Cap and ball revolver question

[Hatchdog]

For those of you with cap and ball revolver knowledge here is a question. I have a bunch of .315 round balls I picked up for a failed project (see reloading for the story) I have always been interested in experimenting with a cap and ball revolver and thought about getting one to use up these round balls I have on hand. In looking online at 31 caliber revolvers I’m seeing they use balls in the .322 - .325 diameter. Not that 31 cal cap and ball revolvers are a dime a dozen out there does anybody know of something I can get that will shoot the .315 balls I have? Not really interested in a muzzle loading rifle or pistol but a revolver would be fun.

[Mags]

For those of you with cap and ball revolver knowledge here is a question. I have a bunch of .315 round balls I picked up for a failed project (see reloading for the story) I have always been interested in experimenting with a cap and ball revolver and thought about getting one to use up these round balls I have on hand. In looking online at 31 caliber revolvers I’m seeing they use balls in the .322 - .325 diameter. Not that 31 cal cap and ball revolvers are a dime a dozen out there does anybody know of something I can get that will shoot the .315 balls I have? Not really interested in a muzzle loading rifle or pistol but a revolver would be fun.

How about these?

Common .31 Caliber Cap and Ball Revolvers:

Colt 1849 Pocket Model: A 5-shot or 6-shot revolver available in various barrel lengths, often with a stagecoach scene on the cylinder.
Uberti 1848 "Baby Dragoon": A pocket revolver with a forged steel frame, brass backstrap, and a 5-shot engraved cylinder.
Pietta 1863 Remington Pocket: A small cap-and-ball revolver, frequently used with .315 or .319 diameter balls.
North American Arms (NAA) Companion: A modern, tiny 5-shot .31 cap and ball mini-revolver.

Ammunition and Loading:

Ball Size: While the gun is often sold as ".31 caliber," a .315" diameter round ball is often recommended to ensure a tight fit (a "shaving" fit) when seating the ball, which provides a better seal against chain fires.
Other Options: In some instances, slightly larger .319" balls are required if the chambers are oversized, as reported by some users of the Pietta '63 Pocket.
Powder: These small revolvers are generally used for plinking and target practice with light black powder loads.

[Travlin]

Don't forget to put some sort of grease over the ends of the seated round balls. This does two things. First it prevents flash over or multiple chambers going off at once. Second it lubes the space between the forcing cone and the end of the cylinder to keep the black powder fouling to a minimum.I had one of the Colt second generation 1851 Navies and I never used wads over the powder I put in as much powder as I could and greased her up. I could shoot several cylinders without fouling being a problem and I never had a chain fire.

[Hatchdog]

Mags, thanks for the info. I’ve looked into the first three extensively and really like the 1849 Pocket Model. Unfortunately all three suggest ball diameters of .320 and bigger. I did read about a CVA imported 1849 that used .315 balls but CVA no longer imports it. As far as the NAA derringer I can only find it in 22 cal.

Travelin, that’s great info and in my reading I found many talking about this issue. Safety first always and do the right thing always.

I took a ride up to my LGS and brought my .315 balls and my calipers hoping they would have a 31 cal C&B revolver in stock for my to measure. No dice, only 44 calibers on hand. We did have a good laugh when I asked about a 31 cal C&B revolver and expressed fake surprise that it wasn’t a high volume firearm.

[Mags]

Mags, thanks for the info. I’ve looked into the first three extensively and really like the 1849 Pocket Model. Unfortunately all three suggest ball diameters of .320 and bigger. I did read about a CVA imported 1849 that used .315 balls but CVA no longer imports it. As far as the NAA derringer I can only find it in 22 cal.

Travelin, that’s great info and in my reading I found many talking about this issue. Safety first always and do the right thing always.

I took a ride up to my LGS and brought my .315 balls and my calipers hoping they would have a 31 cal C&B revolver in stock for my to measure. No dice, only 44 calibers on hand. We did have a good laugh when I asked about a 31 cal C&B revolver and expressed fake surprise that it wasn’t a high volume firearm.

More info. Note adding the patch adds to the size.

Specific Firearms that use .315 Balls

.32 Caliber Squirrel Rifles: Traditional-style rifles like the Traditions Crockett Rifle or the Pedersoli Kentucky Rifle frequently use .315" balls paired with a .010" or .015" lubricated patch.

.32 Caliber Single-Shot Pistols: Small-bore percussion or flintlock target pistols often use this size for precision shooting.
Custom "Small-Bore" Longrifles: Many custom-built American longrifles in .32 caliber are designed specifically for this ball size to achieve tight groups.

[Hatchdog]

That’s what I thought too, a .315 ball patched should shoot in a squirrel rifle great. I’m sure that’s what these balls are designed for.

I updated my post in the reloading section using 32 S&W long brass and had success with my one test shot. May be able to shoot up those balls after all. I still want to learn about C&B revolvers and may pick one up and use the proper diameter balls and have a BLAST!.