Tricks to loading round ball in 44 Russian

[tokguy]

Good morning all. Thinking that finally helping a friend out with some 44 Webley is on deck for today.
He has a F & W bulldog. Straight cut cylinders...tapered bore, yeah you read that right. .429 > .405, yep...peculiar for sure.
Guessing PL is the ticket, I'm thinking the reduced bearing surface of a RB PL ball might work well here.
But how to stop the bullet 'jump' when he shoots?
My RB mold is .454...thinking the case will pare a ring to .429 ( Starline 44 R). Just Popeye the crimp ( only 44 R is a 310) and see what works?
I know about BP cartridges....but this is a touch different for sure.

 

[vagrantviking]

I've loaded round balls in cartridges, mostly single shots and very light loads in 9.4mm Dutch revolvers.

With that much taper I agree with using the softest lead you can find. Shaving the balls down while seating might work but I suspect that cases will get crushed or swell too much to fit. Run them through a .429" sizer first if you can. That also gives a little more bearing surface to work with while trying to get a crimp to work.

Do the 44Russian fit in the cylinder? If its made for a heeled 44 bullet I would want to see that the larger diameter of the case isn't too big beforehand.

 

[tokguy]

I've loaded round balls in cartridges, mostly single shots and very light loads in 9.4mm Dutch revolvers.

With that much taper I agree with using the softest lead you can find. Shaving the balls down while seating might work but I suspect that cases will get crushed or swell too much to fit. Run them through a .429" sizer first if you can. That also gives a little more bearing surface to work with while trying to get a crimp to work.

Do the 44Russian fit in the cylinder? If its made for a heeled 44 bullet I would want to see that the larger diameter of the case isn't too big beforehand.

44 Russian fit. Don't have sizer... but I do have a 0.429 mold... maybe I'll try it. Drill the front and back out a touch for some squishability to deal with that wonky bore

 

[rjf1963]

Good morning all. Thinking that finally helping a friend out with some 44 Webley is on deck for today.
He has a F & W bulldog. Straight cut cylinders...tapered bore, yeah you read that right. .429 > .405, yep...peculiar for sure.
Guessing PL is the ticket, I'm thinking the reduced bearing surface of a RB PL ball might work well here.
But how to stop the bullet 'jump' when he shoots?
My RB mold is .454...thinking the case will pare a ring to .429 ( Starline 44 R). Just Popeye the crimp ( only 44 R is a 310) and see what works?
I know about BP cartridges....but this is a touch different for sure.

Hey Tokguy, I have owned 2 Forehand and Wadsworth Bull-Dogs with the mystery tapered .405 barrel, I sleeved the .44 cylinders to accept 41 short colt with the hollow base bullets, it works great

 

[tokguy]

Hey Tokguy, I have owned 2 Forehand and Wadsworth Bull-Dogs with the mystery tapered .405 barrel, I sleeved the .44 cylinders to accept 41 short colt with the hollow base bullets, it works great

Thanks...I'll pass it on. Appreciate it...nice to gave someone do the "Yeah, man...I know too!"