.44 RB in a 36?

deerslayer303 · October 23, 2014, 12:53 PM

I was cruising the web last night reading stuff and I came across a thread where a fella mentioned that he would take .454rb and press them into a .36cal cylinder. He went on to state that by doing so it shaved the 44 ball down into a conical type shape. And he would fire them out of his 36 revolver. So I thought I would bring it to you..err well MORE EXPERIENCED Gentlemen!

Any of you heard of such?

Trum4n1208 · October 23, 2014, 01:01 PM

I don't fit the "more experienced" description, but it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I feel like it'd be a lot of unnecessary stress on your gun. Why go through all that trouble when a standard .36 roundball would do just fine, you know?

deerslayer303 · October 23, 2014, 01:08 PM

Oh yeah, I don't think its a good idea either. And I don't think it would gain you anything. And to do so I bet the cylinder would have to come off and you would need to use a loading press.

Driftwood Johnson · October 23, 2014, 02:29 PM

I would sure like to know how he did it without bending the loading lever or breaking the lever pivot screw. Sounds like a really dumb idea to me.

But what do I know, I have only been shooting Black Powder since 1968.

noelf2 · October 23, 2014, 02:41 PM

How about just pouring molten lead over the powder. Should make a nice wadcutter type bullet and way less stress on the loading lever.

--- disclaimer---> Don't do that

swathdiver · October 23, 2014, 03:16 PM

Some folks love to complicate the simple.

Love the molten lead idea! Perfect fit every time!

deerslayer303 · October 23, 2014, 03:33 PM

^^ LOL hey thats an Idea noelf!! I was reading the thread like this >

. And it baffles me that some people post stuff like that on a forum. The reason I say that is, back when I got this BP itch I came here not knowing a thing. And it was the reliable advice I got from you guys that allowed me to safely venture into this here hobby.

North East Redneck · October 23, 2014, 08:17 PM

Sounds like someone is either ignorant and/or likes to waste lead and break loading levers. Never heard of this before.

Hellgate · October 23, 2014, 08:19 PM

Hey,
I used to ram TWO 36cal balls down onto about 15 grs of powder for a 164gr+ load in my navies without incident. It was a nice "thumper".

Stormson · October 23, 2014, 10:20 PM

Eh.. I mean...Maybe, with and off gun loading lever... But what the hell FOR???

Now.. I know Im not as experianced as most guys here... But (and this is purely just off the top of my head here)..If he wants a "conical shape" errr.... Buy some CONICALS maybe?

Man I sure hope whoever he is, he doesnt see the part about melting lead into it! LOL

B.L.E. · October 24, 2014, 06:26 AM

The Navy was designed for conical bullets which weighed about the same as a .454 rb so no, it won't overstress the gun during firing.
However, I don't think the loading lever was built for that kind of stress, unless he's doing it off the gun with a special press.

**4V50 Gary** · October 24, 2014, 07:37 AM

Certainly swaging can be done, but that's a little extra work. Noelf2's idea of melting lead over the powder is much easier, but it can be very messy and I can't recommend it.

wogpotter · October 24, 2014, 08:23 AM

Anything is possible.
Swaging a .457" ball down in a gun ain't gonna be pleasant, non damaging or easy though.
It wont so much leave a ring of lead as a doughnut!

bedbugbilly · October 24, 2014, 07:06 PM

I'd like to see it done in a regular sizer without using a breaker bar let alone in a C & B with a standard loading lever - possibly in a loading press with an attached arbor press? As Forrest Gump said, "Mama always said that sometimes you can't fix stupid."

Where were you reading this and can you give us the link to it - I'm sure we'd all like to see it. After all . . . it's got to be true . . . it was on the "net".

SIGSHR · October 24, 2014, 07:54 PM

Seems to me swaging a .44RB down to .36 would result in a huge-and unsafe-jump in pressure.

B.L.E. · October 24, 2014, 09:00 PM

No more so than the conical bullets the .36 was originally intended to shoot.

brazosdave · October 25, 2014, 08:30 AM

why in God's name would anyone want to do that? If ya want to fire a .44 rb, buy a .44!

B.L.E. · October 25, 2014, 09:02 AM

When using a revolver to actually kill varmints, I find that the high velocity of roundballs actually does a better job of killing them than the "penetration" of a heavy but slow bullet.
My Ruger Old Army shoots 220 grain MaxiBalls quite well but the resulting 650-700 fps muzzle velocity gives about the same effect as impaling the critter with a target arrow. Roundballs going close to 1000 fps puts their lights out right away.

deerslayer303 · October 27, 2014, 05:54 PM

bedbugbilly, I went back and did a few searches and I couldn't come up with the thread I had seen. I don't remember what combo of words I punched in google.

rodwhaincamo · October 27, 2014, 06:05 PM

I tried .490" RB's in my ROA when I realized I forgot to bring more balls for my pistol. It was rather difficult and I wouldn't do it unless I really needed them. But that's nothing like ramming a .45 cal ball into a .38 cal hole, and with a gun that can handle a little extra pressure well...

