I replied to someone recently about reaming the chambers of my old Walker to .467 so they are .003 in. over what the barrel groove diameter is. If it were bullets I was shooting in the gun the chamber diameter wouldn't go over .002 in. bigger than the barrels grooves. The cap&ballers shooting "Balls" can have to the ball .003 in. over the barrels grooves diameter.
Anywhoooo, I was thinking that I relayed the info that I hadn't had any trouble with my Walker being reamed to barrel groove diametrer but.......I should relay advise that the chambers be reamed only as far in as it takes to use the minimum powder charge that will ever be used and not reamed all the way to the bottom. No sense in taking out metal that doesn't have to come out I figure. Anyway I forget the name of the person that asked the questions so I figured I'd start a new thread about it and the person will see this.
I had the old Walker reamed in the chambers to match the grooves at .464 in. and that was fine. Accurate. Consistant. I just wanted to experiment with the chambers .003 in. over the barrels grooves to see what transpired.
I found that if the chambers are .001-.002 "under sized" compared to the barrels grooves the accuracy goes to hell but if the chambers are .004-.006 smaller than the grooves the accuracy is better than with the undersized chambers at .001-.002 in. That is strange but true.
Anywhoooo.... reaming deeper than needed for the min. powder charge for the gun is......not needed. Powder compression has to be figured in when reaming so the ball isn't ever pushed deeper than the little step in the chambers that's made by the reaming. That would make the ball undersized.
I've got a Navy Colt,Army Colt, Dragoon and Walker reamed in the chambers. Well....others too but I fergit which ones since I have too many cap&ball revolvers packed away. They shoot real well when I keep the barrels clean when shooting by using lube pills under the balls.
Anywhoooo, I was thinking that I relayed the info that I hadn't had any trouble with my Walker being reamed to barrel groove diametrer but.......I should relay advise that the chambers be reamed only as far in as it takes to use the minimum powder charge that will ever be used and not reamed all the way to the bottom. No sense in taking out metal that doesn't have to come out I figure. Anyway I forget the name of the person that asked the questions so I figured I'd start a new thread about it and the person will see this.
I had the old Walker reamed in the chambers to match the grooves at .464 in. and that was fine. Accurate. Consistant. I just wanted to experiment with the chambers .003 in. over the barrels grooves to see what transpired.
I found that if the chambers are .001-.002 "under sized" compared to the barrels grooves the accuracy goes to hell but if the chambers are .004-.006 smaller than the grooves the accuracy is better than with the undersized chambers at .001-.002 in. That is strange but true.
Anywhoooo.... reaming deeper than needed for the min. powder charge for the gun is......not needed. Powder compression has to be figured in when reaming so the ball isn't ever pushed deeper than the little step in the chambers that's made by the reaming. That would make the ball undersized.
I've got a Navy Colt,Army Colt, Dragoon and Walker reamed in the chambers. Well....others too but I fergit which ones since I have too many cap&ball revolvers packed away. They shoot real well when I keep the barrels clean when shooting by using lube pills under the balls.
Or if you can send that 1860, I'll send you mine ream that cylinder and keep the Rev and I'll pay you for the work. HeeHee!
