BP ammo commonality

dalegribble · August 12, 2007, 03:53 PM

I am adding some 44 BP revolvers to my collection. I would like to add a traditional period type rifle as well. I would like to be able to use the same ammo, etc. I can't find any 44 rifles but I do see 45's. My question is can I use the same 454 balls for my pistols in the rifle? It just seems to make sense to have one bullet, one cap, one powder for the revolvers and the rifle. Is this possible?

mykeal · August 12, 2007, 05:49 PM

Not that I am aware of.

Revolvers use a "bare", that is, unpatched ball, so it must be oversize, ie, .454 ball in a .44 cal revolver. The lead bullet engages the rifling in the barrel.

.45 caliber rifles use a patched ball, which is undersize, with a cloth patch to seal the chamber and grip the rifling. Thus a .440 ball with a .010 cloth patch, which actually adds up to a .460 projectile.

If you used the .440 ball in the revolver with a patch, the patch would come off the ball when it entered the barrel, thus leaving an undersized projectile in the barrel. Loose fit = no spin from rifling = no accuracy.

If you used an oversize, say .454, ball in the rifle, the process of pushing the ball down the barrel during loading would cause the ball to engage the rifling, thus distorting it; on the return trip it will not re-engage the rifling with the same grooves and even more material will be removed. The ball that exits the barrel will not be round and will not be spin stabilized.

dalegribble · August 12, 2007, 07:16 PM

Makes sense to me. Thanks.

August 12, 2007, 03:53 PM	#1
dalegribble Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2007 Posts: 861	BP ammo commonality I am adding some 44 BP revolvers to my collection. I would like to add a traditional period type rifle as well. I would like to be able to use the same ammo, etc. I can't find any 44 rifles but I do see 45's. My question is can I use the same 454 balls for my pistols in the rifle? It just seems to make sense to have one bullet, one cap, one powder for the revolvers and the rifle. Is this possible?

August 12, 2007, 05:49 PM	#2
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Not that I am aware of. Revolvers use a "bare", that is, unpatched ball, so it must be oversize, ie, .454 ball in a .44 cal revolver. The lead bullet engages the rifling in the barrel. .45 caliber rifles use a patched ball, which is undersize, with a cloth patch to seal the chamber and grip the rifling. Thus a .440 ball with a .010 cloth patch, which actually adds up to a .460 projectile. If you used the .440 ball in the revolver with a patch, the patch would come off the ball when it entered the barrel, thus leaving an undersized projectile in the barrel. Loose fit = no spin from rifling = no accuracy. If you used an oversize, say .454, ball in the rifle, the process of pushing the ball down the barrel during loading would cause the ball to engage the rifling, thus distorting it; on the return trip it will not re-engage the rifling with the same grooves and even more material will be removed. The ball that exits the barrel will not be round and will not be spin stabilized.

August 12, 2007, 07:16 PM	#3
dalegribble Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2007 Posts: 861	Makes sense to me. Thanks.