Should I switch to Conicals in .44 cap & balls?

jtaylor · March 2, 2008, 09:18 PM

I'm looking into a new Lee mold since my old .457 ball mold has had it. I will probably go to .454 since the .457 have always loaded hard.
I'm wondering if I should just make the switch to conicals. I'm checking out this: http://www.possibleshop.com/cap-ball-mold.htm " more energy and far greater accuracy than round balls" is this true? I'd like to improve accuracy, who wouldn't

All I've ever shot is round balls and never gave conicals a thought until now. It'd be good to hear from those of you who shoot them. Pros/Cons,
Roundball vs. Conical

scrat · March 2, 2008, 09:21 PM

I dont know but at those prices i might just get one.

jtaylor · March 2, 2008, 09:33 PM

Me too, I might just have to try it out for myself. I'm guessing .456 would be the choice for Dragoons and Walkers. I can't imagine how they wouldn't improve accuracy.

somerled · March 2, 2008, 09:45 PM

I have a Lee Conical mold for .36 cal revolvers that is more than 30 years old. The Lee conicals have always grouped better than balls in my 1851 Navy. They fit a bit snugger in the cylinder and don't shift under recoil. It is getting tougher to find pure lead, however, for casting.

jtaylor · March 2, 2008, 10:11 PM

I bought a roll of chimney flashing a few years ago and it seems to never run out. Not sure about the price now though, metals are way up! I might have to get out the metal detector and recover all those lead balls.

bobn · March 2, 2008, 11:39 PM

in my old euroarms navy, the conical seemed to destroy targets better. the round balls were more accurate. bobn

Steve499 · March 3, 2008, 10:33 AM

If you currently have your revolver shooting to point of aim with round balls, you will experience a higher point of impact when you switch to conicals.

Jbar4Ranch · March 3, 2008, 11:06 AM

Since you mentioned .457" balls, I assume you're shooting a Ruger Old Army. I have seven ROA's and all of them shoot notably better groups with round balls than with conicals.

drdirk · March 5, 2008, 05:38 PM

I also find the round balls a lot more accurate. A while ago I put out a threat
"conicals suck". Still think that is true

Hawg Haggen · March 5, 2008, 06:13 PM

Conicals are what the military used back in the day. I've been tempted to try them but keep puttin it off.

jtaylor · March 5, 2008, 08:42 PM

I'll stick to balls in the "cap and balls" I guess. Everything I've read so far say's they're more accurate, plus, if they raise the point of impact, my walker will be shooting a foot high. I have some more shooting to do, but so far I'm considering notching the hammer more.
I use .457 ball in the Dragoon and Walker, but will most likely switch to .454. The last batch I cast in .457 load too hard since I melted some old birdshot in the mix. I'll stick to pure lead from now on and .454 as long as they still shave a little lead.

jlchucker · March 6, 2008, 06:17 PM

switching from round balls is not worth the trouble, unless you really enjoy standing there casting lead. Hornaday sells excellent round balls in a variety of sizes. They shoot straight over cap n ball distances.

Hawg Haggen · March 6, 2008, 08:57 PM

I cast everything I reload for except 30-06.

March 2, 2008, 09:18 PM	#1
jtaylor Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 215	Should I switch to Conicals in .44 cap & balls? I'm looking into a new Lee mold since my old .457 ball mold has had it. I will probably go to .454 since the .457 have always loaded hard. I'm wondering if I should just make the switch to conicals. I'm checking out this: http://www.possibleshop.com/cap-ball-mold.htm " more energy and far greater accuracy than round balls" is this true? I'd like to improve accuracy, who wouldn't All I've ever shot is round balls and never gave conicals a thought until now. It'd be good to hear from those of you who shoot them. Pros/Cons, Roundball vs. Conical

March 3, 2008, 11:06 AM	#8
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,453	Since you mentioned .457" balls, I assume you're shooting a Ruger Old Army. I have seven ROA's and all of them shoot notably better groups with round balls than with conicals. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

March 5, 2008, 06:13 PM	#10
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,381	Conicals are what the military used back in the day. I've been tempted to try them but keep puttin it off. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

March 6, 2008, 08:57 PM	#13
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,381	I cast everything I reload for except 30-06. __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

March 2, 2008, 09:21 PM	#2
scrat Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2008 Posts: 214	I dont know but at those prices i might just get one.

March 2, 2008, 09:33 PM	#3
jtaylor Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 215	Me too, I might just have to try it out for myself. I'm guessing .456 would be the choice for Dragoons and Walkers. I can't imagine how they wouldn't improve accuracy.

March 2, 2008, 09:45 PM	#4
somerled Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: eastern Kansas Posts: 545	I have a Lee Conical mold for .36 cal revolvers that is more than 30 years old. The Lee conicals have always grouped better than balls in my 1851 Navy. They fit a bit snugger in the cylinder and don't shift under recoil. It is getting tougher to find pure lead, however, for casting.

March 2, 2008, 10:11 PM	#5
jtaylor Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 215	I bought a roll of chimney flashing a few years ago and it seems to never run out. Not sure about the price now though, metals are way up! I might have to get out the metal detector and recover all those lead balls.

March 2, 2008, 11:39 PM	#6
bobn Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 844	in my old euroarms navy, the conical seemed to destroy targets better. the round balls were more accurate. bobn

March 3, 2008, 10:33 AM	#7
Steve499 Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 531	If you currently have your revolver shooting to point of aim with round balls, you will experience a higher point of impact when you switch to conicals.

March 5, 2008, 05:38 PM	#9
drdirk Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2004 Location: houston, tx Posts: 172	I also find the round balls a lot more accurate. A while ago I put out a threat "conicals suck". Still think that is true

March 5, 2008, 08:42 PM	#11
jtaylor Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 215	I'll stick to balls in the "cap and balls" I guess. Everything I've read so far say's they're more accurate, plus, if they raise the point of impact, my walker will be shooting a foot high. I have some more shooting to do, but so far I'm considering notching the hammer more. I use .457 ball in the Dragoon and Walker, but will most likely switch to .454. The last batch I cast in .457 load too hard since I melted some old birdshot in the mix. I'll stick to pure lead from now on and .454 as long as they still shave a little lead.

March 6, 2008, 06:17 PM	#12
jlchucker Member Join Date: February 21, 2008 Location: Northern Vermont Posts: 43	switching from round balls is not worth the trouble, unless you really enjoy standing there casting lead. Hornaday sells excellent round balls in a variety of sizes. They shoot straight over cap n ball distances.