Tallbald
Member
The ROA uses .457 balls. I wonder if the .454 would do OK or if I need to use them for casting fodder. Advise please? thanks, Don.
Was given .454 balls but I have a Ruger Old Army. Hmmm.
- Thread starter Tallbald
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Maybe. ROA chambers are pretty consistently 0.451", which means a .454" diameter ball will shave only 0.0015" off the radius - that's easily the tolerance on many soft cast balls.
It's easy to check, however. Just pull the cylinder, then remove the nipples and load all six chambers (without powder); you can then punch them out through the nipple holes. If you get six full rings of lead shaved, chances are they will work. If not, melt 'em down.
It's easy to check, however. Just pull the cylinder, then remove the nipples and load all six chambers (without powder); you can then punch them out through the nipple holes. If you get six full rings of lead shaved, chances are they will work. If not, melt 'em down.
OldmanFCSA
Member
Agree totally !!!
Prairie Dawg
Member
I shoot 454s in my ROAs with good success
--Dawg
--Dawg
robhof
Member
If those are the ones I gave you, they"re supposed to be .457(at least that's what the box says), but they usually mic out at .456 on my calipers.
Tallbald
Member
Robhof I'm embarassed to say that I don't remember where they came from. It's been a roller coaster year so far.They are swaged Speer in the box and are marked .454 roundball. Full box to boot. If these are from you, I owe you an apology my friend. I guess I need some ROA range time to clear my head and re-gain concentration. Don
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I've shot .454s through my ROAs without difficulty. The cut rings were pretty slim, and I've shot .457s more recently, but I'd shoot .454s without concern if that's all I had. I'd probably load the ball over a lubed wad, though.
Eights
Member
I noticed unfired .454 balls jumping forward due to recoil when other shots were fired. Happened pretty frequently too.
J-Bar
Member
Jumping is more likely with heavy powder charges...might be ok with about 20 grain charges though.
robhof
Member
The ones I gave you were the ones we cast from the Lee mold marked for the ROA, when you came over for a refresher in casting. As said above try the speer and if they shave, they'll stay put, unless you use max charges and I've had creep with .457 balls when shooting 40gr of T7, which is hot stuff. Under average loads 20 to 35gr of assorted subs and real black, I've had no problem with bullet creep.
Eights
Member
Sounds right. I actually think I went down to 20 grains until that box was gone.
I have been fortunate with the .457 balls. My standard load is fairly warm at 35g T7 under felt wad & ball. Though I have not yet noticed any jumping, it would not surprise me at all, especially if I used more lube somewhere in the mix.
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