What we all know about the round ball.

[HB]

On a related note I've seen round balls barely penetrate wood to the point where I believe they would bounce off. Even a .22 will penetrate a hard tree but the revolver ball would essentially make a dent.

HB

 

[eastbank]

this doe was shot at 40yds with 80grs fff and a .50 cal prb,good entrance and exit holes. eastbank.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

It was claimed, perhaps on this site, that Civil War veterans thought a round ball from a revolver was more effective than the issued conical... Perhaps to do with velocity? Apparently some soldiers loaded either loose powder and roundball (or made their own cartridges) if they had no issued paper conicals left in their pockets...

Elmer Keith in "Sixguns" says the exact same thing as to the round ball from Civil War veterans he knew.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

3. The most useful numbers are after penetrating clothing as well. Depending on your assumptions about the weather, etc. you may want quite a few layers in there.

Actually, the video used four layers of denim.

However, I imagine this is much more important with modern hollow-point ammunition where clothing can clog the HP and stop expansion. A RB is closer to FMJ, thus the penetration.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Elmer Keith spoke with several Civil War vets who said they preferred the .36 round ball to the conical, and that it worked very well.

I have no hesitation using my Colt Navy as a nightstand gun, and do so on occasion. A .375 round ball over 25 grains of FFFG should ruin any bad guy's day.

 

[Crawdad1]

I have no hesitation using my Colt Navy as a nightstand gun, and do so on occasion.

That's what I do, shoot it all day then clean her up and stick it on the night stand, although I do cheat with the conversion.

 

[Officers'Wife]

That's what I do, shoot it all day then clean her up and stick it on the night stand, although I do cheat with the conversion.

As much as I enjoy shooting my little Navy clone if God in His infinite wisdom had intended me to defend my life with one He wouldn't have inspired John Browning to develop the 1911.

 

[Dave A]

1700 fps sounds way too fast for a soft lead ball. Speeds above about 900 fps can cause problems with lead fowling in the bore.