.45 patched ball size

[redkayak]

Just bought a used .45 flintlock long rifle on gunbroker .. since I will not have an users’ manual I was wondering which ball would be correct, the .440 or .445? Do I need to find a pair of calipers and take my best shot at measuring the bore/grooves? Can’t tell the make of the rifle, it says ”˜Kentuckian’ on the barrel.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The size ball required for best performance in any ml rifle is determined by which works best in a ball/patch combo. This can only be found by trial at a bench rest.
Suggest you buy, or cast, balls from pure lead in both .440" and .445" and try both with patchs varying in thickness from .015" to .020". These can be commercially made pre-cut or cut by yourself. The patches must be lubed with either a good commercial lube or one you have made yourself. Lubes are often a beeswax/oil mix or one of many others.
Stick around this forum and learn to do searches. There are many and frequent discussions on the very subject you asked about.

 

[hanshi]

I shoot .440" ball because I have a dbl cavity mold for that size. I get splendid accuracy with .024" patches. Sometimes I cast a few .445" balls from an old Lyman iron mold and can't tell any difference between the two. They both shoot well. You'll have to experiment a bit.

 

[Nessmuck56]

My 45 J.P.McCoy likes the 495 ball....I bought a 451 mould for it ......but I miss placed it and I am not a happy camper !!!

 

[Hierophant]

I don't have a ton of experience with my .45 flintlock yet, but have been shooting Hornady .440 round balls with a .015 patch. Accuracy is ok, but I'm thinking I might try a slightly thicker patch and see if it gets better.

 

[Billnpatti]

I agree with Rifleman1776 in his choices of ball diameters and patch thicknesses. Let me recommend plain old spit for lubing your patches when target shooting. It is cheap and works wonderfully. As I am shooting one load, I have the patch for the next shot in my mouth. When I am ready to load, the patch is wet with spit. Just wet, not dribbling slobbers. However, as good as spit is for target shooting, you want a natural oil, but, not a petroleum product, for your patch lube when hunting. This is because over time, spit will dry out and may even dampen your powder. When target shooting, you are not sitting and waiting for a shot, you are shooting fast enough that this is not a problem. Some disagree on the "no petroleum" idea but that is what I recommend.

Another recommendation is that you purchase a copy of Dutch Schoultz' accuracy system www.blackpowderrifleaccuracy.com. It will be the best investment of $20 you can make in muzzleloading. It will provide you with a lifetime of accuracy from any muzzleloading rifle you ever buy. Follow his directions exactly and you will be getting amazing accuracy from your rifle. Dutch's "secrets" are worth far more than the $20 he charges for his system.

 

[410-er]

I have 45's that like .440,.445,and one that like a .451.Powder charges from 50grs to 70grs.
Try different combos.Sometime you hit it with the 1st try and other time its the last.