Coning

[jaxenro]

Is this something I can do myself (coning a revolver barrel)? If so, how, and what type of tools are needed?

 

[jaxenro]

Just to specify, it is a .36 caliber Colt cap n' ball

 

[Zonie]

I hope your talking about coning the cylinder end of the revolver barrel.
IMO, this shouldn't be necessary because the barrel should already have a "forcing cone" machined into the rear of the barrels bore.

Coning the muzzle of a revolver would just waste some good rifleing sense you do not load the ball from the front of the barrel.

The Coning I'm familure with is done on muzzleloading rifles muzzles to create an enlarged opening to facilitate loading the patched roundball. It is not usually (never?) done on the muzzle of a Cap and Ball gun.

 

[paulvallandigham]

If you are looking to cone the back of the barrel, you need to contact Brownells. They have the tools to do this for sale. The degree of taper is what is important. The forcing cone on a revolver barrel will often improve accuracy dramatically when it is cleaned up with a tapered reamer.

 

[jaxenro]

Yup, the forcing cone on the back end of the barrel. When I look at my Uberti 1851 there is very little there from the factory.

 

[crockett]

Unless the revolver is spitting lead you may be wasting your time. Look around the back of the barrel, if there is a lead build up then cutting the forcing cone area may be worth it. Be sure to ask brownells if a 38/357 cutter will work on a 36 caliber cap and ball. AND let us know the results. I have thought about doing the job myself. I am sure others have as well. We would all like to know if accuracy improved, etc.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I don't know if they have the right sized tool for a .36 cal BP barrel. But, an 11 degree taper will usually improve the accuracy of any revolver. A 4 degree taper in the forcing cone of a breech loading cartridge rifle will do the trick there.