Armi San Marco Target Pistol. (Tingle style)

[whughett]

Any one here have and shoot one of these
Would appreciate any input in this pistol regarding loads patch and ball size.

A 440 ball and .010 patch is a real tight fit. Hammer the rod down tight fit. Accuracy is good over 30 grains of 3F for the few shots I have taken

Track of the Wolf lists a .437 as the next size down, .433 are too loose with the same patch. Hate to spend $18 dollars plus shipping for a maybe and I don’t shoot the single shots more than a few range visits a year.
Edit:Add file photo.

 

[Mike M.]

Try a .433 with a .015 patch. 20-25 grains of powder, but expect to bracket it to get just the right load.

 

[arcticap]

When Dixie was selling these, they provided the barrel spec's and recommended a ball size.

"The 10" blued octagon barrel is .44 caliber and has 7 grooves and 7 lands of equal width.
Groove to groove diameter mikes .445.
Land to land mikes .442.
We recommend a .435 ball.
Use No. 11 caps on the .245x28 nipple."

Digger Odell Post #21 --->>. https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/anybody-ever-see-one-of-these.481370/

In another thread, there's clearly a different ball recommended for the ASM made CVA Prospector.
Post #15 shows a Prospector in case with a factory printed label that says: ".433 round ball"
It may have been made at a later date.
SEE POST #15: --->>> https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...or-found-his-final-home.828740/#post-10686164


There was another barrel dimension in the same thread from another ad but I'm not going to repeat that.
There appears to have been different barrel lengths too.
You can read it for yourself.

At some point the difference in ball size may mean using a thicker patch.
It's all based on loading difficulty and accuracy.
At least factory swaged .433 balls are available and made of pure lead for consistency.

 

[whughett]

Thanks gents for those replies and links. I’m thinking although this one is marked Armi San Marco it may be some one else’s import. No engraving at all, just that color case hardened receiver.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I have a pair of FIE marked "Tingle" replicas that have zero engraving just plain case color frames.
Haven't shot them in at least 10 years and don't recall loading details.
It sounds like yours is pretty much the same although you apparently don't have any FIE markings.

 

[PapaG]

I have a pair of FIE marked "Tingle" replicas that have zero engraving just plain case color frames.
Haven't shot them in at least 10 years and don't recall loading details.
It sounds like yours is pretty much the same although you apparently don't have any FIE markings.

Bet old Bob wouldn't have taken well to that. Most of the copies have really shallow grooves and need a tightly patched ball. Thinner linen like Indian Head, .007 or so.

 

[paul harm]

I think Jack Lewis made one like that first, but not sure. His were target models with a wood forearm and he sold them on the national range but for quite a bit more. Bought mine in the 70s when he went from the Colt grip frame to a Ruger because he wanted a coil spring set up. I bought a 50 cal with a 8" barrel - 150$ plus another 100 for some engraving. Shot my first 100/100 with it. He used Bill Large barrels, and those were top of the line. It wasn't long after guys started using 911 frames with side locks - kind a put a end to his pistols.