October 23, 2014, 12:53 PM	#1
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,653	.44 RB in a 36? I was cruising the web last night reading stuff and I came across a thread where a fella mentioned that he would take .454rb and press them into a .36cal cylinder. He went on to state that by doing so it shaved the 44 ball down into a conical type shape. And he would fire them out of his 36 revolver. So I thought I would bring it to you..err well MORE EXPERIENCED Gentlemen! Any of you heard of such? __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

October 23, 2014, 01:08 PM	#3
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,653	Oh yeah, I don't think its a good idea either. And I don't think it would gain you anything. And to do so I bet the cylinder would have to come off and you would need to use a loading press. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

October 23, 2014, 02:41 PM	#5
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	How about just pouring molten lead over the powder. Should make a nice wadcutter type bullet and way less stress on the loading lever. --- disclaimer---> Don't do that __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

October 23, 2014, 03:16 PM	#6
swathdiver Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 335	Some folks love to complicate the simple. Love the molten lead idea! Perfect fit every time! __________________ “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” - Job 38:3

October 23, 2014, 03:33 PM	#7
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,653	^^ LOL hey thats an Idea noelf!! I was reading the thread like this >. And it baffles me that some people post stuff like that on a forum. The reason I say that is, back when I got this BP itch I came here not knowing a thing. And it was the reliable advice I got from you guys that allowed me to safely venture into this here hobby. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

October 23, 2014, 01:01 PM	#2
Trum4n1208 Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2013 Posts: 173	I don't fit the "more experienced" description, but it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I feel like it'd be a lot of unnecessary stress on your gun. Why go through all that trouble when a standard .36 roundball would do just fine, you know?

October 23, 2014, 02:29 PM	#4
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	I would sure like to know how he did it without bending the loading lever or breaking the lever pivot screw. Sounds like a really dumb idea to me. But what do I know, I have only been shooting Black Powder since 1968.

October 23, 2014, 08:17 PM	#8
North East Redneck Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2012 Location: Berkshire Hills Posts: 741	Sounds like someone is either ignorant and/or likes to waste lead and break loading levers. Never heard of this before. __________________ NRA Patron Member SAF Life Member GOAL Member

October 23, 2014, 08:19 PM	#9
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	Hey, I used to ram TWO 36cal balls down onto about 15 grs of powder for a 164gr+ load in my navies without incident. It was a nice "thumper". __________________ 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)

October 23, 2014, 10:20 PM	#10
Stormson Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2014 Location: Mountains of SouthWest VA. Posts: 193	Eh.. I mean...Maybe, with and off gun loading lever... But what the hell FOR??? Now.. I know Im not as experianced as most guys here... But (and this is purely just off the top of my head here)..If he wants a "conical shape" errr.... Buy some CONICALS maybe? Man I sure hope whoever he is, he doesnt see the part about melting lead into it! LOL

October 24, 2014, 06:26 AM	#11
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	The Navy was designed for conical bullets which weighed about the same as a .454 rb so no, it won't overstress the gun during firing. However, I don't think the loading lever was built for that kind of stress, unless he's doing it off the gun with a special press. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

October 24, 2014, 07:37 AM	#12
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,838	Certainly swaging can be done, but that's a little extra work. Noelf2's idea of melting lead over the powder is much easier, but it can be very messy and I can't recommend it. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 24, 2014, 08:23 AM	#13
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Anything is possible. Swaging a .457" ball down in a gun ain't gonna be pleasant, non damaging or easy though. It wont so much leave a ring of lead as a doughnut! __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

October 24, 2014, 07:06 PM	#14
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I'd like to see it done in a regular sizer without using a breaker bar let alone in a C & B with a standard loading lever - possibly in a loading press with an attached arbor press? As Forrest Gump said, "Mama always said that sometimes you can't fix stupid." Where were you reading this and can you give us the link to it - I'm sure we'd all like to see it. After all . . . it's got to be true . . . it was on the "net". __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 24, 2014, 07:54 PM	#15
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	Seems to me swaging a .44RB down to .36 would result in a huge-and unsafe-jump in pressure.

October 24, 2014, 09:00 PM	#16
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	No more so than the conical bullets the .36 was originally intended to shoot. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

October 25, 2014, 08:30 AM	#17
brazosdave Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2012 Location: Crockett, Texas Posts: 363	why in God's name would anyone want to do that? If ya want to fire a .44 rb, buy a .44! __________________ "I'm your huckleberry, it's just my game"

October 25, 2014, 09:02 AM	#18
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	When using a revolver to actually kill varmints, I find that the high velocity of roundballs actually does a better job of killing them than the "penetration" of a heavy but slow bullet. My Ruger Old Army shoots 220 grain MaxiBalls quite well but the resulting 650-700 fps muzzle velocity gives about the same effect as impaling the critter with a target arrow. Roundballs going close to 1000 fps puts their lights out right away. __________________ Hanlon's Razor "Do not invoke conspiracy as explanation when ignorance and incompetence will suffice, as conspiracy implies intelligence and organization."

October 27, 2014, 05:54 PM	#19
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,653	bedbugbilly, I went back and did a few searches and I couldn't come up with the thread I had seen. I don't remember what combo of words I punched in google. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

October 27, 2014, 06:05 PM	#20
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I tried .490" RB's in my ROA when I realized I forgot to bring more balls for my pistol. It was rather difficult and I wouldn't do it unless I really needed them. But that's nothing like ramming a .45 cal ball into a .38 cal hole, and with a gun that can handle a little extra pressure well...