351 WINCHESTER
Member
What size rb should I use for a .36 Pietta cap and ball? I need to order some and I think it's the .35 but I want to be sure. Can anyone advise as to a good supplier?
Pietta .36 cap and ball
- Thread starter 351 WINCHESTER
- Start date
- Status
Dave Markowitz
Member
Percussion revolvers use balls larger than the nominal caliber. This is the opposite of shooting a patched round ball in a muzzleloading rifle or pistol.
.36 caliber cap and ball revolvers use a .375 or .380 round ball. I use .380 in my Pietta Remington Navy, along with my Uberti Colt 1851 Navy and 1862 Pocket Police.
Check Midway, Track of the Wolf, and October Country, for starters.
.36 caliber cap and ball revolvers use a .375 or .380 round ball. I use .380 in my Pietta Remington Navy, along with my Uberti Colt 1851 Navy and 1862 Pocket Police.
Check Midway, Track of the Wolf, and October Country, for starters.
1KPerDay
Member
.375” works in mine. As for suppliers... anyone who has some right now.
Bottom of chart is for steel frame revolvers only, not brass frames. The grains is by volume of measure setting, NOT by weight (Pyrodex volumes do not weigh the same as black powder). 20 is max for brass frames (filling the void with cream of wheat to make the balls come to just barely barely below the front of the cylinder.
https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/muzzleloading_manual_2008.pdf
https://hodgdon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/muzzleloading_manual_2008.pdf
Jackrabbit1957
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2018
- Messages
- 2,866
My Pietta also uses .375 balls, I cast my own but you should be able to find them online.
arcticap
Member
Graf's sells Hornady .375's at a discount if you buy 3 boxes, and they offer flat rate shipping of $9.95 which is hard to beat. --->>> https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/6823
But they do have a minimum order amount of $40 which would be 5 boxes.
Last edited:
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
Might want to try both, my 1862 demands a .380", my Navy Remington a .375".
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Both of you whose posts have been deleted can expect infraction warning points for non THR behavior.
I'm disappointed two good long term members I used to respect forgot the code of conduct.
The rest of you please keep it between the lines.
I'm disappointed two good long term members I used to respect forgot the code of conduct.
The rest of you please keep it between the lines.
Gordon
Member
Um , I don't see nasty stuff, must be removed. I just wanted to add that yes the bores on .36 Revolves vary . My Lyman/ ASM .36 Rem "new Navy" uses .375 dia, as does my Pietta 1851 Colt Navy. The 1862 Colt New Police Uberti made does like .380" to get a tight fit. I was really dissappointed to find my .36 rifles use .350 balls. 
. Same for .45 Pistol/rifles with the pistols using either .451 balls in most to .454" + balls for the Walker and my .45 rifle take .433 " !
. Same for .45 Pistol/rifles with the pistols using either .451 balls in most to .454" + balls for the Walker and my .45 rifle take .433 " !skeeterfogger
member
- Joined
- Jan 5, 2019
- Messages
- 1,280
I find a .380 provides better bearing surface for cylinder seal and going in the forcing cone for better accuracy.
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
Um , I don't see nasty stuff, must be removed. I just wanted to add that yes the bores on .36 Revolves vary . My Lyman/ ASM .36 Rem "new Navy" uses .375 dia, as does my Pietta 1851 Colt Navy. The 1862 Colt New Police Uberti made does like .380" to get a tight fit. I was really dissappointed to find my .36 rifles use .350 balls.
I was elated that the family antique rifle we have is a perfect fit for .375" balls. Bonus!
whughett
Member
I have a variety of 36’s so I use both. Most take the .375. A Navy Arms Remington has chamfered chamber mouths so does better with the 380. A .380 of soft lead will just have that extra .5000 shaved off when loaded.
As noted. .005 is the difference.
As noted. .005 is the difference.
Last edited:
ThomasT
Member
.5000 is also known as 1/2". You sure you don't mean .005? Lol.
Last edited:
whughett
Member
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
A cheater bar on the rammer would certainly be required.
Jackrabbit1957
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2018
- Messages
- 2,866
Why shave them at all, I don't like having little lead rings bind up my cylinder let alone reducing the ball weight and being generally inaccurate. All my revolvers have a slight taper reamed into the chamber mouth so the ball is compressed rather than cut. I know, some of you think this prevents chain fires, have never had one since reaming the chambers. I really think chainfires are caused by poorly fitting caps.
Ugly Sauce
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 6,180
I've never been big on the ring thing. My Remington Navy, or my 1860 have never shaved a ring. The 1860 did chain fire once, but it was the one and only time I tried 777. Otherwise, neither of those two pistols have ever chain fired, and they both have been fired a lot. I found a .375" ball, which didn't shave a ring, was too loose in the 1862 I just picked up, and had to go to a .380, which does shave a ring.
Chain fires are still a mystery to me.
Chain fires are still a mystery to me.
gtrgy888
Member
I like the oversized .380 to get a larger surface for the rifling to engage and to get harder compression on the powder. That said, I’ve never had problems shooting .375 for target work.
- Status
