Two questions about lead balls

[carmy53]

Question # 1 - I just received some .735" cast lead balls. They all have a flat spot on them from the casting. Is this an issue if I shoot them using a .75 caliber cannon?
Question # 2 - Are .440 lead balls too small to use in a .50 cannon? Even if patched?
Thanks in advance for the info

[armorer77]

490" is a more common size . A thicker patch should render these usable . A flat spot is normal , cut off sprue . If it slides down the bore you should be fine . Ed

[carmy53]

490" is a more common size . A thicker patch should render these usable . A flat spot is normal , cut off sprue . If it slides down the bore you should be fine . Ed

Thanks Ed. I have a bunch of .440 balls and was hoping I wouldn't have to buy a new size.

[mcwoodduck]

440 Balls are for 45 caliber rifles and pistols.
The patches are about .10 to .15 in thickness.  I guess you could tripple patch the round to make it work and be accurate.  But I would not do it wiht one of my rifles unless starving.  The poatch holds the bullet against the rifleing.  Recovered balls do not have rifleing in them but an inprint of the patch fabric.
44 caliber revolvers use balls ,451 to .457.  Go figure why a 44 uses 451 and a 45 uses 440 but best not to over think it.
The 50 uses a 490 ball.  54 uses 530 ball and 58 uses a 577 ball.
 

[carmy53]

440 Balls are for 45 caliber rifles and pistols.
The patches are about .10 to .15 in thickness.  I guess you could tripple patch the round to make it work and be accurate.  But I would not do it wiht one of my rifles unless starving.  The poatch holds the bullet against the rifleing.  Recovered balls do not have rifleing in them but an inprint of the patch fabric.
44 caliber revolvers use balls ,451 to .457.  Go figure why a 44 uses 451 and a 45 uses 440 but best not to over think it.
The 50 uses a 490 ball.  54 uses 530 ball and 58 uses a 577 ball.

I'm just being cheap here. I have more .440 balls than I will ever use and plenty of patches so I just wanted to know if I could use the .440 without damaging the barrel. Accuracy is not an issue with me.

[mcwoodduck]

440 Balls are for 45 caliber rifles and pistols.
The patches are about .10 to .15 in thickness.  I guess you could tripple patch the round to make it work and be accurate.  But I would not do it wiht one of my rifles unless starving.  The poatch holds the bullet against the rifleing.  Recovered balls do not have rifleing in them but an inprint of the patch fabric.
44 caliber revolvers use balls ,451 to .457.  Go figure why a 44 uses 451 and a 45 uses 440 but best not to over think it.
The 50 uses a 490 ball.  54 uses 530 ball and 58 uses a 577 ball.

I'm just being cheap here. I have more .440 balls than I will ever use and plenty of patches so I just wanted to know if I could use the .440 without damaging the barrel. Accuracy is not an issue with me.

Find a load for 45 rifles rather than the 64 grain of pyrodex or 80 of black wiht a round ball for the 50.  the 50 ball is about 180 grains in weight and the 440 is, if I remember right about 120 to 125 grains.

[carmy53]

440 Balls are for 45 caliber rifles and pistols.
The patches are about .10 to .15 in thickness.  I guess you could tripple patch the round to make it work and be accurate.  But I would not do it wiht one of my rifles unless starving.  The poatch holds the bullet against the rifleing.  Recovered balls do not have rifleing in them but an inprint of the patch fabric.
44 caliber revolvers use balls ,451 to .457.  Go figure why a 44 uses 451 and a 45 uses 440 but best not to over think it.
The 50 uses a 490 ball.  54 uses 530 ball and 58 uses a 577 ball.

I'm just being cheap here. I have more .440 balls than I will ever use and plenty of patches so I just wanted to know if I could use the .440 without damaging the barrel. Accuracy is not an issue with me.

Find a load for 45 rifles rather than the 64 grain of pyrodex or 80 of black wiht a round ball for the 50.  the 50 ball is about 180 grains in weight and the 440 is, if I remember right about 120 to 125 grains.

If I do use the .440 balls I will work my way up from a small load until I find the amount.

[IvarForkbeard]

440 Balls are for 45 caliber rifles and pistols.
The patches are about .10 to .15 in thickness.  I guess you could tripple patch the round to make it work and be accurate.  But I would not do it wiht one of my rifles unless starving.  The poatch holds the bullet against the rifleing.  Recovered balls do not have rifleing in them but an inprint of the patch fabric.
44 caliber revolvers use balls ,451 to .457.  Go figure why a 44 uses 451 and a 45 uses 440 but best not to over think it.
The 50 uses a 490 ball.  54 uses 530 ball and 58 uses a 577 ball.

The difference of under sized balls for single shot pistols and over sized for revolvers is the loading system. In a single shot, you patch and ram, in a revolver, you have a lever that actually presses the ball into the cylinder, form fitting the ball, trimming a bit of lead along the way, causing your airtight seal.

Tower Naval Pistol

1848 Colt, note the loading lever.

[Mike H.]

Make a barrel to fit the readily available ammo. 29/64 should work nicely.

[armorer77]

It's a smooth bore . Rifling is not the issue . Sealing is .

[Double D]

[
I'm just being cheap here. I have more .440 balls than I will ever use and plenty of patches so I just wanted to know if I could use the .440 without damaging the barrel. Accuracy is not an issue with me.

Well here's what you do then...contact our sponsors and have them build you a gun to fit the balls.  More than once in my life I have justified buying a new gun because I had brass for it..

[Tod0987]

I have some .735 made for the Brown Bess ($10 for 25) that I shoot out of my .75 cannon. I had the same flat casting spur on them and I would just take a rough file and kiss it a few times and made sure it rolled down the barrel. I'm not going for pinpoint accuracy so I have never patched, just made sure it wouldn't get hung up. If I were to patch it I would probably spend more time making sure the spur is completely hemispherical.

[carmy53]

[
I'm just being cheap here. I have more .440 balls than I will ever use and plenty of patches so I just wanted to know if I could use the .440 without damaging the barrel. Accuracy is not an issue with me.

Well here's what you do then...contact our sponsors and have them build you a gun to fit the balls.  More than once in my life I have justified buying a new gun because I had brass for it..

Double D, just in the last few weeks I have bought 3 guns from one sponsor and have another sponsor doing some repair/refurb work for me.
I think for right now I'll go with buying the balls to fit the gun rather than buying another gun to fit the balls.
 

[little seacoast]

Where are ya'll finding the 0.735 balls? I have a Dom Dahlgren that needs some. Been thinking about a mold if anyone knows where to find one reasonably priced. Thanks, LS

[Tod0987]

Where are ya'll finding the 0.735 balls? I have a Dom Dahlgren that needs some. Been thinking about a mold if anyone knows where to find one reasonably priced. Thanks, LS

I'm sure based on reading other posts that one could be made for you check out the sponsors. I think Ed, Armor77 might be the guy to see, could be wong. Someone aught to chime in and correct me or give other names in the mould making biz.
 
As far as pre-cast balls, I Think it was a site track-of-the-wolf is where I bought them. I stocked up when I recieved Dom's sawyer barrel so I didn't bookmark.  It had a lot for BP shooting.
 

[Cat Whisperer]

Where are ya'll finding the 0.735 balls? I have a Dom Dahlgren that needs some. Been thinking about a mold if anyone knows where to find one reasonably priced. Thanks, LS

I have a mould that is right at .735" diameter.   You're welcome to borrow it.

[armorer77]

.735 is a size I make , I have 1 in stock now . $55 shipping included . Ed