How to load a uberti 36 1851navy

sdeering

sdeering

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I just picked up one of these what size balls do I need. Looks like the cyl. measures at .372.
If anyone has some for sale let me know.
Will 2f work? What else? Patch, lube, primers?

Thanks
Stephen
 
I have one of those - nice guns. You will need .375" round balls which are available from Hornady. No patching - when you seat the ball it will fit tight enough to shave a thin ring of lead off the sides and seal the chamber. I wouldn't use 2f unless you have nothing else available and are anxious to shoot it. 3f is better. For lube, a smear of Wonder Lube/Bore Butter over each chamber mouth will keep the fouling soft. For caps, use No. 10.

First cap all 6 nipples and fire them off without powder to clear any oil or grease out and make sure the nipples are clear. Then bring it to half #### and put 20 grains of powder into the chamber nearest to the rammer (you can use as much as 25 but I find that the balls don't always seat completely below the chamber mouth). Set a ball on the chamber mouth and ram it down on top of the powder. I just leave the rammer in the chamber while charging the next one. When all 6 chambers are full, wipe some grease across each chamber mouth and then wipe the gun down with a rag to remove excess grease/fouling. Then cap all 6 nipples and you're ready to go.
 
Make sure the ball or bullet rests firmly on the powder with no air gap.
If you want to use reduced loads, use cornmeal as filler to make up the space to the ball.
I have used cornmeal with a reduced load and crisco as the over ball grease. Another shooter commented that the smoke smelled like "breakfast in hell"....
 
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Find an old wool felt hat, [try Goodwill or the Hospital auxilliary],buy or make a 3/8" wad cutter and punch out many wads. Soak half of them in lube[ Wonderlube, beeswax and olive oil or Crisco have all worked for me]load 20 grains of 3f, a dry wad then a greased one, then ram in your ball.Play with the powder charge, up and down, 2 grains at a time, and make a note of the result. Ideally, the charge should bring the ball to just barely under the mouth of the chamber, whether the powder has been reduced and partially replaced by cornmeal or not.This load will shoot clean and accurately all day in my Navy. Have fun!
 
cheetah_frodo said:
Find an old wool felt hat, [try Goodwill or the Hospital auxilliary],buy or make a 3/8" wad cutter and punch out many wads. Soak half of them in lube[ Wonderlube, beeswax and olive oil or Crisco have all worked for me]load 20 grains of 3f, a dry wad then a greased one, then ram in your ball.Play with the powder charge, up and down, 2 grains at a time, and make a note of the result. Ideally, the charge should bring the ball to just barely under the mouth of the chamber, whether the powder has been reduced and partially replaced by cornmeal or not.This load will shoot clean and accurately all day in my Navy. Have fun!

"Fabrici diem, pvnc!"
Click to expand...
 
1851display.jpg


I had an original Colt 1851. It loved 18gr FFF. Sights were bang on at 100m. Pretty slick rig for a 158yr BP Pistol.

They don't make guns like that anymore.
 
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