balls with voids

[M. De Land]

Any one ever accuracy tested flawed balls to see if they really produce fliers? Wonder if this is another of those things that gets passed along with no real backing to its validity?
I once read a thread of a fella that purposely kept his reject cast black powder cartridge bullets and shot them into groups that were nearly as good as his best keeper bullets. He did say weight variance had little to do with accuracy to a 100 yards or so but if the bases were messed up this would pitch them of into the ether.
The weight variance did show up at extended ranges though, in the vertical, which makes sence.. Mike D.

 

[roundball]

Not an authority...and its only been 50yds...but I've posted my own experiences over the years about seeing zero difference in even using grotesquely marred balls after they've been pulled with a large screw ball puller like these.

I pull them after every hunt and use them at the range after the season's over and they just find they way into the bullseye same as if they were new. Now it might be because I have these loaded "hole up" compared to a random void.

Also, there might be a slight difference at 100yds, dunno...but remembering the whole design purpose of rifling twist, I suspect as long as good stout powder charges were being used (as I use) to keep them under a good head of steam for a long way I'd be surprised if the variation is anything to speak of...just my .02 cents.

 

[biliff]

Did a 50 yd. test with my .58 flintlock. 10 shots with selected ball that weighed 270 gr +/- 1 grain vs the rejects.

1 1/2" group with the good stuff. 2 1/2" group with the rejects.

Enough of a difference to use selected ball for stuff that counts. Rejects were good enough for practice vice remelting.

 

[necchi]

For paper punchers searching for tie breaking X shot's, it makes a difference.
But a lot of other detail about the load and technique goes into that kind of shooting too.
Some guy's are happy calling this a one hole group;

Others like 5 shot one hole groups like this;

Attention to detail matters to some folks.

 

[roundball]

To correct the intentional alteration and misuse of one of my photos, I'll post the full correct version below.

As indicated on my target below which member necci intentionally altered, it is a collection of results experimenting with several different patch thicknesses using lead alternative projectiles on the same target.

 

[410-er]

Some say it does,others say not.I'm not taking a chance and remelting everything not within 1 gr.

 

[necchi]

I don't have any targets with holes that large.
The Center was used as an example of what some call a "One Hole" target.
I found the photo posted openly on the www in public domain.
I'm pretty sure discussion of alternative projectiles is ah, um, something not spoken of here? :redface:

 

[roundball]

I found the photo posted openly on the www in public domain.

And I'll correct another incorrect post from necci.
This is how my photo exists on the WWW:

 

[George T.]

When I first started casting I was using a Lyman mold in .495 and lead that was very nearly pure. I was getting small groups for moat but about every third shot was a flier. One about 1 1/2 inch out of the group. A tool maker in our club took 6 on the balls that I had cast. He sawed them in two. Two of them had pretty large voids so I became a ball sorter by weight. I averaged 20% recast even when I became better at casting. As for how much out of the group I feel that the larger the void is and how far from center they are determines how far out it goes. For matches I even weigh factory swaged balls. I weigh hunting balls as well because the game is far more important than a paper target. Geo. T.

 

[Billnpatti]

For casual matches, I don't bother to weigh my balls. I did that for a while but I am not good enough for it to make any difference. But, when I shot in matches at Friendship, I weighed every ball and used only the ones that were within 1 grain. I didn't win any of those matches either but I went there planning to bring home the gold. Oh well, it's all about having fun anyway.