If you've got the time ...

[SleazyRider]

... I've got the questions, a few of which I've always been afraid to ask:

1. Why is a .44 Remington called a "44" instead of a .45, when the ball measures .454?
2. Should the cylinder pin (axle) on a BP revolver be lubricated with the same lubricant that is used on wadding, or a petroleum-based lubricant?
3. If lubricant such as Crisco is applied over the bullets to preclude chainfire, does this lubricant not interfere with the bullet as it goes through the barrel, similar to firing a gun that has not been cleaned of its Cosmoline or other preservative?
4. Are there any projectiles other than round balls that can be used in BP revolvers?
5. If cigarette paper is used to pre-load a cylinder with powder, wad, and ball, why doesn't the paper interfere with ignition from the percussion cap?
6. Can metallic cartridges from modern firearms be loaded with black powder
instead of modern smokeless powders? (curious only, I have no intentions of doing so)

Thank you in advance for entertaining the questions of an admitted novice!

 

[Busyhands94]

1: not sure why, it might be that the lead is shaved off of the .45 ball thus turning it into a .44.
2:if you've got noting else you can use Crisco or whatever you are putting over the balls, just as long as it's not too stiff. with Remingtons you can remove the cylinder pin a lot easier than Colts so that could be done at the range. i prefer to put Hoppes #11 oil on mine, i keep a bottle in my range bag.
3: most of it gets vaporized during firing, but a little can be seen on the target if at close range. it does not seem to interfere. i have shot my revolver without lube over the bullets, and with lube. seems just as accurate with the lube as it is without it.
4: you can load conicals, or even snake shot. i played around with snake shot today, it was pretty fun!
5:the stuff expands and the gunpowder pushes outward and rips open the paper most of the time. just as long as the caps are hot enough they should burn through any interfering paper.
6: that can be done in a revolver, i have seen it done with .45 long colt. it's probably too messy for an auto loader or a full auto because the residue will gum up the action badly.

Keep in mind I'm not an expert. i own two .22 cap and ball revolvers and a couple muzzleloading pistols, but i will probably get a Remington pretty soon.

 

[Busyhands94]

1: not sure why, it might be that the lead is shaved off of the .45 ball thus turning it into a .44.
2:if you've got noting else you can use Crisco or whatever you are putting over the balls, just as long as it's not too stiff. with Remingtons you can remove the cylinder pin a lot easier than Colts so that could be done at the range. i prefer to put Hoppes #11 oil on mine, i keep a bottle in my range bag.
3: most of it gets vaporized during firing, but a little can be seen on the target if at close range. it does not seem to interfere. i have shot my revolver without lube over the bullets, and with lube. seems just as accurate with the lube as it is without it.
4: you can load conicals, or even snake shot. i played around with snake shot today, it was pretty fun!
5:the stuff expands and the gunpowder pushes outward and rips open the paper most of the time. just as long as the caps are hot enough they should burn through any interfering paper.
6: that can be done in a revolver, i have seen it done with .45 long colt. it's probably too messy for an auto loader or a full auto because the residue will gum up the action badly.

Keep in mind I'm not an expert. i own two .22 cap and ball revolvers and a couple muzzleloading pistols, but i will probably get a Remington pretty soon.

 

[Voodoochile]

(1) because of the Land to Land measurement I would think.
(2) as long as it's not a petroleum based lubricant you can use anything lube available.
(3) Bushyhands94 is right.
(4) Bushyhands94 is right.
(5) Bushyhands94 is right.
(6) Bushyhands94 is right.

 

[mykeal]

My two cents:

1. Why is a .44 Remington called a "44" instead of a .45, when the ball measures .454?

Some .44's shoot .457's, others shoot .454's and still others shoot .451's. And a .45 caliber muzzeloading rifle shoots a .440 or .445 ball. In other words, the projectile size isn't what matters. In general, a .44 revolver bore, which is the land-to-land diameter, is about 0.440", although there are plenty of exceptions.

2. Should the cylinder pin (axle) on a BP revolver be lubricated with the same lubricant that is used on wadding, or a petroleum-based lubricant?

The problem with using petroleum-based lubricants in black powder guns is that black powder doesn't create high enough temperatures in combustion to completely burn the lube, leaving behind a tar-like substance. If the lubricant is used in a place that's not subjected to combustion chamber temperatures, such as action parts inside the frame, it will perform well. The cylinder pin is a gray area, however. Near the front of the cylinder the gas from combustion may still be hot enough to partially burn the lube on the cylinder pin, so I'd recommend a lube that is not petroleum based. By the way, mineral oil lubricants (such as Ballistol) are high distillate petroleum-based and will burn cleanly in a black powder gun.

3. If lubricant such as Crisco is applied over the bullets to preclude chainfire, does this lubricant not interfere with the bullet as it goes through the barrel, similar to firing a gun that has not been cleaned of its Cosmoline or other preservative?

The hot gas turns the grease to liquid, greatly reducing the thickness of the coating, unlike Comoline. Incidentally, some of us believe that using grease in the chamber mouth is poor chain fire protection. Often the grease in adjacent chambers is gone after the first couple rounds are fired. Far better protection is the use of proper sized, well fitting projectiles and caps.

4. Are there any projectiles other than round balls that can be used in BP revolvers?

Yes. Conical bullets are quite popular with some people.

5. If cigarette paper is used to pre-load a cylinder with powder, wad, and ball, why doesn't the paper interfere with ignition from the percussion cap?

Cigarette paper is treated to burn easily, so the paper actually ignites and transfers the ignition to the powder.

6. Can metallic cartridges from modern firearms be loaded with black powder instead of modern smokeless powders?

Absolutely. The original metallic cartridges were loaded with black powder. There is an entire shooting discipline devoted to this practice, called Black Powder Cartridge Reloading, or BPCR.

 

[SleazyRider]

Gentlemen, I can't thank you enough for taking the time to respond! This will take some time to digest, but since rain is in the forecast for the remainder of the week, I'll have plenty of time to do it!

 

[arcticap]

2. Should the cylinder pin (axle) on a BP revolver be lubricated with the same lubricant that is used on wadding, or a petroleum-based lubricant?

I once used motor oil on a Remington cylinder pin because I had nothing else at the range and it didn't leave any residue when shooting with American Pioneer powder.
Some folks use petroleum based grease so I think that it's generally okay to use.

5. If cigarette paper is used to pre-load a cylinder with powder, wad, and ball, why doesn't the paper interfere with ignition from the percussion cap?

Some folks use a nipple pick to pierce the paper cartridge through the nipple hole after it's loaded to help insure rapid ignition.
And unburned paper remnants left behind in the chamber can interfere with the next shot that's loaded into that chamber.
The amount of glue and paper used may contribute to ignition delays/problems.

 

[Busyhands94]

sorry, double post!

 

[SwampMouse]

My two cents:



Absolutely. The original metallic cartridges were loaded with black powder. There is an entire shooting discipline devoted to this practice, called Black Powder Cartridge Reloading, or BPCR.

That's actually RIFLE instead of reloading.

 

[mykeal]

Yes, it is. Don't know what made me do that.