What size round ball for .44 Navy pistol

TUK101 · 02-17-2007, 08:59 PM

I picked up and old Navy style .44 cap and ball pistol yesterday and am wondering on the best size of ball to use in it. I have been using some 45.4 round balls, and they load ok, but I am looking to pick up my own mould and want to get some recommendations on a good size that will work well in it.

cayugad · 02-17-2007, 09:15 PM

What make of revolver is it? I have a F. L. Lippeta (or something like that) that I purchased from Cabela's. It uses a .451 ball even though it is a .44 caliber revolver. The ball shears a little when you seat it. It works real well and is very accurate.

Gruntr Huntr · 02-17-2007, 10:01 PM

Buy some .454 and some .451 roundballs and try them. A thin ring of lead should be sheared when they're pressed into the chambers. Shoot both and see which your gun prefers. Hopefully it will prefer the .451 because shearing that thinner ring of lead is easier loading than shearing a thick ring of lead.

When you'vefound which you and your gun like you can buy the respective mould.

Roskoe · 02-18-2007, 11:21 AM

I also have one of these. It has a .446 bore, even though there is a conversion cylinder available for it that allows one to shoot reduced load .45 Long Colt cartridges in it with lead bullets only. It has an oversized forcing cone - apparently figuring that a .452 bullet is going to be utilized at some point. I got my best accuracy with .445/.446 lead round balls.

TUK101 · 02-18-2007, 11:21 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: cayugad

What make of revolver is it? I have a F. L. Lippeta (or something like that) that I purchased from Cabela's. It uses a .451 ball even though it is a .44 caliber revolver. The ball shears a little when you seat it. It works real well and is very accurate.

Yeah, its that one. Made in Italy. Not a bad shooter either with that 45.1 round ball. I was knocking an old 3 gallon marine can off of the stand at 35 yards last night with it. I just love the "thud" sound that is made when you hit steel with the round ball lol. It was funny too, because there where 3 deer just standing there waiting for my feeder to go off while we where shooting.

cayugad · 02-18-2007, 11:36 AM

The revolver I have is the 1858 Remington New Army model with target sights. I load 25 grains of Goex 3f, then a wonder wad, then press a .451 ball into it and top it with a little crisco over the cylinder. I know they claim if you use the wonder wad youdo not have to plug the cylinders with crisco, but one hangfire is my life was one too many.

I was shooting one day at 25 yards shot for shot against a friend with his .44 mag Colt Anacondarevolver and he had no accuracy advantage on me. Of course I spent years shooting handguns. They are not new to me.

What is a lot of fun it to go rabbit hunting with the thing. Granted you don't get many bunnies, but it is sure fun kicking up the snow after them. I have got two rabbits (snowshoe)so far and a couple squirrels, but nothing other then paper normally.

TUK101 · 02-18-2007, 07:10 PM

Well I went to my grandads and cast up about 150 45.1 balls and about 50 .50 balls and about 10 or so of the 45.7 balls. I tried the 45.7 balls and they fit just a bit too tight for my liking. Now they work very well though in my grandads old Ruger 45 pistol though. Lots of work casting those things, but also pretty cool too.