Colt Walker questions?

[jphendren]

I have read that when the Walker's were in use, Mexican War timeframe, that they fired a picked bullet, not a ball.  Is this true?  If so, does anybody know if they shoot as well as a ball?

Also, do Walker replica's generally shoot higher than POA at 25-50 yards?  If so, how high as a rule. 

Jared

[Shotgun Franklin]

I can only say that I've never heard or read of anything other than a ball fired in the Walker.

[jphendren]

Neat article I found on the subject:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/05/mike-cumpston/gun-review-the-walker-colt/

Jared

[Fingers McGee]

I have read that when the Walker's were in use, Mexican War timeframe, that they fired a picked bullet, not a ball.  Is this true?  If so, does anybody know if they shoot as well as a ball?

Also, do Walker replica's generally shoot higher than POA at 25-50 yards?  If so, how high as a rule.  

Jared

The Walker was designed to be used with a 220 grain conical bullet over a 50 grain powder charge.

As an aside, the millions of prepackaged paper, velum, and foil pistol cartridges used during the Civil War used conical bullets, not round balls.  

[Hoof Hearted]

Neat article I found on the subject:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/05/mike-cumpston/gun-review-the-walker-colt/

Jared

Very thought provoking post, Thank You!
Reagrds, HH-IRMOB3FMIM

[Jamie]

In the opening question, you refer to a "picked" bullet as the projectile in question.  Ned Roberts in his timeless tome "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle" refers to conicals as "picket" bullets or "sugar loaf" bullets.  I'm not trying to be a nit-picker or anything, but I suspect that's what you were referring to.  I haven't ever read about their historic use in the Walker, but I suspect that it would have been a bit risky putting a bullet weighing perhaps twice as much in a gun which was well known for it's propensity to blow up with round balls over maximum loads.  (Of course the conical would have used more room, making for lower powder charges, still...)  Just a thought.  On the other hand, maybe that's part of the reason for the ones that DID blow up?
Jamie