Question on round ball size

[Saddlebag Preacher]

I just bought a Pietta 1860 Army and use .454 round balls very accurately. My question is I have an almost full box of Hornady .457 round ball for my Pietta Remington Shooters model. But it has since been converted to .45 colt.

Does anyone know if the chambers are too small for this .457 ball? I'd hate to try it if it would be too hard on the gun, but I hate to waste them.

Thanks

 

[mitchz]

You will only be shaving off .003 more when you load them. And they might be more accurate.

 

[FreddyKruger]

Go for it. like mitchz said, might even be a smidge more accurate

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Thanksv for the help!

Wuz outta .454, now I can go shooting tomorrow..

 

[DurangoKid]

The .457 swaged into a .454 chamber mouth provides a greater bearing surface. This allows a heavier charge of powder. The .457 will elongate providing more surface to hold greater pressures. The Ruger Old Army uses a chamfered chamber mouth to accept a .457 ball or a .456 conical. The actual chamber size of the ROA and the bore are for the standard .452 .45 bullet. This is the same barrel that used on .45 Ctg Rugers. This swaging of the .457 down to a .452 bore allows for the high pressures in the Ruger. The problem can be that some Repos have weak rammers and may bend the lever or latch.

 

[J-Bar]

I use ONLY .457 balls in my 1860, and they work fine.

 

[raa-7]

Give them a try I think they'd work well and you won't hurt anything. -ron-

 

[red96ta]

For my Pietta 1860, 457 balls work great for the first cylinder...usually by the second cylinder I have to drop down to 454 to compensate for the fouling.