caliber

greensleep · December 25, 2010, 06:53 PM

howdy,
I recently bought a Walker revolver reproduction (44 cal)by Uberti. Being new to black powder, I have a number of different caliber lead balls and am wondering if it's ok to load my pistol with balls marked as 45 caliber, but are . 457 in diameter and I've been told that that diameter ball is appropriate for the large cylinder chambers on the Walker.
Anyone know for sure/

mykeal · December 25, 2010, 08:11 PM

The Walker will use a .457 projectile very nicely. They are oversize for the chamber, as intended. Loading them involves swaging the ball into the chamber and shaving off a thin circle of lead. This ensures a tight seal between the ball and the chamber, necessary to prevent escaping gas and thus obtaining the maximum power from the burning powder.

Hellgate · December 25, 2010, 10:12 PM

I shoot .454 dia balls in my two Walkers but .457s are fine. The .451s might be a little small but i've used some in a few of my guns with tighter chambers. However, all of my dozen or more C&B 44s shoot the .454s just fine. If you use factory swaged (Hornady, Speer) dead soft lead .457s they'll be fine. If you scrounge your lead and get a harder alloy the .457s may be a little harder to ram in some guns. When I used up some extra.457s in my 44 Remingtons I really couldn't tell there was much difference in ramming effort over the.454s.

December 25, 2010, 06:53 PM	#1
greensleep Junior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: N. Fl Posts: 11	caliber howdy, I recently bought a Walker revolver reproduction (44 cal)by Uberti. Being new to black powder, I have a number of different caliber lead balls and am wondering if it's ok to load my pistol with balls marked as 45 caliber, but are . 457 in diameter and I've been told that that diameter ball is appropriate for the large cylinder chambers on the Walker. Anyone know for sure/

December 25, 2010, 10:12 PM	#3
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	I shoot .454 dia balls in my two Walkers but .457s are fine. The .451s might be a little small but i've used some in a few of my guns with tighter chambers. However, all of my dozen or more C&B 44s shoot the .454s just fine. If you use factory swaged (Hornady, Speer) dead soft lead .457s they'll be fine. If you scrounge your lead and get a harder alloy the .457s may be a little harder to ram in some guns. When I used up some extra.457s in my 44 Remingtons I really couldn't tell there was much difference in ramming effort over the.454s. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

December 25, 2010, 08:11 PM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	The Walker will use a .457 projectile very nicely. They are oversize for the chamber, as intended. Loading them involves swaging the ball into the chamber and shaving off a thin circle of lead. This ensures a tight seal between the ball and the chamber, necessary to prevent escaping gas and thus obtaining the maximum power from the burning powder.