.454 or .457 ?

[JCT]

Before I go ahead and order a .454 mold, I bought a box of .454 balls to try in my Walker and Dragoon.
They load and hold tight, but don't shave any lead. Is that good enough? They load easier than .457, so if the lack of shaving lead is ok, I'll stick with them.
There should still be plenty of lead to fit tight into the forcing cone and rifling...right?
Just wondering what size to stick with, my .457 mold is toast and I need a new one, either .457 or .454. I plan to get an Uberti 1858 Rem eventually, that might be a consideration too in ball size.

 

[4v50 Gary]

When lead is shaved, your seal is tighter. It's a safety thing and do you want to compromise on safety?

 

[Tommygunn]

Recoil may cause the smaller rounds to move forward and jam the cylinder when you cock the gun for the next round. It's always best to use correct bullets. You really really really really want that shaved ring of lead.

 

[pohill]

If the chambers are chamferred (bevelled) lead rings won't shave, but the ball will be seated properly. I use .454 in my Walker, 1860 Army, and my Remington. My Ruger uses .457.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

.457's....

 

[JCT]

Pohill, that's what I'm thinking. They still seat tight and I'd feel safe with them, because I use a lubed felt wad under them anyway. Uberti even says .454 to .457 in their manuals.
I'll most likely start casting .454.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Of course you could just load a .38 caliber ball in the chamber and then pack some toilet paper around it to hold it tight. If I were you I'd just go ahead and do that. Why don't you just go ahead and do that?....

 

[JCT]

I understand that you need enough lead for a good seal and to engage in the rifling. It also allows more pressure= more power.
But when I cast round balls last I threw some old buckshot in the mix to use it up, just a handful. I cast about 300 balls that won't load because they're too hard. .457 shave a big ring of lead, .454 fit tight and don't shave lead. Both may end up being the same size after loading.
I'm still not totally sure one way or the other. I can just stick with .457 and be careful to use only pure lead always, or go with .454.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

.457's, pure lead.
Nice shave.
Better gas seal.
More power.
Better groups.
Longer range.
More energy delivered into the target.
Easier on the bore....

 

[mike101]

Pohill is right. If the front of the chambers are chamferred like the originals,
.454 is fine.

 

[bigbadgun]

I hear alot of people say that .457 is just right and .454 is to small for a Walker. I load .454 in mine and get a nice little ring everytime I think i has to do with each individual gun. Just a thought.

 

[scrat]

I use .454. Why dont you load one up in your cylinder then remove it. then measure it out. its actually easier to do that than to measure your cylinder. just remove the nipple from behind and use anything a phillip screw drive i always finds works good you just tap it from behind.
1 one this will tell you how tight it reall is in the cylinder.
2. once you get it out you can measure the ball to find your cylinders size.

this will help you determine what you need.