Remington Army replica

[Aragorn243]

I've been thinking about getting one of these for a while. A couple of friends started shooting them and with cartridges getting so expensive as their argument, they convinced me. The right confluence of events occurred over the weekend which allowed me to walk out of Cabelas with one without paying a cent for it. Coupon, sale, gift card and finally my points.

Took it out to shoot on Sunday and while the sun only allowed me time to get three experimental shots off with it I have a question. It's been said that you can't load too much black powder into one of these but when I put the recommended 30 grains in the ball seats in about a quarter inch. Now the max load says 33 grains but I can't imagine 3 grains making up that much difference in space.

It is a Pietta and I've read they are slightly larger than the originals so is that what is making up the difference?

Blast to shoot by the way and accurate. No problem hitting a six inch steel plate at 25 yards.

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Don't overstuff it! If you want to get the best accuracy out of it, something in the range 20-25gn of Swiss no.2 (FFFg) is going to be enough. Even 15 grains should boot the ball out of the barrel quite firmly. At least, that's how low I (very cautiously) started with my original. The extra length in the cylinder is taken up by a suitable filler (semolina, felt plug...) so that the bullet sits cleanly below the mouth of the chamber when it is firmly seated. A sixteenth is enough, a quarter-inch is inefficient.

It is a Pietta and I've read they are slightly larger than the originals so is that what is making up the difference?

Most likely. Modern replicas usually have a cylindrically bored chamber, and often take a slightly oversized bullet that is shaved of by the front edge of the cylinder when the ball is pressed in. Many original percussion revolvers had slightly tapered chambers - for use with paper cartridges - and the ball or cartridge was jammed into the taper. Not sure about the Remington, so to be sure - regardless of what the books may say - I'll check with my 1865 original and let you know how much fills the chamber.

[Patrick Chadwick]

... shows that my Remington has a slight taper in the chamber, of about 1/2mm. Thinking of practical production, this was probably easier to produce by sinking in a taper reamer or drill than a parallel hole would have been. In fact, I have some 1:48 taper drills that would produce such a hole much faster than drilling + finish reaming.

... and it takes a whopping 36 grains of Swiss No. 2 to fill the chamber up to the level of a seated 454 round ball.

So I reckon the Pietta is OK. But for the sake of accuracy, reduced powder consumption, and your wrist joint, I would avoid a "full load" and proceed as outlined in my previous post.

[Aragorn243]

My ball leaves a little ring of lead around it as it is pressed into the chamber. Cylinders do not appear to have a taper. I'll get some wadding. Thanks for the information. I need to find a bullet mold for it. I have a conical mold for my Walker but I don't think they advise using them in the Remingtons.

I may get the courage to shoot my original navy someday but not there yet. Hate to see something happen to it.

[TNGhost]

New here but a long time BP shooter. In fact I joined to be able to read info in this subforum.
Congrats on your aquisition, they are fun accurate and in case you haven't realized it yet, addictive.

Patrick is right on with the 20-25 gr suggestion. I have two Pietta .44 1858s, one brass and one steel frame and both shoot well with loads in that range. I know many use a filler of some sort but I've never worried about it and just use a "wonder wad" under the ball and a little grease on top to keep fouling soft and have always had good luck. I do try to keep the brasser to 20 grains FFFg out of deference to the softer metal.

The ring of lead left by the ball is a good thing and normal. It helps to prevent "chain fires" as do the wads and/or lube. I use .451 round balls, from a Lee mould, but I know others who go up to .454 to get a proper tight fit.

Hadn't heard about the size difference on the reproductions, that is interesting.

If you have not seen it already, a good BP reference is Sam Fadala's "Black Powder Handbook". It is older, but available.