Author Topic: .36 Navy mold size? (Read 599 times)

Wynn · « **on:** March 06, 2005, 02:11:56 AM »

What is the recomended ball size for a 1851 Navy by Pietta? I want to order a mold. Thanks!

ribbonstone · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2005, 03:38:07 AM »

.375 is pretty standard....in fact, unile the 44's, it's hard to find a ball mold offered in anything but .375. Seems they jump from .360 (too small,,and for .36cal. rifles) to .390 (way to big..for .40cal rifles).

Shorty · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2005, 10:21:40 AM »

I use a .376 RB mould. It's a scissors type that I got from Dixie 38 years ago. I ground it flat on top and added a sprue cutter. Of course, now-a-days, you can't beat a Lee.

Flint · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2005, 10:15:44 AM »

I found the best ball size for 36 Navies is .380, which should be available from mold makers. I usually buy the balls from warrenmuzzleloading.com, which are very fine and sprueless. I found 375 balls to be too small for most Navies.

Will52100 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2005, 08:41:00 PM »

I'm with Flint, .380 is about right. Works great in my Pieta's, but my Uberti's it's almoust too small, a .385 would be better, but .380 works well enough.

I got a pair of two cavity moulds from Lee and they work great. The sprue cutter leaves only a flat spot, no nib.