375 revolver balls

[brubincam]

any body ever try 375 revolver balls in a 40 cal. rifle--if so--how did they work for you

 

[galamb]

No, a little too small for my liking, but that can be used in the now somewhat orphaned 38 cal.

If you could find some patching material to make up all the extra space they would probably fire fine.

My 40 has .012 groves so an overall (space) of .400 + .012 + .012 (.424 total)

I don't patch super tight (.395 ball with .015 patch) but going with a .375 ball would be .049" plus a little more to make it "snug" - so a patch somewhat over .025 (maybe upward of .028).

Hey, give it a try - you never know...

 

[George]

Not .375, but .380. I've always loaded my .40 pretty snuggly using .395 balls, requires a short starter. I decided I'd like to see if a thumb-start combo would give me squirrel noggin accuracy, so I tried .380. Haven't really worked it out, yet, but early trials look OK. It loads easier, no short starter, but it's not really a thumb start.

Spence

 

[wulf]

I use 390 in my 40 and don't need a short starter
and have great accuracy...

 

[wattlebuster]

Not .375 but I shoot .380 as my standard load. thumbstarts with squirrel head accuracy for me :thumbsup:

 

[MacRob46]

I use .375 Hornaday swaged round balls in my .38 cal. southern mountain rifle with a .010 patch and get very good accuracy. The builder recommended a .015 patch but that was a bit too tight to my liking.

 

[AWsaddles]

As others have stated already I to have used .380 in my 40 even though my standard load uses .390 , but I can't see why the they wouldn't work with the right patch. Mine shoots accurately out to 30 yards or so and I haven't shot past that as that is about as far as I shoot at small game. It is easy to load even in a dirty bore.

 

[Leatherbark]

I tried them once with a thick denim patch. Did ok at 25 yards, but it was not quite as accurate at 50 as was my normal .395 balls. FWIW for one hole accuracy at 50yards NMLRA shooters load there 40's with a .400 ball and a .020 patch. Once they get it started it goes down like any other ball.

Bob

 

[AZbpBurner]

In 1970, my Dad completed a .40 cal percussion rifle. At the time, I cast .375" balls for his 1861 Navy revolver, and these were the only balls ever used in that rifle. He could punch a pie tin at 100 yards all day long with that rifle, using those balls.

He was using what I recall as pretty thick patches, made from some kind of scrap cotton ticking a neighbor gave him (she did a lot of quilting and making pillows & stuff).

He just gave me the rifle last fall, and I've since gotten some .490" balls for it. I do have some .020" patches, and may try them with the .375" balls someday.

 

[Richard Brinkman]

Might want to get a big hammer for those .490 balls in a .40 caliber :grin:

 

[AZbpBurner]

Might want to get a big hammer for those .490 balls in a .40 caliber :grin:

Yep, already got a dandy hammer - shoulda' used it for typing - actually they're .390"