Pietta 1860 Army question

[nightwolf1974]

Looking on DGWs online catalog....

The Pietta 1860 Army in kit form and finished gun list 2 different RB sizes in the "recommended" load.
The kit form says .451 RB and the finished gun form says .454 RB. Can the .454 RB be used in the kit form gun?
My cousin is getting the kit, so I'm asking for him.

 

[Treestalker]

Both will probably work but you need a good seal of ball to chamber, I once owned a Pietta steel frame and .454s worked great. The 451s fit but almost loose in my gun. I doubt there is any difference in the factory and kit gun chamber/barrel specs. Mine was a factory used gun. I would go with .454 ball.

 

[bang]

Typically .454 in 44 call up to the Walker.
Cylinder bore should be minimum .449.
Should get a .010-.020 ring of lead when rammed unless the cylinder bore is chamfered the just tight ram.
I use .451 in the small frame 44s that use light loads. Easier to ram with the short lever. Just as long as they ram snug.

 

[nightwolf1974]

Thanks, I wanted to make sure I gave him the right info.

 

[sawyer04]

I like to chamfer the cylinder just a smite, instead of cutting a ring of lead at loading, The pure lead ball is swaged into place and is accurate with .454 bullets. I have shot .457 balls with success also. Polish the barrel cone will increase accuracy .

 

[wb78963]

I have run about 600 rounds total through two Pietta 1860 Army Colts using .451" balls hand cast with a Lee mold.
.They have the chamfer on the chamber mouth for ease of loading.
In a test purposefully dry balling hand cast balls sprue up, down, and sideways, every one showed a good sealing band all the way around.
The same was done with Hornady swaged .454" balls which also showed a good seal.
I cannot speak for the Uberti 1860 because those chambers may be different diameter.
My choice is the .451" ball just for ease of loading but do what you think best.
IF you try the dry ball test use a brass or other soft material punch to push the ball out. It is easy to fudge up the nipple hole threads so be VERY careful.
Load 'em heavy boys
They air a' comin'
Bunk