Accuracy?

[rdstrain49]

Stump, I have two smoothies but none as large as yours. I figure that since I'm not trying to engage rifling that I don't need or want a rifle tight fit. Just snug enough that the ball doesn't rattle around like a BB in a drain pipe.

Thanks to Dutch and his research, both of my smoothies are shooting better than ever.

 

[Dr5x]

Au Contraire Duncan MacReady o South Island new Zealand in a post on my web site claims being able to out shoot riflemen with his smoothbore using the tight fitting patch system I suggest for rifles.

I also heard something to the same effect from a group located in Southern Michigan.

A loose fitting patch would defeat its purpose by letting some of the powder's power bypass he patched ball.

Dutch

 

[rdstrain49]

I totally agree, however I do believe that a patch & ball can be too tight. Both of my smoothie bores have become amazingly accurate using your system, but they won't out shoot my rifle using the same information.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Agree totally. Have seen a few smoothbore fowlers capable of remarkable accuracy, though much is dependent on the shooter's ability to aim without a rear sight or with a semi-permanent rear sight installed. A tight ball/patch combo is certainly the ticket for good results...that and a moderate charge of powder.

 

[hanshi]

As I've mentioned in another thread, I've fired very good - for me - 3 shot groups at 50 yards; Haven't tried it any farther but plan to. My smoothbore has a rear sight so I can shoot it like a rifle. The prb combo is tight enough that a short starter is required but it seats easily. I once fired a 10 shot group with 8 shots in about 2.5" at 50 yds. The other two were fliers.

The load I now use is the same one I've killed deer with. I'm satisfied with 3 shot groups and the accuracy is, IMHO, excellent - again, for my shooting ability. I also like using an op wad to help seal the bore and to protect the patch. The velocity, IIRC, was between 1300 fps and 1400 fps.

 

[Artificer]

I was very pleased with the accuracy of my Brown Bess Carbine with a ball and tight patch and 70 grains of 2f powder.

The thing that gets me is I never thought about using a card, then lubricated wad over the powder and then the patched ball as Spence uses and gets good accuracy with. I had the cards and the old fiber wads that fit the bore well, because we also used bird shot in some of the Northwest Trade Gun matches, just never thought about trying them with a PRB.

Gus