. I think Marshall Ralph Hooker said his "Boone rifle" took the same ball as the Colt Army revolver.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[nkbj]

Would be interesting to do penetration tests with that pointy Colt design.

 

[Gun Tramp]

Would be interesting to do penetration tests with that pointy Colt design.

I have done so, firing into a punky box elder log. The .44 caliber bullets were pure lead, cast from a second-generation Colt mould and fired from a third-generation 1860. About the same penetration as roundballs but less accurate.