Cap & Ball Revolvers

[Aline]

Hi guys,

Here is a question I have always wanted to ask about cap & ball revolvers. I know they are supposed to be loaded with oversized lead round balls (like .451 or .454 for the .44 cal wheelguns). When the oversized ball gets rammed into the chamber, a ring of lead gets shaved off, providing for a snug fit of the projectile in the chamber and some bearing surface for the ball to engage the barrel rifling. My question is: Is it viable to shoot a patched undersized ball, say .440, like we do with the rifles? Has it been tried? Is it safe?

Thank you,
Aline

 

[musketman]

No, Do not do it for these reasons...

#1. Under recoil, the unfired balls can move forewards and lock the cylinder up, slipping out of the lubed patch...

#2. Worse yet, the looser fitting ball could allow for a chain fire, (two or more chambers could go off at once) the flash of powder could jump past the loose fitting ball or a fold in the patch to the powder behind it, resulting in a distroyed gun... (if you're lucky, if you're not you could loose a hand or your life, not to mention anyone standing beside you...)

Lube on top of the chambers reduces this effect, but thats with a tight fitting ball/bullet...

Then theres the problem of getting the patches aligned while the cylinder is installed.

On a rifle, the patch is already engaged to the lands and grooves via the muzzle, you don't push the ball down past the riflings, (maybe once, OK... twice)...

On a revolver, the patched round ball will have to move forewards through the forcing cone to meet and engage the riflings, and this would surely strip the patch from the around the ball, leaving the patch inside of the barrel to obstruct the next shot...

I do not recommend this, as I'm sure others would agree...

 

[weasel]

speakin of chain fires anybody out there have one asides me I had three go off at onct in a 36 remington navy no damage to my hide or the peestol
weasel

 

[Rocky Johnson]

Aline - The Bevel Brothers have an excelent article on BP revolvers in Jan. issue of Muzzle Blasts. Dealing with your question. Rocky

 

[musketman]

quote:Originally posted by weasel:
speakin of chain fires anybody out there have one asides me I had three go off at once in a 36 remington navy no damage to my hide or the peestol
weasel I bet it scared the peanuts right out of your M&M's...

I seen a Remington cap-n-ball revolver with a blown chamber and frame at a gun shop before, the 12:00, 2:00, 4:00 and the 6:00 chamber went off and blew the loading plunger off and the side of the cylinder...

The 2:00 and 4:00 chambers caused no damage, nothing was in the path of the balls...

I wasn't told if anyone ever got hurt from that...