f.llipietta help!

[dave44mag]

Hello, I am new to this site but do cast some lead. i have this navy 44 black powder pistol marked f.llipietta...its a friends gun that i am supposed to make some bullets for, But my 44 bullets are 429 and fit loose and this pistols barrel and cylinder are 442,Does this gun need a bullet cast 442? or does it just need a patch with the bullet? Any answers would be gladly appreciated.

[Mike.44]

If it has a place on the back of the cylinder where percussion caps go then it will shoot .45 round balls. They just called them 44s. The powder would go directly in the chambers. Then you can use an over-powder wad and a round ball. If it has a loading gate for cartridges then the BP would go in the case with a .429 lead bullet.

[dondiego]

It sounds like you have an Italian made ".44 cap and ball replica black powder revolver". You will need minimum .451 diameter round balls or bullets cast of soft lead. Do some more reasearching on this site and ask questions.

[docone31]

.454, .451 gives too little bearing surface.

[dondiego]

You are correct. That was a typo!

[Beagle333]

Yep, you need .454 round balls. If you don't have a mold or just want a few, contact Masscaster at ForeFathers Casting Shop here on the forum. He sells em pretty cheap! He's a straight shooter.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?87136-Forefather-s-Casting-Shop&highlight=masscaster

[dave44mag]

Alright that's what I wanted to hear, I really wanted to hear someone els say 45.cal before I stick one in it.And yes it is a Italian made gun...one more small question...I know they have always used ball round bullets for these but has anyone tested a lead round nose with lube grooves?

[docone31]

Balls work better. I have tried conicals, I went back to balls.

[Omnivore]

The gun will shoot conicals just fine, but you won't be able to load conicals with the cylinder on the gun. That particular model uses an 1860 Army style rebatted frame and cylinder with an 1851 Navy style barrel and loading cutout. It doesn't have room for anything but a ball to fit under the loading ram, unless you want to Dremel out the loading cutout. Millions of paper cartridges loaded with conicals were use during the War Between the States in these guns, but that model pistol you have never existed until the Italians dreamed it up.

BTW; your chambers are actually probably closer to .447" to .449" hence you do want a .454" ball. You'll probably notice a thing lead ring being shaved off the ball as it is seated. that's typical for a proper fit, though some shooters chamfer their chamber mouths so theballs swage down, without shaving. Either way works, but you want the balls to be several thousandths oversize at least.