Info wanted on the .28 Colts...

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings!

I was thinking about the .28 caliber Colts today- Paterson and Root models and wondered the following:

What size projectile (ball or conical) was used? What was the weight (ball or conical)?

What size powder charge?

What velocity was generated?

Thanks for your input!

Hunter

 

[LRDGCO]

I can’t help much with the powder charges. Barrel lengths were 3.5” and 4”, and a .285” ball weighs 35 grs. I have never seen or heard of conicals for the .28, but they may exist. Velocities I have seen listed as 650 - 700 FPS. My GUESS on a powder charge would be Around 12 - 15 grs.

 

[Steel Hayes]

.290 Roundball weighed 47 grains with a 12 grain powder charge(15 max), a muzzle velocity of 750 feet per second from the 3.5” barrel( just slightly above with the 4 and 4.5” barrel).

 

[Curator]

Cased Colt Patersons came with a single cavity round ball mold. Cased Root revolvers were supplied with a two-cavity bullet mold for round ball and conical. Twice as many Root revolvers were made in .28 caliber (approximately 30,000) as compared to .31 caliber (about 14,000) so there is sure to be some original .28 caliber bullet molds still around.

 

[Tommygunn]

View attachment 817740
.290 Roundball weighed 47 grains with a 12 grain powder charge(15 max), a muzzle velocity of 750 feet per second from the 3.5” barrel( just slightly above with the 4 and 4.5” barrel).

Is that an original, or one of those Palmetto repros?

 

[Steel Hayes]

An original .28