ROA Question

[Cabofdoom]

Finally got to take my ROA that I got for Christmas out to day to run six through the cylinder. 35gr of pyrodex P ,a wad and a .457 RB on top. All balls cut a thin ring that I could tell, but on two chambers, the ball "walked" forward with the recoil enough to impeed the action, catching on the barrel as it rotated into battery...preventing it from coming into full battery. I was able to press the ball back w/ thumb pressure and finished the cylinder but was reluctant to reload.
Suggestions?

COD

 

[fredrader]

Don't take this the wrong way but.....Sounds like you need bigger balls.. :rotf:
I couldn't resist.. :redface:

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

How oily were the chambers prior to loading them? Sometimes too much oil will cause this. Or the wrong type of "grease".

Short story: My son greased his new 1860 Army loading lever with some lubriplate grease from a tube (white grease). When we pushed the balls down onto the wonder-wads, the chamber walls were so slimed-up that the balls "stuck" to the rammer! After doing a quick wipe-down to eliminate the grease, we were fine and he proceeded to shoot his best score ever with his new revolver. And none of the balls crept forward with the recoil :thumbsup: .

Dave

 

[Cabofdoom]

Don't take this the wrong way but.....Sounds like you need bigger balls.. :rotf:
I couldn't resist.. :redface:

If someone hadn't said it, I would have been dissapointed :rotf:

But seariously...where would I find bigger balls

COD

 

[mykeal]

Yeah, sounds like the chamber walls were greased/oiled/lubed somehow. The ROA's chambers are, in all 3 of my guns, right on .450, so a .457 ball should (and does in my guns) fit very well. Oddly enough, if that was the case, firing each chamber once should have dried them out and you could probably have reloaded and not seen the problem again.

I'm assuming, since you didn't mention it, that you did not pop a cap on each chamber prior to loading. That's usually not a bad idea, and only costs 6 X $.04 = $.25.

Another idea: lubed wads? If so, perhaps they were too wet and squeezed out lube on the cylinder walls when pressed into place.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Is it possible you had a few undersized balls? A .457 should cut a nice ring, it does in mine. I use grease cookie under the ball so I have lube on the chamber walls and have not had a issue with balls moving from recoil.

I have experienced balls moving forward, but from using to small of diameter, .375's when I should have loaded .380's.

 

[nvbirdman]

I had that same problem with my ROA. It had a little ridge at the front of the chamber. I removed the ridge with a metallic case champhering tool.

 

[mykeal]

Good point. That would certainly cause the problem. I just checked my ROA's - all had good smooth walls. Thought I had done that when I miked the chambers, but double-checked when I saw your post. I'll be a little more vigilant from now on.

 

[oldwolf]

Did you seat the balls tightly enough?

By that I mean are you sure all the airspace was removed in the powder load?

Isn't there a certain amount of ball deforming during seating that helps it stay in the chamber?

I'm just wondering.

 

[bkovire]

in a way, the ball should leave a ring of lead at the mouth of chamber, just a sliver, i know if a ball is to small you get what is called blow by. If it is to large it could get stuck and boom, i have not seen this nor have i heard of it happen, their are set sizes that are used by the maker, if you do not know the cal have it checked,old used mistreated are the ones to watch out for, i look for old used well taking of, parts gun that's a diff matter. the ball i use is a 454 my pistol is a 44 that is the required ball, some will list max ball dia and min dia. and never use a patch on a revolver! it is like "why do the sun come up" don't know,... it just do.

 

[CaptainKirk]

While a .457 is so tight it actually makes lead eggs out of 'em in my Rem and Colt revolvers (they like .454's) a .457 is standard fare for the ROA. If the problem happens again, I'd do two things:
1) Mic out the ID of your cylinder to see what it actually is
2) Mic out your balls (OK, forget I said that!) :idunno: Measure the OD of your...um...projectiles
3) If the balls measure .457 and the cylinder bore is .456 or greater, you may want to try casting your own; that way you won't be at the mercy of any particular manufacturer.