Need black powder advice

[mexicanjoe]

Hey y'all, I have a 1851 Navy replica that I enjoy shooting. I purchase .375 lead ball for it when I get a chance. I've also got a box of .355 lead ball that I had given to me. Mu question is .... Can I shoot the .355 ball if I use a patch? The .355 just falls out of the barrel , it is so loose. I'm concerned about pressures using the patch due to the brass farme. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks mi amigos!!

 

[roashooter]

patches will be more problematic than a cure.....stick with the over sized rb

 

[wwb]

...... I've also got a box of .355 lead ball that I had given to me. .........

Do you cast your own? If so, melt 'em down and recast them.

Otherwise, and ad in the classifieds will probably get rid of them (for a profit, since you got 'em free).

 

[ADP3]

You can compress them in a vice a tad to increase their diameter at the equator. I expect accuracy will suffer a bit but they should work.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[jeffnles1]

patches will be more problematic than a cure.....stick with the over sized rb

+1

Patches work when loaded in a rifle or smooth bore but I think they would be a pain in a revolver and while I doubt a patch would increase pressure, I can see it getting stuck and jamming up the revolver. Maybe not but why take a chance.

The bore on your 36 cal Navy should be pretty close to .357 or so. The cylendar bores should be about .360 -365 +/- if my memory is serving me correctly tonight.

 

[Dale53]

Brass framed cap and ball revolvers are a bit tender. I do NOT recommend you load them ANY differently than the manufacturer recommends.

Use a soft lead ball of the recommended size, ONLY, (it needs to be big enough that seating it will cut a ring of lead from the ball). This is the only way to seal the cylinder properly.

Lyman's black powder manual has instructions for most of the various caliber cap and ball revolvers.

If it is of recent manufacture, maybe the maker's web site has a manual you can download. Then follow the directions.

Mike Venturino's book, Shooting the Single Action Colt has loading data for the cap and ball revolvers (I think - I KNOW it has excellent black powder information for cartridge revolvers). It is out of print but Mike may have a copy or two available - Google his web site. I'm on the road and can't access the book to tell you for sure.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Dale53]

I went to Mike's web site:

http://www.mlventerprises.com/Coltbook.htm

He has the book for sale (even tho' it is out of print) and you can see the list of contents which includes the popular cap and ball revolvers.

Mike knows what he is about when talking black powder, believe me!

Dale53

 

[mexicanjoe]

Thanks guys! Always nice to know we got smart folk on the ol' RF!!! I hope to finish shooting all my ammo next week. Got me a super nice caliche pit to shoot in!!! Woohoo!!!!!,