Corroded Balls

[poteen]

A friends widow gave me several hundred 454 Buffalo Ballets?? Not sure if that's the correct name. They have a knurled band around the circumference of the ball. It looks like the lubricant dried up and they are now covered with a dry grey substance.

Does anyone know how I could remove the encrustation and re lubricate them? I plan on using them in a Hawes 44 revolver.

It would be nice to use them as ammo rather than melt them for sinkers or turn them over to my 12 year old grandson for slingshot ammo.

 

[swathdiver]

Put them in a can in the trunk of your vehicle and drive around until they are shiny again. Or use a tumbler. Either way, they are fine to shoot now, just not so good for bare hands.

 

[Hellgate]

Just shoot them and use an over ball lube. I'm assuming you are talking cap & ball here. The cruddy stuff will shear off or swage down. No problem.

 

[fdf]

Correct advice.

 

[loose noose]

I believe the Hawes .44 is a cartridge gun and not a cap & ball revolver, I would think you would have to resize the .454 down to .429 and then you would have to shoot them at a very low velocity as they were intended for black powder unless you don't mind a lot of leading.

 

[Ron James]

Hawes did import a C&B pistol. Don't know who made it.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

as above - load and lube atop.

 

[swathdiver]

Hawes imported all kind of cap and ball revolvers. They imported the Armi San Paulo 1851 Navy for example.

 

[poteen]

I rechecked the revolver and it's marked Hawes Los Angeles California and 44 caliber Army Model Made in Italy
It appears unfired, I have another one like it that I found in an attic years ago, but didn't feel safe shooting something that old.

So the consensus from you folks who were nice enough help me out is just load em and shoot em.

Thought I would start out with 25 gr Pyrodex Pistol Powder and a little wheel bearing grease over the ball ??

Appreciate the help.

 

[whughett]

Hawes imported all kind of cap and ball revolvers. They imported the Armi San Paulo 1851 Navy for example.

I've heard both Armi San Marco and now Armi San Paulo. Same company. What country?

 

[theotherwaldo]

Wheel bearing grease is a bad idea, as it turns into a tarry mess on the gun. If it is cool out I would use Crisco or some similar non-petroleum lubricant.

 

[Hellgate]

Armi San Marco (ASM or SM) and Armi San Paulo are not the same company. ASP later became Euroarms. Both are Italian.

 

[whughett]

Armi San Marco (ASM or SM) and Armi San Paulo are not the same company. ASP later became Euroarms. Both are Italian.

Thanks: Don't own anything by either company. Fellow at the range yesterday had an Rogers and Spencer by Euroarms from the 70's. I admired it so he let me go five shots with it. I was total empressed, all five touching at 12 yards. He said the gun had been accurized though.The trigger was awesome. Gun did have a crappy finish on it. Looked flat black. Another one for the "gotta get me one of those list", thats my "bucket list"