Remington new model army, what size ball?

[tshrcav8r]

I have a brass frame army, that I would like to shoot. The pistol has no markings of any type. I know from reading the forum that either .451 or .454 balls are used. I measured the cylinder at .441. What size ball would be best choice?

Thanks, Tim

 

[Zonie]

If the cylinders chambers measured .451 then use the .454 diameter ball.
If you can't find a .454 then look for a .457.

The ball always needs to be a little bigger than the chambers so that it shears off a lead ring when it is loaded.

That assures a tight fit which will help prevent chain firing and will keep the balls from moving forward when another chamber if fired.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

.441" chambers sound awfully small. Anyway, you want a ball that shaves a nice even ring of lead all the way around it when you seat it on the powder. If you meant to type .451" then you may have to go to a .457" ball to get a good seal and keep the balls from walking out of the chambers under recoil.

 

[Zonie]

Schazzm!
I mis-read tsharrison's post and thought he said .451, not .441.

Noting that Dixie's catalog lists several different Remington cylinder chambers as being:
.449, .445, .447, .446, .456 and .447 maybe that .441 was a slip of the old typing digit?

If it really measures .441 then a .451 diameter ball would work just fine.

 

[tshrcav8r]

I measured it a couple of times and got the same, .441. I checked a couple of swaged balls and got measurements that seem reasonable, within a couple of thousands.

I was able to find some .454 balls locally. I thought I would give them a try this weekend.

Tim

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

If the .454" balls load without undue effort and you get that nice even lead ring shaved from the ball, you should be all set.

 

[R.M.]

I'm a little concerned what the groove diameter might be. With that small of ball, and if the groove diameter is normal, that ball might just be rattling down the bore, which you can imagine what it'll do to accuracy.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

I'm doubtful the chambers are .441 - an accurate measure would take small hole gauges and then mike them or gauge pins. more likely the chambers are .449-.450 give or take a couple thou. the bore i.d. (not groove i.d.) is likely the .441 or so.
and groove diameter around .451-.454.
a larger ball will give better grouping IMO but likely tougher to press in.
and Welcome to the Pistol page of the Forum. :thumbsup:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Your situation is not that unusual, I've seen several C&B revolvers with chambers under bore diameter. If you ram a ball into an unloaded chamber, pull the nipple and drive the ball back out with a small rod you will probably find that slug will fall through the bore without even touching the lands. Accuracy in that case is hopeless. I have hand reamed the chambers of my .44 revolvers to .451" and use a ball of .457".

 

[tshrcav8r]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try that this weekend.

Thanks again, Tim