2-ball load

[stalkerhawk]

I'm sure this has been asked before,but can you shoot 2-balls out of a .62 cal smooth bore? How would you load it would you patch both PRB's or only one.how will that effect accuracy? :hmm:

 

[roundball]

No reason why not...a pair of 325grn balls would be a hefty 650grn payload but a standard .58cal conical weighs 525grns, and I've seen 900grn .62cal conical moulds advertised.

I've shot double balls from a .45 and a .50...patched each one as I did.

And have shot 3-180grn .50cal balls in a paper shot cup out of a .62cal which is 540grns...recoil didn't seem any big deal.

If I shot a pair of .600s I'd patch each one and probably put and Oxyoke wonderedwad between them.

 

[Blizzard of '93]

Can't say about your .62 but I have shot 2-ball loads out of my .50, little more recoil. Past .25 yards the spread becomes a factor. mostly a close-range load Old-Timers called it 'loaded fer bear' since they used dogs to tree/corner bears. Still do actually and I know a fellow carrys a .45 capper loaded like that. and others carry BP revolvers (including me)

 

[Todd Rickard]

Roughly the same weight as 1.5 ounces of shot. Sould be no sweat if your gun is of good quality.

 

[CrackStock]

I also shoot a .62 smoothbore and find it the best all around gun to own. Anything from tree rats to bears can be taken.

As to double ball loads, you can try this and might even keep two balls fairly close to each other, but my question is why? A single .600 ball will take down anything on the continent, so what will a double ball load do for you?

CS

 

[stalkerhawk]

I've got a GM .62 cal drop in barrel on a T/C hawken stock.As to why the double load? I'm just curious about what I can actually do with my smoothbore with out getting hurt.This is my first smoothbore as well as being my first flint lock.Have'nt shot it yet but when I get a chance I'll have allot to play around with.

 

[renovato]

Hawk, that's the best reason of all. This hobby is all about fun and tinkering is fun.

 

[roundball]

"...I've got a GM .62 cal drop in barrel on a T/C hawken stock..."

I have the same...FYI...GM .62cals are actually bored to .610, not .620.
Best PRB combo I settled on was a .600 ball and .018" pillow ticking patch...snug and very accurate.

Best quality & price cast balls I've found are from this individual in Georgia...he sells at Friendship every year and sells to Dixie....last fall my 600s were $8/100.

If you can, order plenty even in different calibers because he'll use a flat rate priority shipping carton for $8.40 regardles of the weight, so load it up while you're doing it...spread out the shipping costs/box, etc.

Eddie May Round Balls
159 Ridley Rd.
Chatsworth, GA. 30705
706-581-8225
"Best Quality Round Balls, Minnie, Rifle Bullets and Modern Cast Bullets...Please Call or Write to place Order"

 

[tg]

"but my question is why? "

I would offer that it gives a bit better stopping power, that is why I worked up a close range buck and ball load 10 yds, for working the edge of heavy cover at dusk, the extra lead may just knock the animal down and prevent a trailing job, this stopping effect is good for game even when it is not dangerous, but the double ball or buck and ball is usually a very range specific load, and this must be recognized else a wounded animal may be the results.

 

[Bountyhunter]

Just for the sake of conversation, remember that double balling a gun does not make it shoot the same as a single ball of double the weight. Putting two 325 grain balls down the tube does not give you the same energy/stopping power as a single 650. It gives you the same energy/stopping power as two-325 grain balls.

 

[tg]

Yeah... if two people shoot a deer up close with their .62 guns vs one person shooting a deer at the same range the odds would favour the two balls for dropping the deer quicker. Like if seven buck shot were fired and from one gun only one hit the deer and the other all seven hit in a pie plate zone the multi shot group would have a better chance of making a kill and quicker.

 

[Many Klatch]

At 25 yards with your normal powder charge. You will get one ball at your point of aim and the other will be about 1 or 2 inches below it. I haven't tried it at any distance beyond it.

It can be real handy to know if you get in a shooting match where they tell you to put as many ball as you can get in a target in one minute. I got 5 ball in my target. Started with one in the bore, fired and then reloaded with two bare balls over a standard powder charge twice in 60 seconds. The range office was really surprised.

Many Klatch

 

[Wes/Tex]

Multiple ball loads are perfectly possible from a fowler if the powdeer loads aren't increased. As you can see, tg uses a multi ball load but keeps the range short. Remember that a double ball load will flatten the sides of both balls where they touch and will effect any type of long distance group.

 

[stalkerhawk]

thanks for all the info.now i need to get out sight in and try some buck and ball loads as well as double ball loads.it's funny I went from 1 BP gun to 14 BP guns in the last 6 months.i have allot of work to do. :hatsoff: :v

 

[faw3]

Real good reason to load 2 or 3 62s (and again A better knon meember than I has done 5) is a team stake bust..... :rotf: It works Fred :hatsoff:

 

[Todd Rickard]

Just remember the more lead you push with a given powder charge will result in lower velocity, and therefor reduced penetration. I shot a multiple ball load at the backstop @ 100 yards and one of the balls failed to penetrate a pine 2X4.

 

[faw3]

Correct ! but when shootung a stake bust with guys shooting at stakes you do what you can.... :grin: Fred :hatsoff:

 

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have tried the two ball thing with a .50 rifle. It works, and it's fun to play with, but be careful if you use two patched balls. As you load the second one, you will get a buildup of air pressure between the two balls, and if you're not careful to seat the second ball firmly on top of the first, you can ring your barrel.