Thread: Good 1860 load?
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Old May 15, 2009, 06:19 AM   #12
mykeal
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Join Date: October 8, 2006
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 2,772
The mystery of .457, .454, .451 and 44 cal

First of all, caliber refers to bore size (generally the size of the original bore before rifling, or land to land diameter, although even this definition is perverted in some cases). Also, caliber designations are marketing tools and are not necessarily all they seem. One man's .44 is another man's .45, etc.

Second, percussion, or cap and ball, revolvers use balls that are intentionally oversize for both the bore and cylinder chambers. They are swaged down in diameter by the action of forcing them into the chambers on loading. The reason is to provide for a gas seal around the ball (no cloth patches are used). The seal allows for the pressure from the burning powder to build up and to prevent burning gas from adjacent chambers from igniting the powder in chambers not in battery (the dreaded 'chain fire'). Thus when loading the ball you should find a small ring of lead is shaved off and left behind as proof of this swaging action (some cylinders have chamfered chamber mouths and the shaved ring is thus not produced).

So, is .457, .454 or .451 the 'right' size? Usually the answer is Yes, all three may work. It depends on the gun, so the only thing to do is try them and see. If it doesn't shave the ring of lead (and the chamber mouth is not chamfered), try the next larger size. If it's too difficult to load, try the next smaller size.
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