Shout Out to Forth Armoury

So, I've bought a number of paper cartridges formers from Steve at Forth Armoury in the past. Love his YT videos and products.

This past weekend I bought an 1842 Springfield smoothbore at the N-SSA Nationals so I can start shooting it in competition. In anticipation of that purchase I ordered the new Eras Gone .678 RB mold and a Vortex Ball Roller from Forth Armory for roughing up RB using my drill press (as opposed to using files).

This morning I cast a couple hundred balls. This afternoon I tried out the Vortex. Man does it work great and it's really easy to mount and use. Less that 10 seconds per ball. Result as shown in picture. For $55 shipped, this thing is well built and will work for a long time. Highly recommend.

tjiann said:

So, I've bought a number of paper cartridges formers from Steve at Forth Armoury in the past. Love his YT videos and products.

This past weekend I bought an 1842 Springfield smoothbore at the N-SSA Nationals so I can start shooting it in competition. In anticipation of that purchase I ordered the new Eras Gone .678 RB mold and a Vortex Ball Roller from Forth Armory for roughing up RB using my drill press (as opposed to using files).

This morning I cast a couple hundred balls. This afternoon I tried out the Vortex. Man does it work great and it's really easy to mount and use. Less that 10 seconds per ball. Result as shown in picture. For $55 shipped, this thing is well built and will work for a long time. Highly recommend.

Click to expand...

I’ve seen you tube vids on chewed ball. Some seem to love them, some can’t find a difference
How have you found them?

tenngun said:

I’ve seen you tube vids on chewed ball. Some seem to love them, some can’t find a difference
How have you found them?

Click to expand...

This will be my first time shooting them. I know all the N-SSA competitors use them roughed up. I think it's kind of the same principle as the dimples on golf balls.

Interesting gizmo, if you're a serious shooter of smoothbores I guess it helps.

What I have found is that if you believe it helps, then it helps. The mental aspect is very important when trying to achieve success.

tjiann said:

This will be my first time shooting them. I know all the N-SSA competitors use them roughed up. I think it's kind of the same principle as the dimples on golf balls.

Click to expand...

Not all by a long shot, but it is a popular and effective technique!

tjiann said:

So, I've bought a number of paper cartridges formers from Steve at Forth Armoury in the past. Love his YT videos and products.

This past weekend I bought an 1842 Springfield smoothbore at the N-SSA Nationals so I can start shooting it in competition. In anticipation of that purchase I ordered the new Eras Gone .678 RB mold and a Vortex Ball Roller from Forth Armory for roughing up RB using my drill press (as opposed to using files).

This morning I cast a couple hundred balls. This afternoon I tried out the Vortex. Man does it work great and it's really easy to mount and use. Less that 10 seconds per ball. Result as shown in picture. For $55 shipped, this thing is well built and will work for a long time. Highly recommend.

Click to expand...

I’m assuming the ones that looked “chewed” are the after effect.
Does this rig make the balls more rounded ?
A video of the contraption in progress would help.

I would like to see these tested for accuracy in a smooth bore and a rifle. Might be educational.

i doubt it will round up a already OOR ball

The dimpling grows the diameter of the ball about .01". But unlike a ball .01" bigger, it is covered with little lead bumps that will wipe away on loading while still giving an interference fit, even as the barrel fouls up.

My balls are such a tight fit that they will often create an "air piston" effect and push the ramrod back up out of the barrel while loading. In addition to dimpling, I double-coat my balls with Lee Alox. This is another windage eater but also covers all the pits on the ball so kind of eliminates the idea of aerodynamics.

If you don't have an interference fit in your bore after dimpling the dimpling probably is not doing much for you.

However, the ball roller does generally obliterate the cut-off from the sprue.