[Afy]

I want to shoot conicals out of my Colt 1860 and Walker.
However I do not cast, and dont plan to either.
Hence my question:

What are examples of commercially available concials that can safely be shot out of these pistols?

Thank you.

[Voodoochile]

There may be others but Dixie Gun Works (http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_99_311_313&products_id=3630) sells the Buffalo Ballet that is made for C&B Revolvers.

I cast my own & if you were interested I could cast you up some.
Check out my posting Here (http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=311683) if interested.

[Afy]

I would take you up on the offer, but am in France. :(

[Ginormous]

Voodoochile,

What alloy are these cast in? If pure lead or lead/tin 40:1 (or similar soft alloy), I'd definitely be interested!

--
Ginormous

[Voodoochile]

I cast all my conicals & ball in 98% pure Lead "Adhesive Wheel Weights" which is very close to the same softness as Hornady's swedged ball.

[Ginormous]

Sounds perfect, PM coming your way for some lubed up ogived goodness.

My home is host to a number of diversions, but casting lead in any shape or form isn't currently one of them.

--
Ginormous

[Ginormous]

I would take you up on the offer, but am in France.

Afy, you mean lead ballast for remotely controlled sailing ship models is contraband in France? :)

[Afy]

Handt quite thought of it that way.
Let me think about ballast...

[Hellgate]

Afy, Not all makes of the repro 1860 will accept conicals. There is not enough room under the barrel for them to be alligned over the chamber. The Uberti's should take them. The ASM Hartford model (no longer made) will accept the LEE 200gr conical but the Piettas need to have metal removed from under the barrel where it fits onto the cylinder pin. Get a look at an original gun and you will see a lot more room to accept conicals.

[Afy]

I only have Uberti's.

BTW what will happen if I try an use a commercial slug for a .44 in the 1860?

[Hellgate]

The problem is you need to have an almost exact fit for your chambers which will need to be measured. The LEE conicals have rebated driving bands where the lowest is like, .445, the next is .450 and the upper diameter is .454. That way the first or second driving bands will drop down into the chamber fro proper alignment but seal the chamber on the second or third driving band. Mos of my chambers were around .448 so they work fine in my guns. With a commercial cast 45 cal handgun bullet the driving bands on a sized bullet will all be the same diameter of .451, .452 etc and the bullet will be hard to center over the chamber for ramming. It gets real frustrating.

[Elbert P . Suggins]

If you use a loading device for the ROA or Remington cylinder can you use a regular 45 lead bullet as it is easier to get the base started?

[Afy]

What about FMJ bullets?

[Acorn Mush]

What about FMJ bullets?

I don't think you really want to try to shoot FMJ bullets out of you cap 'n' ball revolver. You most likely won't find a bullet that has a close slip fit into the chambers. If you did, you would need to retain it with a wad. An oversized bullet would probably be impossible for you to load without doing damage to your rammer on the revolver, or an external press if you use one. In addition, I believe the steel used in the barrels of repros is MUCH softer than that used in modern firearms, therefore if you DID manage to load and shoot FMJs, you would be subjecting your barrel to an inordinate amount of wear.

Why would you want to do that? Plain ol' dead-soft lead is the best projectile material for these things.

[Hellgate]

If you loaded FMJs in your C&B there is a good chance the excess pressure as the bullet goes into the forcing cone would stretch the cylinder pin at the wedge cutout (or crack it wide open) or pull the cylinder pin from the frame. The cylinder and barrel are too soft and the cyl pin is a weak point that would likely "give". It would be a miracle to get consistantly drilled chambers for a FMJ snug fit. Fouling would soon change the fit too. Dead soft lead is best and most forgiving.

[madcratebuilder]

There may be others but Dixie Gun Works sells the Buffalo Ballet that is made for C&B Revolvers.

Cabela's or Sprotsmans or someone had those on sale for $5 a box. Picked up several, they shoot from my Walker and 1858 OK. PITA to load.

[Voodoochile]

The problem is you need to have an almost exact fit for your chambers which will need to be measured. The LEE conicals have rebated driving bands where the lowest is like, .445, the next is .450 and the upper diameter is .454. That way the first or second driving bands will drop down into the chamber fro proper alignment but seal the chamber on the second or third driving band. Mos of my chambers were around .448 so they work fine in my guns. With a commercial cast 45 cal handgun bullet the driving bands on a sized bullet will all be the same diameter of .451, .452 etc and the bullet will be hard to center over the chamber for ramming. It gets real frustrating.

Actually the .450 200gr. Lee conicals measure:
.442
.446
.450
The .456 220gr. Lee Conicals measure:
.447
.451
.455
All are +/- .001


Cabela's or Sprotsmans or someone had those on sale for $5 a box. Picked up several, they shoot from my Walker and 1858 OK. PITA to load.

I looked in Cabelas sight & could not find them listed.

[barman]

You may have range buddies who could do the casting for you, Afy.

I was fortunate to deal with such helpful people when I started shooting cap n' balls.

[Afy]

barman would appreciate that greatly.

[MCgunner]

I'd rather just cast mine. :D Lee makes a very accurate .44 caliber conical mold. I even have one that hollow points for my ROA.