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A Brace of .44s

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dukeofdata

32 Cal.
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A Remington 1858 New Army Shooters (Pietta via DGW) and a Colt 1851 Navy Civilian (Pietta via Cabela's). Both in .44 with silver plated brass trigger guards in a Cabela's case.

6bo1au1.jpg


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Each has its own case. Just put them together to get their pictures taken.

The Colt shoots like a champ with .451 balls. The Remington is a bit of a challenge. .457 balls are just too small and there isn't much (if anything) available in a slightly larger size.
 
Two of my favorites.

I have the DGW Shooters model and a Brass Navy Colt.

I shoot the cheapo Navy Colt way better.
 
dukeofdata: Maybe your Remington has .457 diameter chambers, but according to Dixie Gunworks, the Pietta Remington chambers are .447.
This is the reason they recommend using a .451 diameter ball.

I note that Dixie also says that the .44 cal Pietta Remington has a .440 diameter bore with .450 diameter grooves.
Although the .447 diameter chambers produce a ball that is less than the groove diameter, it seems to be a common thing with reproduction guns.
Some people have the forward area of their chambers enlarged so that the ball is equal to or larger than the groove diameter in order to improve the guns accuracy.
Is it possible that your pistol's chambers have been reworked to achieve this?

zonie :)
 
My Pietta '58 Rem is close to your dimensions. Use a .454 ball to load but have used a .457 (Ruger OA size) a time or two. Hard to squeeze in.
 
I reamed all my cylinders to .380 on my 36's and
with a 382/3 ball they fit snug and shoot like a
38 special...or something like that....I didn't
know Colt made the '51 in 45 cal..[44]
 
I would get my cylinder checked. My shooters model when loading cuts the lead just fine. I am using .457 Speer balls.

I need to shoot it more often.

The gun has to be the smoothest revolver I've ever shot. But then, you get what you pay for. Very light trigger, world of diff from the cheaper models that have not been worked.

I still like the cheapo Navy a bit better. Won't part with either one.
 
Wow, you are correct, it does call for .457 balls.
so the chambers should be .454 maybe little less, I don't know what to tell you except you better use the felt wad overpowder to help prevent flash-over. And some over-ball grease.
 
I do use the over-powder wads. I have some .457 Buffalo Bullet conical revolver bullets on order to try. I'm thinking now that I should slug the chambers and bore. Thank you all for the information. If you ever find anyone selling .460-.465 round balls, please let me know. Thanks again.
 
OK: I see the errors of my ways.
The pistol in the link is the "SHOOTERS" version.
According to my Dixie catalog, this pistol has .456 diameter chambers (which match the .456 diameter grooves in the barrel).

Using a .457 diameter ball as Dixie suggests (in their catalog) would only shave one half of one thousanth of an inch off of each side of the ball.
IMO, this is not enough to keep the balls from moving forward in the chamber during recoil.

A possible solution would be to order the weird single mold Dixie makes. They say it comes in .001 incriments so you could order a .460 or .462 diameter ball mold.
Here is a link:
[url] http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=7945[/url]

Sorry 'bout that. :grin:
zonie :)
 
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