Pietta 1858 bullets

[Handshaker]

I shot my new Pietta 1858 sheriffs model today with 454 round balls. Has anyone shot 452 cast bullets in one? It looks a bit tight when i set the bullet on the cylinder.
thanks

[415m3]

I shoot my Pietta 1858 with 454 balls. It's supposed to be tight enough to shave a thin ring of lead when you seat the ball.

[Handshaker]

Yes, i do shave some with mine too on round balls, but that wasn't my question.

[Walks]

I've used .451 RB's in My Pietta Brass Framed 1858's
And it shaves a complete ring of lead around each chamber.

And I've tried some Lyman #452488 SWC's cast of Pure
Lead. Used the 18gr spout I use for RB in my Uberti 1851 .36 Navy. The lead bullets dropped from the mold at .451 and 210grs, and yes they cut a ring of lead when seated.

But I saw no advantage in this as it uses up more pure lead and shoots about 18" high.

[bob208]

yes I have tried it. but you would be better off just buying the lee mold for the purpose for what you want. the lee bullet has a recess on the base that makes them easier to start and start straight.

[John Boy]

1858 Conical Bullets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBM4FAIfMfI
PS: the Internet answers a multitude of easy questions - try it next time

[Handshaker]

Ok I'll buy the lee die. I had a thought of making a piece for my lee decapping press and using it as a loading press for my 1858 Pietta. Anyone done this or have any ideas?
I will have to fiddle with it to see if i can make it work.

[kaiser]

I converted "Sheriff" to .45 Colt and load .453 diameter (unsized) Alox lubed Lee 255gr cast over Trail Boss powder with excellent results. I also use the .454 diameter "ball" in my other (black powder) 1858, which is almost as accurate. Both revolvers are 1858 Pietta's.

[AntiqueSledMan]

Hello Handshaker,

I use the LEE 450-200-1R black powder mold in my 1858, but I also used a Howell Conversion Cylinder. They seem to shoot quite well. Watching the video, they look like they load hard in the percussion cylinder, I swaged the base to form a heel for cartridge loading. I also ran them through a .451 sizing die, you can view what I did in my .pdf file.
https://1858remington.com/index.php?topic=8675.0

AntiqueSledMan.

[Handshaker]

Thanks for the info. I love my conversion cylinder in my SS Ruger old army. Haven't decided if i will get one for the Pietta. I was contemplating the gated conversion cylinder, it looks really cool.

[Walks]

After thinking more about this.
I remember about 20yrs ago, the Shooter who came out to sell BEAR CREEK BULLETS at the Cowboy Matchs used the .45cal 200gr Moly-Coated RNFP in his RUGER Old Armies.

That needed a lot of camming power. Hate to try it with a Colt 1860 clone.

[Handshaker]

Ya i have a couple thousand of the .459 for my Magnum research BFR in 45-70. I guy on armslist was selling them a couple months ago. He had them for many years. I got the 250 round boxes for 35 each. I wish i would have thought to buy some .452 from him.

[Good Cheer]

You might measure your chambers diameter and size the rear bands of your favorite boolit designs to slip into the chambers. Cast from soft lead you will have home grown maxis.
I do this with a Lyman lubrisizer, not running the boolits all the way in but leaving the front band large to shear on the mouth of the chamber. That way the boolit base isn't out of alignment from being perpendicular to the bore, the chamber gets sealed and the loading lever doesn't get strained.
249466

[Walks]

Good Cheer,

Now that is a Good Idea.

[azrednek]

Been better than 25 years but I got remarkably good accuracy using the Lee 456/228 ( I think been a lot of years) casting with pure lead. If you have a mild personality, good temperament and don’t cast with in an ear shot of women and children. The Lyman hollow based 450 rolled in Lee goo or soft Permatex with anything from Crisco to tallow in the hollow base was impressive. I also got excellent results on paper with the hollow based slugs loaded in 45 Auto Rim. I did load some SAECO .452 button nosed wad cutters cast with pure and some store-bought lead slugs intended for 45 ACP and best I recall the results on paper were dismal. Best I recall experimenting with various size round balls but was never satisfied with the results.

Can’t recall brand name of the revolver other than it being Italian mfg. I do recall slugging bore but just can’t remember the size. Showing my age what I considered dismal accuracy 25-30 years ago. Today through my 69 year old eyes and bifocals, I’d be impressed.

[shortlegs]

Check out Kaido Conicals. I think dualist1954 shoots them in his 44 pistols.

[Springfield]

These should work also, and in a 6 cavity mould.
http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.aspx?ItemID=09d6fdda-c105-4c87-b269-68ebfdaba982

[Wayne Smith]

Springfield, your link doesn't work.