I was at the range last year next to a guy shooting what he called "fuzzy balls". He was shooting .62 cal. balls with no patch, but he told me he always roughs up the balls with a rasp so that they will fit tighter in the bore. That's the way he always shoots them, and his accuracy at 50 yds. was pretty good.
Bare Ball Shooting Smooth Bore
- Thread starter Archer 756
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I was at a shoot where a few of us were using smoothbores. We were shooting paper targets and about 25 yards. Although it was a rifle shoot, at that range we were holding our own. Part way through the shoot I ran our of patches and started dropping straight ball, just to finish out the match. Funny thing was that I didn't do any worse.
hanshi
Cannon
Since I no longer have to worry about redcoats attacking, no offense Nate, I prefer a patched ball. They're more accurate than my fair, but less accurate, bare ball loads. Slow doesn't bother me.
I like to shoot paper cartridges. I get decent accuracy at 50 yds. and they are quick to reload, if I need a second shot.
Squarebore
36 Cl.
Good morning reebuck, I have a Pedersoli 10 double with the choke tubes also, but have no idea whos tubes fit it. A friend gave me a Browning invector but it did not screw in. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Fall turkey is coming up here in south FL. and I would like to use the double Thanks much.
WOW!! that is truly an amazing group, and it would out shine a lot if rifles!!If bare ball means shooting without a patch, this may qualify. I load my smooth bore the same way with ball as I do shot.. 85g 2f powder, a .125 card over powder, a cushion wad, ball and 2 over shot cards to hold ball in place. I got this from an article "Round Ball in a Smoothbore"by Jim Colburn. I've only tried it at 25 yds. but it worked well. 9 shots off hand.
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Run a wad down the bore, then a ball and then a top wad. Note the feel of the wad and note how much rod you have sticking out of the bore, even mark it, turn gun muzzle down and give it a few shakes and hard jars. Flip it over run a rammer down. Does your wad feel solid? Are you where you were on the rod . If you have a good top wad no worries your shot is as tight as a PRB.
Archer 756
40 Cal.
To all please read what BARE BALL shooting smooth bore is, it is not shooting with a patch or wad. IT is BARE BALL. N-SSA rules are CLEAR 
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Brokennock
Cannon
Maybe some aren't concerned with N-SSA rules. Seems any load without something around the ball could be considered a "bare" ball. Doesn't make people dopes who don't comply with those rules.To all please read what BARE BALL shooting smooth bore is, it is not shooting with a patch or wad N-SSA rules are CLEAR
Archer 756
40 Cal.
No that is not what I am saying BARE BALL SHOOTING is not with wad or patch as some seem to talk about BARE BALL !
Brokennock
Cannon
I know it is not what you are saying. I'm saying some of us don't care what the N-SSA rules define it as. Most people consider it bare ball if no patch or paper cartridge is used. If nothing is wrapped around the ball, it would seem pretty bare.No that is not what I am saying BARE BALL SHOOTING is not with wad or patch as some seem to talk about BARE BALL !
Never been to an NSSA match. Do they shoot a cartridge or loose powder and ball right at bore size?
Archer 756
40 Cal.
Yes ball should be tight fitting in bore. there are molds that can be made for correct ball size if one can not get any from Lee or Lyman
Do they shoot with loose powder?
Archer 756
40 Cal.
YES
hanshi
Cannon
Well, I can't really disparage bare ball loads since I've fired plenty of them. This target has 8 shots using 3 different loads that are more than field worthy to say the least. The combined group is still barely over 5" at 50 yards.
I've tried that method with a bore sized .618" RB that I cast, which raised the diameter to .619". I.e., it was tight enough so that no wads at all were needed. However, it performed worse than any load I tested @ 25 yd. (balls were dipped in beeswax - olive oil lube; bore was swabbed after each shot). I suspect the accuracy you get depends largely on the gun and the shooter's skill, but my gun just didn't like 'em.
So tell me how you load in these matches.
Powder in a flask?
Are you timed?
What sort of ranges do you shoot at
Do you use rear sight
Archer 756
40 Cal.
Tenngun, if you where to load from flask one would be asked to leave range. Loading from ones flask is one rule that ALL should know is not to be done! I don't shoot any shooting events Shoot out to fifty yards and can shoot 3 inch group Don't have any rear sights Have been to matches and watch shooters shoot hole to hole at fifty yards. 
