Required size ball for the ASM 1851 Navy

[Marshal Halloway]

Question from Don sent through our support page:

Hello, Have an issue hoping you can help me with.

Purchased long ago if memory correct & not knowing is purpose of question, 1851 Navy Colt .44cal. but to confirm, I can not locate anywhere on pistol A cal. marking & even removed trigger guard looking for it. From a proof determined manufactured 1986 & other than Naval script on cylinder, only info found on barrel under ram rod is " A.S.M-BLACK POWDER ONLY MADE IN ITALY" NO other markings or wording are located on barrel or frame.
 
just forward of trigger guard on bottom are few proof marks & Serial NO: A48527 and same info located in front of. basically info exist where frame of pistol & barrel assemble/mate up when fully assembled.

Hoping with your resources, you are able to learn what I haven't been with internet searches.   So trying to confirm what i actually have so able to use safely & purchase required size ball's to do so.

Thanks for any assistance your able to provide me.

[Cap'n Redneck]

If you have eyeballed the caliber of the revolver to be .44, then your choice of roundballs are .451" , .454" or .457".

I would try .454" roundballs first.  Then change up or down based on how hard it is to ram the roundballs into the chambers of the cylinder.

Ideally the chambermouths should shave a thin ring of lead off of the leadball as it is rammed home. 

If, on the other hand, the ASM 1851 Navy is in fact of "Navy caliber" (.36); then get .375" roundballs.
Should the storebought .375" roundballs prove to be a little too small then get the LEE .380" roundball mold.

[Coffinmaker]

PLUS ONE too Can-n-Redneck

Additional, I don't remember if ASM Nipples are of the same thread/pitch as Pietta or Uberti.  You may well wish to change the OEM nipples out for SlixShot.

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[Prairie Dawg]

ASM revolvers use the "New Italian Revolver" nipples Treso # 11-50-16 M5.5x9, same as Ubertis