musket ball in a inline rifled barrel

[buffermop]

Trying to set a scope up for 50 cal musket ball shooting. I believe the lands are loading up with lead and results are like shooting a smoothbore. Boresighted for 25 yds and was on target up to 50 yds and sfter that WOW, not knowing where the projectile went.
Did not even touch the target at 75 yds. Should I stay with sabots?

[AndyHass]

I assume you patched the ball?  This should keep the barrel from leading up.

Inline barrels are twisted too fast to be accurate with balls.  I was able to shoot them ok out of a 1-48" with a reduced charge, but out of a 1-28" I don't see it happening.

[simonkenton]

The ball is skipping the rifling, because it is going too fast.
Try reducing the powder charge. Try 50 gr, 40 gr, 30 gr.
You should be able to make it shoot ok.

[Lane]

Just use a .440 Round Ball in a .430cal Harvester Sabot(Green).



Load it with 100-120grains of APP/Pinnacle powder and be pleasently surprised with 1inch groups at 80 yards  




120grains By Volume(BV) of Goex Pinnacle,  has an Actual Weight(AW) is about 111.5grains, as measured on my RCBS 505 balance beam reloading scales.

[buffermop]

Thanks Guys.........I have been using 110 gr of triple 7. I guess it is way to much of a charge. I will heed your advice and drop it down to 50 gr.

[Biff Mayhem]

Should I stay with sabots?

YES!!

But you can give it one last shot (no pun intended) using revolver round balls in .451 with a a black high pressure .451/.452 plastic sabot. Use the thickest sabot you can find in nearby stores.... ie... MMP regulars or Hornady/Knight. Those will take the heat of 777 powder and provide a nice snug fit.

Best place to buy those balls is at thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com

[dmurphy317]

Another option is to go to a thicker patch along with the lower powder charge. I shoot patched round ball in my 1:28 rifle using a .490 ball and a .020 patch and get acceptable accuracy up to around 70 or 80 grains of 777. Shoots under 2" at 50 to 75 yards if I do my part. With a .015 patch it was doing good to stay under 5" at 25 yards. 50 to 70 grains of 777 and a light weight ball would still be effective on deer to at least 75 yards if you get the load shooting well.

Good luck.

[simonkenton]

Good shooting Lane!
I had no idea you could shoot a round ball that fast, accurately, from a fast twist barrel.
I had to gear down to 45 gr. with my Savage. I was using the patched round ball. Your secret must be the sabot.
I might give that a try.

[AndyHass]

Never tried a sabot....might have to give that a try for sparrow season.