Conical for Pietta 1858

[WALKERs210]

In the past I have cast my own shots both round ball and maxi's. I never used the conical before and I'm looking for information on the right size mold for my 1858. I have seen the LEE brand conical at .450, I use .451 round ball with excellent results. In other words is the .450 what I need ?

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

S****!!!!!!! Man, load that damn '58 with around 30 grains of Triple Seven 3fff, a swaged .451 round lead ball, a number 10 Remington percussion cap, smear a little grease over the balls, and go on out there and kill whatever the hell you're pissed off at or whatever the hell you want to eat....Have a good day....

 

[junkman_01]

In the past I have cast my own shots both round ball and maxi's. I never used the conical before and I'm looking for information on the right size mold for my 1858. I have seen the LEE brand conical at .450, I use .451 round ball with excellent results. In other words is the .450 what I need ?

Not withstanding the last posters tirade...the .450 Lee should work just fine.

 

[OYE]

I use that bullet (.450 Lee conical ) some in my 1858 pietta's . Seems to swage in pretty tight. Haven't noticed any walking under recoil, even with the heaviest loads.
MEC has posted some chronograph data on some of the lighter charges.

Here is some for the heavier charges:

200 gr. .450 Lee conical / 30 grains Pyrodex P / Rem. # 10 caps / greased wad under
bullet / 1858 Pietta 44 / 6 shots

Avg. vel. = 810 fps E.S.= 129 s.d.= 47


Same setup as above except this was 35 grains Pyrodex P / no wad / Grease over bullet
This 1st test was measured, second with spout
Avg. vel.= 956 fps E.S.= 32 s.d.= 12

2nd test

Avg vel.= 984 fps E.S. = 78 s.d. 31

Energy for the 35 grain loads is about 400 - 425 ft. lbs. About like A 45 auto on steroids or the hotter 45 LC loads for the older guns.


The 35 grain loads seem to be quite accurate , 4 of 6 group inside of 1 inch circle at 25 yds. 5 of 6 inside of 2 inch circle. The last fit in a 4 inch circle. The 30 grain charges
shot pretty well also.
I usually shoot RB as the cost per round is cheaper. I usually use .454 RB's.

For the "What it's worth department". Best

 

[Oyeboten]

What do these Conicals weigh?

 

[OYE]

200 grain conicals

 

[Oyeboten]

That's pretty respectable.

200 Grn, not quite 1000 FPS...is no slouch!

I am very fond of my Remington .44 Cap & Ball.


I still need to round up more Molds, and or sources of interesting .454-ish Bullets.

 

[the Black Spot]

will the 220 grain conical fit in the pietta rem's?

 

[Palehorseman]

First thing I noticed when shooting conicals in mine, was that it shoots way high, as in WAY HIGH compared to RB.

 

[junkman_01]

First thing I noticed when shooting conicals in mine, was that it shoots way high, as in WAY HIGH compared to RB.

Probably due to the increased recoil and slower barrel time.

 

[Oyeboten]

Aim lower...

 

[WALKERs210]

Aim lower...

Or in my case stand closer

 

[rjsixgun]

Best mold I found was a lee 45acp bullet part number 452-160-RF its a short bullet only as tall as a RB and is .452 dia. shoots like a house on fire! recoils just like a RB

 

[OYE]

"First thing I noticed when shooting conicals in mine, was that it shoots way high, as in WAY HIGH compared to RB. "

Both of mine shoot .454 RB dead on at 25 yds. The 200 grain Lee bullet shoots 3 inches higher in mine at 25 yds, so I aim at 6 o'clock on a 6 in. bullseye. Guess it depends on the how the sights are set up.
As far as loading them, I just set it in the cylinder loosely and rotate the cylinder under the ram and make the final finger alignment and initial push before using the ram. It actually goes pretty fast after you load a few.

 

[Hellgate]

I've had no problem loading the LEE 200gr conical in Pietta or Uberti Remingtons. 30grs FFFg is the most powder I could get under them. Pryo-P is much more compressible but I haven't tried it yet for the CB.

 

[Oyeboten]

Are you sure it is okay to compress Pyro-P?

I thought it was not supposed to be compressed?

 

[mykeal]

You may be thinking about the use of Pyrodex in cartridges. Hodgdon's loading notes indicate 'light' (1/16" to 1/18")compression be used when loading Pyrodex in cartridges. There is no such recommendation with regard to loading Pyrodex in revolver, pistol or long gun chambers.

 

[Hellgate]

I found that if I didn't fairly heavily compress my Pyro-P charges in my 44 Navies I would get delayed ignition. I suspect the use of lube wads may have made it worse but I would get a paBOOM! instead of just BOOM! when firing the round balls. Also, in the 36 cal Navies I could fill the chambers to the brim with Pyro-P and ram a ball deep enough to easily clear the chamber mouth. It is pretty spongy.

 

[BP pistol hunter]

I am getting 1200 fps / 450 ftlbs with a .454 ball and 35gr of 777 in my 12 inch barrelled Pietta stainless 1858 bison revolver and it has worked out great for hunting deer and wild hog in Florida within 50 yards. I have tried 40 gr and gained a lot more power but accuracy falls off where it would not be reliable for hunting. I always wanted to try conical bullets but have never found good load info with 777 or hunting load information so if you guys have tried it please pass the info.