calibre coversion

[doc holliday]

I have recently bought a .36 calibre black powder revolver for my wife to use.
I want to cast my own lead balls but I dont know what size molds to buy, my 44bp old army uses .457, so what does a .36 use?

[Chuck Haggard]

I had a bud who used a .36cal Colt copy, he bought a bag of OOO and used those as bullets, worked for him.

[Drang]

Lee Double Cavity Round Ball Molds with Handles : Cabela's (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Shooting/Black-Powder/Black-Powder-Accessories|/pc/104792580/c/104701680/sc/104218380/Lee-Double-Cavity-Round-Ball-Molds-with-Handles/740962.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fblack-powder-accessories%2F_%2FN-1100207%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104218380%3FWTz_l%3DUnknown%253Bcat10 4792580%253Bcat104701680&WTz_l=Unknown%3Bcat104792580%3Bcat104701680%3Bcat1 04218380)

When loading a cap and ball revolver it is advisable to add the powder, then add an inert substance on top; most use farina.
Ideally, the ball will be slightly oversize, and then it is forced into the chamber it will leave a perfect (or nearly perfect) "o" of lead behind.
Many then top the loaded chamber off with crisco, but that's probably overkill if you're just shooting at the range.

[Malamute]

It can vary with different guns. Many use .375" balls, but some need .380" balls to get a good fit and seal in the chamber mouth. If the mouth of the chamber hasn't been chamfered (it's not done at the factory), its generally recommended that it should shave a ring of lead off when the ball is seated as was mentioned above.

Crisco is fine over the balls, it lubes the bullets and helps keep fouling soft. It's believed it reduces chain firing also, but fire getting in the nipple from poorly fitted caps is also highly suspect.

I've never used a filler in a percussion pistol, but I tend to load charges more towards the middle to full charge end of the spectrum. The felt wads available commercially are not bad for under the ball. They're supposed to eliminate the need to use Crisco. I believe in the old days, most were simply loaded dry, no wad, etc.