Question about 1858 remington

[Kalashnikov]

I have an 1858 remington .44 revolver. I have had it for about a year and love it. The only problem is that I used to fire light loads out of it (about 20 grains) and never added any filler (i.e. cornmeal, oatmeal, etc...). My fear is that I might have damaged the cylinder to revolver by causing there to be an airgap inbetween to powder and the ball and thus buldging the cylinder somewhat and making it unsafe  to shoot. I looked inside each of the cylinders and they seeeem to be okay, but I can't just trust my naked eye to see any buldge because it might be too small to just see. I still shoot these loads now, but I add filler inbetween the powder and ball. So my question is is that in your opinions, do you think that it would be a good idea to buy a new cylinder, as my current one might be unsafe to shoot, or would my current one still be safe?? I am kind of paranoid about saftey and it annoys me sometimes but I guess it's better safe than sorry. Thank you.

[Flint]

If you had damaged the cylinder, or bulged it, you would know it.  You can sight down the outside, catch the reflections of the light and see a bulge, but the Remington cylinder is so close to the frame, a bulge would stop the rotation, and a detonating charge would have cracked something.  Most likely, a charge as light as 20 gr would still put the ball on top of the powder within the stroke of the loading lever.

If you worry about that and want to load 20 gr or less, get a cylinder loading tool, load off the gun, and you can be more sure of contacting the powder charge.  A Wonder Wad also fils up some chamber space.

[Kalashnikov]

Thanks for the reply. I felt that I might have contacted the powder but was not sure.

[ribbonstone]

IF yours is like the other repros. tried, with the rammer run in all the way on a .454" ball, it would be just about a zero air spaice...wouldn't be much compression, but no real airspace.  I'd up the charge to 25gr. if you intend to shoot without a filler, that would give you some compression and a little "cushion" for charging error.

[jeager106]

Me too thinks yer o.k.
I've run as high as 35 grains of T-7 in a Pietta s.s.
Do NOT try this in a Colt style without top strap or brass frame revolver.
In fact DO NOT try it at all.
Those loads pushed a r.b. at over 1100 f.p.s. and were the 'magnum' charges for the cap'n ball and the foolhardy.
I only did it becasue the Pietta was s.s. and new and I wasn't real bright at that.
35 grains of Swiss 3fg was nearly as strong.
Niether laod was accurate and caps literally vaporized without and trace and may have been what was stinging my hands arms and face. :eek:
Those loads really threw a huge blossoming fireball and mushroom clouds went at least 500 feet in the air.
The muzzle blast blew the pin feathers off'n the chickens, causing the corn in the farmers field to pop so much the cows thought it was a blizzard and froze clear to death! :shock:
That t'wernt sa bad but the blast knocked over 2 dozen prize yellow poplars one of which contined a hornets nest that smashed when it hit the ground sending hornets all over me.
ha! The next shot blasted the wings right off them hornets.
The last shot gimme a concusion and I layed on the ground for 3 whole days.
(man I ain't right am I?)

[Remington Kid]

jeager106, LOl, What in the world are you shooting? I shoot 40g of fffg and a little grease over the ball from my 1858 Rem .44 all the time and get no reaction like yours. Also 35g of 777 is equal to 40g. of fffg and does not hurt a thing in my revolver.
My hunting loads are 38g. fffg, a wonder wad and a .454 ball with a little grease over the ball. Never had any problems in many years.

Kalashnikov, A good target load for this gun is 30-35g of fffg, a wonder wad over the powder and a .454 ball with a little grease over the ball. If your using Pyrodex or 777 then cut it down to 25-30 g. and work a load up from there. It doesn't sound to me like you have hurt anything. Just use a wad over the powder and /or grease over the ball, Mike