.562 Round Ball

[Urban Coyote]

I finally got around to casting up a bunch of .562 balls to try in a .58 Green River Rifleworks Leman. Having not obtained the results I wanted, from memory, I thought I'd give this size ball a try.

I've used .570 and .575 balls in the .58 caliber guns I own, the GRRW mentioned, a T/C Big Boar and a short barrel .58 musket (Cook Bros Carbine replica I think). I'm curious about what size roundball others are shooting in .58 caliber guns and especially so those who use the .562 and what rifles they've found might favor it.

By the way, the Lee double cavity mold I used to cast these. 562 balls worked perfectly casting beautiful bullets without apparent flaws.

 

[hanshi]

I once had a Zouave that shot just fine with the .562" balls I cast from a Lyman mold. But this was quite a long time ago. I do not recall any problems connected with the use of a .562" prb. I no longer have the rifle but still have the mold.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I recently had some fun launching .562 balls out of a .56 SB Renegade. Charge was 80 grains of Pyrodex with a Bees Wax and Crisco lubed Durafelt wad over the powder and under a naked ball. Setting things off was CCI Musket Caps on a Musket Nipple. Actually shot pretty good a was a whole lot of fun on the cheap considering I have a lot of the home cast (with free lead) .562 balls, old $5/lb Pyrodex RS, home made wads and a lifetime supply (for me) of the Musket Caps.

 

[biliff]

I use .562 cast from the same double cavity Lee mold. Rifle is a flintlock with a D weight Colerain barrel. Patch is drill with spit for lube. I get 1 1/2" 50 yard groups and 3 1/2" 100 yd groups on a calm day. Loads easy enough (first round can be thumb started, subsequent rounds need a starter) and I don't need to wipe.

 

[Urban Coyote]

Sorry to report my first experience with the .562 ball was not particularly satisfactory. The .58 GRRW Leman was easy loading over a .020 spit lubed patch but accuracy wasn't as good as I recall using a .570 or .575 ball. I'll be refreshing my memory by trying the two large ball sizes again soon.

I still have a couple other guns to try the .562s in. After using the Lee mold I ordered both .530 and .535 versions for a couple other guns in .54.

 

[oldwood]

Last fall , I test fired a new Colerain C wt. 42" .58 ca.. Owner wanted a tang peep sight , too. Used Miked true .014 patch w/ minimum greased patch. .562 ball , 85 gr. FFg. 3 1/2" group at 60 yards from bench. Should be a killing gun for deer.

 

[Old Hawkeye]

It really depends on what your actual bore dimensions are, like any rifle! I have a H&R Springfield Stalker 58 cal that the manual recommends a .562" ball with a .013" lubed patch. I shoot it with a .015" patched (cause I couldn't find any .013" patches) lubed with mink oil & it shoots better than I can. My other 58 shoots good with a .570" ball & a .018" patch. I don't think anyone can recommend any particular diameter for YOUR rifle. Ya' just gotta shoot & see.

 

[Tasbay]

Both my CVA Mountain Rifle and Zoil Zauave shoot well with a .562 Wheel weight ball and Ticking patch with about 110 grains of homemade powder.

 

[jrice]

I use .562 cast from the same double cavity Lee mold. Rifle is a flintlock with a D weight Colerain barrel. Patch is drill with spit for lube. I get 1 1/2" 50 yard groups and 3 1/2" 100 yd groups on a calm day. Loads easy enough (first round can be thumb started, subsequent rounds need a starter) and I don't need to wipe.

biliff, what thickness is your drill? And where do you buy it? Thanks, Jerry

 

[Grenadier1758]

The drill I use is the #40 pocket drill cloth from JoAnn's Fabrics. It can be found in the utility cloth section with the tickings. The drill I use will measure loose at 0.018" after washing the sizing out and will lightly compress to 0.012" using a micrometer. I don't recommend overtightening the threads of a precision measuring tool. A digital Vernier caliper will give similar measurements. The difference is how you feel the material as you close the jaws and how hard you can press the jaws together.

If you get the pillow ticking, get the ticking from India. It's a tighter weave than the mattress ticking from China.

You can go on the JoAnn's web site to get a coupon for usually 40% off.