Need some help

[Hoghead McLead]

Going to start shooting the dark side this year. Got lots and lots of questions.

Now here is the important questions. I am going to shoot BP and bought me a Pietta 1858 Remington 44 cal with a 8 in barrel. Got it cheap. Takes 2 men and a boy to cock it but I will get that fixed later. I am planing on using pellets to keep it simple (kiss) but dont know what type of pellets. I dont know the meaning of the F's on the black powder stuff. So I need some instructions on what type to buy for the 58. I am going to Cabelas later this week to pick up another 58, that way I got as pair to use.

What size round balls do I use? One I've seen is 451 other is 454 and then there is a 433. I know that when I seat the round ball I want some shaving to come off the ball. But what size? 454, 451  or what?

I am pretty sure I want to use #11 caps. I am right arnt I? Any brand better than the other? Also the nipples are pretty ratty on this handgun so what replacement nipples do you recomend?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Hoggy

Hoghead McLead 15628L

ps: I will ask about the mantianance and cleaning questions another time

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy, Hoghead!

Welcome!!  Good choice on the Remington.  If you must use pellets, use the Pyrodex 30 gr. pellets for 44 cal guns.  I think they're the ONLY pellets suitable for PISTOLS.  Many feel that 30 grs of Pyro is too stout, but NOt me - in Remingtons.  You'll want to use hot caps as Pyrodex is a bit tougher to ignite.  I've used CCI #11s, CCI #11Mags, and Remington #11s.  (The #11 signifies the size - #10s are slightly smaller.  You'll have to find what caps fit best on Your nipples.  Many will recommend getting TRESO nipples, and most of them are sized for #10 caps, but NOT all.  The TRESO cones (the old term for nipples) for MY Colt Dragoon fit #11 Remingtons best.  I didn't have consistent ignition with either size CCI brand caps.

The more "F"s means finer granulation of loose powder, but using a pellet it won't matter.  If you do buy loose powder, FFg (or 2f) will work fine, but 3f (FFFg) will work fine as well, but with slightly more power.  It's not a big deal in pistol caliber weapons or C&Bs.  Goex is often the most IN-expensive, and the pellets are usually the MOST expensive - by a factor of X3 or X4 around here! (Indianapolis)

I'd use .454" balls.  Usually, .454" is recommended for Remington and .452"/.452" for Colts, but "KISS" and use the 454" for any.  (You MAY decide to buy a Colt C&B repro someday! They're pretty cool, too.)

If your nips are "ratty" by all means get TRESOs.  Good people to do business with >>>> http://www.thunder-ridge.com/products.php?cat=69  CALL them; they can answer specific questions about which replacement nipple to buy WAY better than we can here, due to the individual gun characteristics and makes.  Cabellas also sells replacement nipples and I'd advise calling their people (on their 1-800 #) before you go to the store - the techs at the main warehouse are VERY knowledgeable and easy to talk to.  (I'd STILL recommend the TRESOs, however)

Hope this helps!

Keep yer Powder Dry! (Pellets, too!)

SHB

[Gun Creek Phil]

Welcome here !

With your 1858 you can try 454 round bullets, it could suits well for it.When you seat the ball in the cylinder you should have a llittle circle of lead going out.Got a friend at the shooting club who shots 454 with his Remington ans it works very well.
He often use RWS caps.

I shoot with a 1860 Army Colt, I will buy someday à Remington also.

[Wolfgang]

Hoghead McLead, . . I sent ya a reply to your e-mule befur i got over here. . . Good shootin', . . 

[Hoghead McLead]

Thanks for the helpfull advice guys. I am off to Cabellas tomorrow to shop. Sure hope their 58's arnt as hard to cock as the one I got already. Cant shoot em the way it is at the moment.

Thanks  Hoggy

[Flint]

Pietta mainsprings are MUCH stiffer than required to pop a cap, even the Uberti is too heavy, but you cannot trim the mainspring to be as light as a cartridge revolver and have it reliable with cap & ball.

The heavier mainspring helps keep the fired cap in place so it doesn't fall into the lockwork and tie up the gun, as well as more reliably firing the cap.

However, Pietta goes way past reasonable.  The mainspring is so strong it eventually damages the sear, I recently replaced a trigger for a pard that had the rear chipped off the sear, mainly because of the excessive pressure on it from the mainspring, luckily, the hammer's notch is still OK.  The lighter mainsprings available from VTI etc are too light for cap & ball, and are really useful more for conversions and 1875s.  Best to buy a few spare mainsprings before you grind on them, and when you go too far to fire the caps, cut the spare with enough meat to work and save the one that's too light for cartridges.