Colt 1951 .36 - acting like a smoothbore?!

[ShootingChannel]

I recently bought a s/h colt 1851 .36 and when i went to load it, i noticed that a .36 lead ball will roll all the way down inside the chamber. I thought this was very odd and i tried the ball in the muzzle to see how tight the fit was. To my amazement the ball rolled all the way down the muzzle and into the chamber! It wasn't even touching the rifling!!

Does this sound like the wrong size lead ball, or is it something more sinister with the gun itself?

I'm using Hornady .360 round balls.

[slowcoach]

Usual ball size is .375-.380 I know daft innit

[lilguy43uk]

My Remmy takes a .375 ball. Your choice of .360 seems on the small side.

[harricook]

I recently bought a s/h colt 1851 .36 and when i went to load it, i noticed that a .36 lead ball will roll all the way down inside the chamber. I thought this was very odd and i tried the ball in the muzzle to see how tight the fit was. To my amazement the ball rolled all the way down the muzzle and into the chamber! It wasn't even touching the rifling!!

Does this sound like the wrong size lead ball, or is it something more sinister with the gun itself?

I'm using Hornady .360 round balls.

Andy Allwood recommends a .380 !

Cheers

Roy
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[ShootingChannel]

thanks everyone. i bought some 375's today and they are fine. i think i got the new guy at the shop because i asked for lead ball for a .36 revolver. ah well....thanks again!

[Jim McArthur]

Usual ball size is .375-.380 I know daft innit

Just as the .38 Special is really a .357.

Jim

[Calibre44]

Glad you got that sorted out ... for an awful moment I thought you had bought it in .44 cal!

[Jim McArthur]

Glad you got that sorted out ... for an awful moment I thought you had bought it in .44 cal!

It probably wasn't the 1951 model either!

Jim

[markH]

So a .31 is really .32, but a .32 is actually 308. But then again a 308 is 309 whereas a .303 is . 311. As we've already established a .36 is .38, but then again a .38 is really .357, unless of course its a .380 in which case it's .355. Then we have the .44s which can be either .45 or .429, and the .45 which is actually very close at .451.. unless it's a .457.

Confusing isn't it.

[Jim McArthur]

So a .31 is really .32, but a .32 is actually 308. But then again a 308 is 309 whereas a .303 is . 311. As we've already established a .36 is .38, but then again a .38 is really .357, unless of course its a .380 in which case it's .355. Then we have the .44s which can be either .45 or .429, and the .45 which is actually very close at .451.. unless it's a .457.

Confusing isn't it.

No, not at all!

Jim

[markH]

And what size is a .357????? Well .357 of course!!!!!

[harricook]

And what size is a .357????? Well .357 of course!!!!!

But you put .358 bullets through it


Roy

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