Muzzleloading
02-20-2013, 04:58 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
Muzzleloading
I have a 45 cal. Muzzleloader riffle that I have been using 45 power belts in. Can I use a 46 cal. Lead round ball instead. Also, I have a 44 cal. cap and ball pistol I've been using 44 cal. Lead round balls in. Can I use a 44 cal. Wadcutter or conical bullet or any other 44 cal for that matter in it?
02-20-2013, 05:15 PM
#2
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
I have a 45 cal. Muzzleloader riffle that I have been using 45 power belts in. Can I use a 46 cal. Lead round ball instead. Also, I have a 44 cal. cap and ball pistol I've been using 44 cal. Lead round balls in. Can I use a 44 cal. Wadcutter or conical bullet or any other 44 cal for that matter in it?
Depending on the make of your cap and ball revolver will determine what size ball it takes. The trouble you find loading lead bullets is their length and of course their diameter.
Advise the model and make of your weapons and better answers can be given.
02-20-2013, 06:25 PM
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: River Ridge, LA (Suburb of New Orleans)
Posts: 10,917
Hey there Gunner. Welcome to the forum.
I suspect your thought about using a .46 caliber ball in your .45 caliber rifle stems from your experience with the black powder pistol, which typically is loaded with a slightly oversize lead ball so a little lead is shaved upon loading to provide a tight fit in the cylinder.
That's just not the case when balls are shot from a rifle. In rifles, slightly undersized balls are used with a lubricated cloth patch under the ball to take up the space between the ball and the bore, and provide a tight seal.
As Cayugad advised, a .440 diameter ball would be appropriate with a cloth patch that is somewhere around .015 to .018 thick. Appropriate patches can be purchased ready made, or you can cut out some yourself from pure cotton cloth of an appropriate thickness. Most guys use "pillow tick" cloth, which is available from most any fabric store by the yard and is generally around .018" thick. A half yard will make many many patches. Just cut one-inch squares from the cloth for the patch and lube them with olive oil or Canola oil or peanut oil, and you'll be on your way.
Hang around here a bit and you'll be an old hand at shooting PRBs (patched round balls) before you know it.
I suspect your thought about using a .46 caliber ball in your .45 caliber rifle stems from your experience with the black powder pistol, which typically is loaded with a slightly oversize lead ball so a little lead is shaved upon loading to provide a tight fit in the cylinder.
That's just not the case when balls are shot from a rifle. In rifles, slightly undersized balls are used with a lubricated cloth patch under the ball to take up the space between the ball and the bore, and provide a tight seal.
As Cayugad advised, a .440 diameter ball would be appropriate with a cloth patch that is somewhere around .015 to .018 thick. Appropriate patches can be purchased ready made, or you can cut out some yourself from pure cotton cloth of an appropriate thickness. Most guys use "pillow tick" cloth, which is available from most any fabric store by the yard and is generally around .018" thick. A half yard will make many many patches. Just cut one-inch squares from the cloth for the patch and lube them with olive oil or Canola oil or peanut oil, and you'll be on your way.
Hang around here a bit and you'll be an old hand at shooting PRBs (patched round balls) before you know it.
Last edited by Semisane; 02-20-2013 at 06:27 PM.
02-22-2013, 11:42 AM
#6
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
Thanks everyone for welcome and advice. The pistol is a Pietta 1858 Remmington on 44 cal. The manufacture suggests a .454 44 cal. lead ball. Can I use a .454 44 cal. bullet of anything other than a ball? Such as a conical or wadcutter? The riffle is a CVA 45 cal. that I've been loading with 45 cal. powerbelts. Can I use a 45 cal. round lead ball on it?
