Bullet size?

[ama121]

Hi,
I´m a beginner.....
What sort of bullets should a order for these guns??
New model army and Roger & Spenser, bouth 44 cal in good cond orginal guns.
I want to order at dixie gun works and i think i should use Hornady Swaged Round Balls .454. -But i`m not soure..?
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_99_311_312&sort=2a&&page=2
Barrels are in good cond, some pitting but groves are nice.
Pict of groves are from the remington.
Please help!

 

[DixieTexian]

I would get the .454, but just order one box so you don't have too much invested if you decide you want more.

 

[Bad Flynch]

The easiest answer is to choose a ball that will shave just a small ring from a ball as it is seated. Measure the cylinder throats and go by the largest one and be aware that a dial or vernier caliper will not give a true reading.

The other method assumes that the cylinder throats (ball seating areas) are the same sizes as the groove iameters on the barrel. There, one would slug the barrel, measure the groove diameter and pick a ball that is 0.003" larger.

Well, life is seldom perfect or easy. Try the 0.454" balls and see how much of a ring they leave when seated. If it is adequate, then check the accuracy on paper with a light charge, say 22 grains of FFFg plus a corn meal filler to take up space. Cover the balls with 1000+. Crisco works well, too, but runs away on hot days.

If the 0.454" balls are loose or do not cut enuff of a ring when the ball is seated, then use 0.457" balls and test.

 

[O.S.O.K.]

yep

I'd say try the .454" as well - you may be better off with .457" but the .454's will shoot fine. I recommend using lubed felt wads over the powder. And get some #10 and #11 caps too - not sure which will fit but you can always pinch the #11's if they're a bit big...

 

[ama121]

Thanks for the advice guys!
I will buy the .454...

Have some more questions...

I had planed to use 20 gr dry felt wads or grain roundball and bore-butter on top...22 gr sounds good.

What the diffferace between using lubed felt wads and dry ones?

Didnt want to use to much gr in first shoot, dont know if the guns are safe to shoot whit....will check them befor shoting and if i susspect any cracks i use some penetreting fluid..

Any good tips where to look after damage on the guns?
Her is a pict that worries me,
First pic is the remington cylinder one pice is cipped(Top)one abit damage and one looks like a crack(bottom right)

Second pict is the R&S cyl it`s in better chape and has thicket walls...

 

[O.S.O.K.]

are these

pieces that you've just acquired or are shooting for the first time? If so, I'd have a good smith OK them before shooting. That cylinder looks pretty worn to me and might present a safety issue. These are worth some $$ too and it'd be a shame to ruin them when you can buy an Italian copy for a few hundered bucks.

Those are both really nice.

 

[Gaucho Gringo]

To me the Remington cylinder looks not too good but I am not a gunsmith. If the cylinder is not safe to shoot you might be able to find a good original cylinder or a reproduction cylinder that fits. I forget which reproduction Remington is an almost exact fit for the original revolver. Ami San Marco is what pops in my head but I have been wrong before and will probably be in future also. The Rogers & Spencer revolver looks nice. Is it one of the 4200 sold by Bannerman's in the early 1900's?