maxi ball in a Cb Revolver

[chuckpa]

I have a friend that told me he was very successful using a .45 maxi ball in a Remington CB revolver with .25 grains of goex. He re sized only the base so it would fit in the chamber and lubed the bullet with beeswax and alox. I would like to try this but I can't seem to find a mold in the area. I have a .54 which I would trade and I would be happy to buy one if someone has one for sale. Has anyone tried this and if so what were your results?

[R.M.]

Lee makes a 220 grain mold meant for the Old Army. I've used it, and can't say that it performed any better that a RB. I suppose it might have more punch, but the paper I shoot, doesn't need any more punch than a RB can give. If you'd like, I could send you some to try.

[jbullard1]

I sometimes shoot a Lee like RM says but I drop my powder to 20gr

[chuckpa]

Thanks men
For the information, I am trying to target shoot so I am not worried about punch. I didn't make that clear. My friend won a national match at the North South skirmish Assoc. shoot a number of years ago.
I won a ham at a local shoot this weekend using a RB. But I had to hold low at 6 o'clock. I have tried using reduced loads with corn meal and I have not been to happy with the results. I was thinking that the heaver bullet would allow me to shot closer to the under the bull standard hold at 6 o'clock. I went to the Lee Mold site after reading your posts and I see that they make a conical mold for the Remington. I use only traditional sights. Thanks again for your information.

[Uncle Russ]

FEIW; I have never managed to get anything other than a round ball to shoot even half-way accurately in a revolver.

The diameter of a regular ball for the .44/.45 cal Revolver is actually .454 with a cylinder diameter of .452 (.002 is actually "shaved" off during loading in order to provide a seal.)

The length of a .45 cal Maxi-Ball is 0.735.... the depth of the cylinder on a 1860 Army Colt is 1.245... which leaves room for a max powder capacity volume of only .405 in length....not very much powder for that heavy of a bullet....I don't own a Remington right now, but I would suspect a cylinder of very similiar dimensions.

IMO, the Lee conical would be a lot better choice, and although I've tried them, I didn't care for their performance....but who knows, they just may be the ticket in your revolver.

As usual, your mileage may vary....considerably!

Uncle Russ...

[chuckpa]

Russ
I just went down and miked the cylinder diameters on 3 cylinders and they all came out at .445 and I wish they were .452 because I could size about half or 3/4 of a Long Colt bullet to slip into the cylinder chambers and fit under the loading lever to shave down the rest of the .454 bullet.

I don't think the Maxi bullet will work in my revolver.

[Uncle Russ]

.......I find that interesting.    

Perhaps R.M. will jump back in here.
Is there that much difference in a Colt and a Remington?

I am "almost" sure I am using the same RB mould for the Colt that I was using when I had the 1858 Remington, but maybe not.

Anyway, it seems you have a better than average grip on the situation, and I feel fairly sure that whatever you end up doing, it will be done safely.

Uncle Russ..

[chuckpa]

Russ
I feel the difference in dimensions is do to  the manufacturer's. I have observed this before in Italian imports.

RM thanks for the offer of the bullets.

[R.M.]

Hey Russ, yes the Italian guns seem to have cylinder diameters way small compared to the groove diameter. Doesn't make for good bullet/ball fit. I think it's to reduce pressure, as advised by some lawyer. I have reamed out cylinders to closer match the bore. helped greatly.

[hawkeye]

I use a Lee 200gr bullet mould for my Remington.  It says on the box it's for Remington revolvers and is .450 diameter.  I cast up a bunch and am going to take it out to the range and see if I can get "minute of deer" accuracy at 25yds with it. I was thinking of carrying it as "back-up" to my 1861 rifled-musket during deer season.

[Uncle Russ]

I was thinking of carrying it as "back-up" to my 1861 rifled-musket during deer season.

Both from the same era.... :shock:

And, if I remember correctly, my bud Hawkeye has one of them too!....now there is a handgun!


Uncle Russ..

[chuckpa]

RM
I was thinking about having the chambers reamed last night after I miked them. What kind of accuracy did you get when you reamed them? What loads do you use for target shooting?

[R.M.]

The gun I reamed was a .31cal. Before, the cylinders were .005" under the groove diameter. I reamed them Letter P (.323") diameter, and it also now uses the OO buckshot, which is .335"
This isn't what you would call a target gun, but you can at least keep it on paper now.
The ROA is a good example. .45 bore, .455" groove, and .455" cylinder diameter. Notice how the cylinder and groove match? These guns are as accurate as any modern pistol, in the right hands.
I use 25gr of fff, a card wad, a 9 mil case full of Cream of Wheat, a home-lubed felt wad, and a .457 RB. I've also  chamfered the cylinder mouths so the don't cut a ring anymore, they swag the ball as it's pushed in. This gives a tad more bearing length to the ball, and none of those pesky little lead rings.
On a good day, this will produce 3-4" groups @ 25 yards.

[chuckpa]

RM
I just slugged the bore and lands are .445 the grove is .438. If I want to experiment with the Maxi Ball I will have to buy another pistol which has dimensions like the originals. I guess with this pistol it is back to the corn meal and round balls.

[R.M.]

Chuck, I'm a bit confused. The groove diameter should be larger than the bore.
I think the Italian guns have 5 lands and grooves, which makes it hard to measure.