Best Diameter Ball For .62

[PeteDavis]

.600, .605, 610. (???)

Fire away.

PD

 

[roundball]

I can only tell you what has worked best for me that I settled on.
A .020" under bore size ball and .020"-.022" patch.

When I used GM barrels that actually had .610" bores, .590" balls worked best.
My current Rice barrel is a true .620" and .600" balls work best.
(each with the .020"-.022" patch)

 

[Spikebuck]

Smoothie or Rifled?

I find a .600 with a .022 patch works best in my smoothie. This gun mic's .620 and I'm sure I am compressing the patch a bit more when I whack it in with the short starter than I can "crush" it when I measure it.

A .610 with a .025 in my rifle. This one mic's .620 across the lands. With deep radiused grooves it soaks up the patch thickness. It's also a snug fit.

But those are my results and your barrel may be different and require something else to shoot best.

 

[roundball]

Smoothie or Rifled?

Oh, good catch!

I assumed smoothbore so my reply was regarding PRBs in those GM and Rice smoothbore barrels I mentioned

 

[Rifleman1776]

That can only be properly answered with trial for your barrel. Stated calibers are not generic. e.g. they vary
Only testing with several diameters and different patches will tell you which your barrel wants.

 

[Golfswithwolves]

I think the diameter of projectile also depends on what you want to do- if you are only target shooting you can likely use a very tight-fitting ball/patch and whack it down the barrel with a hammer and a stout rod. If you are doing things which require a more rapid reload and you need to carry everything with you (like most hunting), then a looser fit of the ball is a lot better even if some accuracy might be lost.

 

[nkbj]

Have a ".600" Lee mold that casts oblong .603" x .608". Have a GM .62 grop in with rifling later cut. Using a .595" diameter push through sizer to true up the oversized and out of round balls. The sized balls shoot as well as hammer loading the unsized balls, minute of deer or better at 100 yards but I'm getting my round tuit for target shooting.

 

[Mzzlldrinpa]

I am getting great results with .600 balls cast from Lyman mold. Using wonder lube patches from ox yoke at .10. 60 gn of goex fff. That is in a 44 inch colrain.

 

[PeteDavis]

Sorry-rifled. The person I am getting the Jaeger from has been shooting .605's but I will need to get a mold. I'll obviously try them first. I have a lot of .018 ticking that will be my patch for the forseeable future.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I think the diameter of projectile also depends on what you want to do- if you are only target shooting you can likely use a very tight-fitting ball/patch and whack it down the barrel with a hammer and a stout rod. If you are doing things which require a more rapid reload and you need to carry everything with you (like most hunting), then a looser fit of the ball is a lot better even if some accuracy might be lost.

That would be another variable. He still needs to shoot and experiment.

 

[excess650]

Sorry-rifled. The person I am getting the Jaeger from has been shooting .605's but I will need to get a mold. I'll obviously try them first. I have a lot of .018 ticking that will be my patch for the forseeable future.

I have a Lee .600 mould that drops ~.603-.605". I've shot both .018" ticking and .025" cotton duck and don't see much difference in accuracy (Colerain rifled). The ticking loads a little easier, so is in my loading block for quick reloads.

 

[pamtnman]

Six years later, and how did things work out for you, Pete Davis? I am having a .62 caliber percussion rifle made, with the actual bore at .615 and 1:72 twist in 34 inches, and I’m investigating what caliber round balls have worked for others. Thanks!

 

[nkbj]

GM barrel rifled after market; I use .595's.

 

[pamtnman]

GM barrel rifled after market; I use .595's.

OK thank you

 

[nkbj]

I've still got the .595 push through sizer that I used to use.

Found .595 ball mold by happenstance so now I use it.