New to powder, got a bunch of various sizes, what's what?

[Ash_J_Williams]

I recently picked up my first black powder, a Pietta 1858 .44. I picked up some powder and caps at an auction a few weeks ago, and just got a bunch of various sizes today. It seems I have .440, .45, .490, and .30. I'd say .490 and .30 are for rifles? But are .440 and .45 the same? Can either be used in my pistol? Thanks for all the input.

 

[Mike OTDP]

OK. You need .454 round balls for your revolver. .457s are OK, .451s are marginal. The rest is trade fodder - or melt it to mould your own bullets.

 

[mykeal]

Bottom line is you don't have anything that will work in your revolver. As Mike said, it requires .454, with .457 as a good alternative and .451 (NOT .450) as a marginal to poor alternative. You didn't mention any of those.

The .490 is for a .50 cal single rifle or pistol; the .440 is for a .45 cal rifle or single shot pistol. You mentioned a .45; is there a third digit or do we assume it's a zero? .450 is most unusual and has no common application. Likewise .30.

 

[Ash_J_Williams]

.440 and .490. The .45 says .45 max ball. I'd trade all of em for an equal number of those for my revolver.

 

[Pulp]

The .45 Maxi-Ball is made for a .45 caliber rifle.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Yeah, you should be able to, as the folks suggest, get somebody who can cast their own, to trade you straight up some bullets that will fit. I sure would. You could also get a proper mold and some .454 bullets at the store, shoot it now with the .454's, and later learn how to cast your own. It's pretty simple and fun as well.

LD

 

[arcticap]

Cabela's sells Buffalo Bullet .451 round nose revolver bullets.
The specifications aren't listed on the product page so if you want conical revolver bullets then talk to Cabela's customer service to confirm their diameter before ordering.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shoo...104701680&WTz_l=SBC;cat104701680;cat104547780