Conical bullets in a cap and ball revolver

[Sparkplug]

I’ve heard of people using those. A 200 grain bullet?

Yes, 200 grain.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yes.

As many have stated before, there was no improved accuracy over the round ball. That came from load development. The only advantage was the heavier bullet giving more penetration at the desired range.

Well, you can say that again…

 

[nkbj]

With the many .43 diameter revolver molds running around loose in the world these days that could make a jimdandy caliber for an 1858.

 

[B P Arn]

Why go 43 when you can go 44?

 

[Smokerr]

My head scratch as well and then there is the seriously dangerous side of chain fire.

I concluded that a .451" RB which I also cast from a Lee mould + a felt OP wad was the better and more accurate choice.

Having shifted the ROA from .457 to .454 and got a clear increase in accuracy, the .451 is the next test to be tried in all the BP revolvers.

A good note is that we can cross talk about the subject as some use it for hunting and some targets shoot and some do both.

I only target shoot so the best accuracy I can get is my goal. I want to be able to shoot at the traditional pistol accuracy test range of 25 yards and hit the target and not the frame of the target.

I can adjust POA to achiever POI no problem but staying on the target is my goal and I would like to see something in the sub 5 inch group area at 25 yards.

 

[Bad Karma]

Why go 43 when you can go 44?

220, 221, whatever it takes.

 

[Smokerr]

The JDs I bought are 227 gr but not all that relevant. Balls in the .452 area are going to be pretty close, but Concials, TC or ? can and will vary a fair amount depending on the design.

Penetration level? Hmmm. A deer is not all that big. It might have some relevancy on a brown bear (have to re-read Lewis and Clarke but I recall at least one encounter with a Griz that took a whole lot of shooting to put down)

Then there is over penetration. Wasted energy if it does.

 

[nkbj]

Penetration is like being at Mardi Gras; if you don't have excess you don't have enough.

 

[45D]

I have to think 1 big hole doesn't leak better than a big hole plus a bigger hole . . .

 

[Bad Karma]

I have to think 1 big hole doesn't leak better than a big hole plus a bigger hole . . .

Plus better odds of a sucking chest wound. Natures way of telling you…