loading information for .44 colt revolving rifle repro by Italian Palmetto

[AAca]

Newbie Here,

I just joined as I was finally able to acquire one of the scarce Colt Root Revolving Rifle replicas by Palmetto. It is in .44 caliber but I know little else as Palmetto is long gone.

The gun is in stellar condition and appears well built. It has a Malcolm scope replica attached.

I can hardly wait to shoot it but am looking for guidance on correct loading procedure.

I am not new to black powder or percussion arms. I know the basics but I am a very cautious person and want to do things right.

I know about the importance of safety glasses and hand placement with these rifles.

What I am looking for is more in depth information on loading as apparently Palmetto shipped these with no paperwork.

I would greatly appreciate anybody with actual hands on knowledge with revolving rifles to advise me on conical verses round ammo. Recommended exact caliber. Proper grease and wad usage and black powder type and charge in grains. Also if anyone knows rifling twist it would be appreciated. I will slug
the barrel at some point but want to see what info is out there first.

Also a big plus would be tech specs to form a clean burning paper cartridge.

hope to post some pics soon.

[Dave Fox]

Check YouTube. There are tutorial videos.

[U.S.M.R.]

  The information I got with mine called for 40grs. of powder, 44 wad and a .454 round ball.  I used the Lee .454 hollow base mould.  The original carbine load was a 250 gr. bullet and 35 grs. of powder.  Also I replaced the original nipples with ones for musket caps.

[AAca]

thank you
These are the kind of tips I am looking for.

Do you use dry wads or do you use some kind of lube?

[U.S.M.R.]

  I use Ox Lube wads for the round ball, Crisco with a little beeswax mixed in for the grooves of the minie ball.

[U.S.M.R.]

 Digging through my books I found that the bullet for the Dragoon revolver was 32 to the pound (220 grs.)  The bullet for the revolving Rifle was 28 to the pound (250 grs.) It was a heeled  sugarloaf bullet, they were both shaped the same, with the rifle bullet a little longer. Eras gone by makes a mould for the Dragoon, this probably as close as you will get.

[AAca]

Thank you for all your help.

Would you know where I could find a nipple wrench that would work?
My gun still has the original nipples with the square base and narrow access.

thank you

[U.S.M.R.]

Musket nipple wrench. 

[Cap'n Redneck]

I'd like to recommend this thread, if You haven't already found it.
The Palmetto M/1855 Root needs some gunsmithing to work at it's best, as do most things Italian...

https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,16804.msg453981.html#msg453981