Patched ball

[Double D]

Okay guys, it's time to get serious...

You guys who shoot muzzleloaders regular, I need your expertise.

I have been shooting the SAMCC gun for about a year now using the club furnished ball and with felt wad.

The bore measures .460.  The club balls measures .455, I think I need a patched ball

I found some patch material the measures .013.  What size ball mould should look for and where can I get it?

Any better suggestions?

[Cat Whisperer]

Since I am not an expert in this, I'll toss this out in the form of questions:

Will not accuracy (and pressure, but not necessarily at the same time) be affected by how tightly the ball is patched?  Hence, what level or extent of 'tightness' is desirable?

Will not how clean the bore (add also smooth and lubricated) affect pressure and/or accuracy?

AND will not the texture/thickness of the fabric affect accuracy and pressure?

The answer is more or less yes, now for the real answers.   ....

[Will Bison]

A .434 would be tight but doable.

[lance]

how about .457 balls with no patch, but still use the felt wad.

[Double D]

The .458 balls weren't much better if better at all, tired them, they seem to through flyers

Any one got a .434 mold who would be willing to cast me some lead balls? 

I see Hornady sells a .433 swage. Any got one to measure and see what diameter they really are?

Lee sells a .433 mould.  Does anyone have one and can the tell me what diameter ball it throws wit pure lead?

I suppose I could look for cloth that is .014

[guardsgunner]

DD,
    Have you tried using a lubed ball. common practice among smoothbore shooters is to dip the bare ball being used in thier favorite stiff lube and loadit spure down.  50/50 beeswax mobil one works great. I shoot a .681 out of my S.B. with a .690 bore and it shoots very well.
   On the small stuff like this rifle rules apply as far a pressure's go. But it would be easier not to patch if you dont have to.
Bob
   
 

[Cpt Ed]

DD,

I shoot a Pedersoli LePage Pistol cal .44 in competition. Bore is 7 Lands - .440 & 7 grooves - .460.

I use a .433 round ball patched with a 100% cotton pre-lubed Wonder Patch designed for caliber’s .40-.49 and are  a thickness of .015.

SPEER round balls are .432-.433

Warren round balls are: .432-.435

Cpt Ed

[Rickk]

For a smoothbore, there is no place for the patch to hide. You need a bit looser fit with a smoothbore than a rifled barrel.

In my 50 cal target rifle I use .495's and .010 patches, but need a mallet to start the ball.

In my 56 caliber smoothbore hunting long gun I shoot .535's with a .015 patch. The ball is snug, but a mallet is not needed to get it in there.

For what it's worth, swaged balls typically run very close to the advertized diameter.... maybe +-.001 or less

[Double D]

The secrets out.  I have noticed that some of the others are using a mallet to seat bullets...coincidentally they are the better shooters...

[Rickk]

Yup, BP rifle target shooters all use a mallet. You will need a short starter to get the ball started, and then a longer one to finish the job. A bigger soft-blow hammer will abuse your rod less.

My short starter is nothing but a hardwood block with a dowel glued into a hole. You may want to put a second. longer dowel in there to finsih the job.