cast or swaged round balls

[rebs]

which is more accurate or does it matter ? The cast balls have a sprue, how doe it effect accuracy ?

 

[dave951]

I have a sprue cutter that removes almost all of it. From what I've done in testing in sprue v no sprue, I didn't see any real difference. Of much more consequence is weight, casting consistency and loading methodology. I'd get a method of casting that make consistently good round ball, then weigh. Toss those over and under the median weight back or use them in fouling shots.

 

[mooman76]

It really depends on the caster, which is better. A good caster can make RBs better than swaged. But most people couldn't tell the difference when shooting.

 

[Sidney Smith]

If you load sprue up, you're going to squash that sprue down upon loading anyway, so it's kind of a moot point. I've shot both and can't tell the difference in accuracy.

I do know one thing, shooting balls I've cast myself is a lot more satisfying than shooting store bought balls. Especially when I'm able to take game with those same home cast balls. It just makes the whole experience that much better.

 

[sheriff john]

Ok , you yardbirds, - Do you load the sprue "up" or "down" ?

 

[mooman76]

Most load sprue up but a odd few load down. One thing is if you load down it could get a little sideways or crocked and you wouldn't be able to tell and like Sidney said, sprue up and you will smash the sprue some. I use Lee RBs and there is no sprue so I don't worry about it too much.

 

[andy52]

Ok , you yardbirds, - Do you load the sprue "up" or "down" ?

I'm a sailor, not a yardbird.... but I load with the sprue up.

 

[ZUG]

When I shoot cast balls I try to load them with the sprue up but that does not always happen as the sprue gets a bit off center. I like the swaged round balls. When plinking I shoot them as I grab them out of the box. If I want the best accuracy then I weigh them .

 

[Woody Morgan]

I'm a sailor, not a yardbird.... but I load with the sprue up.

I was a sailor AND a yardbird. 34 years. Now I'm just goofing off.

wm

 

[dave951]

Ok , you yardbirds, - Do you load the sprue "up" or "down" ?

Up. Reason is to strive to maintain consistency. Do it the same way every time for accuracy and repeatability. Can't see it if it's down

 

[MSW]

for the records, i go with sprue up. i've run my own ball for the better end of three decades, and i don't see any advantage to swaged ball over cast. mind you - i'm not a good enough shot to notice some small difference, so there might be an advantage that i cannot discern.

one guy's opinion - free and well worth the cost

 

[tenngun]

Depends on the phase of the moon and latitude
If you are in an odd number of degrees north you want up, an even number down, but reverse if the moon is waxing, some like to reverse in months with an r in them but this is just a silly superstition
South of the equator reverse, unless you have a left handed twist in your rifle then go with northern.
Only use swaged ball on the equator

 

[Sidney Smith]

Only reason I shoot swaged balls is because I got a deal on about 700 rounds of Hornady .530 dia, at Walmart years ago when they sold stuff like that. They had them marked down to $3.50 a box of 100, after hunting season one year. . I bought every box that was sitting there. I still have about 500 rounds of it left. Been shooting them once in a while so I don't use up much of my raw lead.

 

[SDSmlf]

I am one of those crazy folks that takes the time to weigh their cast roundballs. Easy to sort and recast any outliers.

As far as swaged roundballs, here are photographs of the weigh-in of two different balls from a single box of purchased swaged roundballs. Found nearly 10 grains of weigh variation, less than .0005” in diameter variation. Have seen worse, but don’t have photographic evidence. Personally have found that when everything is perfect and using weighed balls will have groups in the one inch range at 100 yards. Mix in the known goofballs from the same box and in the 3-4” range or more. Have seen significant weight variations in both red and yellow boxes of purchased swaged roundballs.

 

[LME]

I am one of those crazy folks that takes the time to weigh their cast roundballs. Easy to sort and recast any outliers.

As far as swaged roundballs, here are photographs of the weigh-in of two different balls from a single box of purchased swaged roundballs. Found nearly 10 grains of weigh variation, less than .0005” in diameter variation. Have seen worse, but don’t have photographic evidence. Personally have found that when everything is perfect and using weighed balls will have groups in the one inch range at 100 yards. Mix in the known goofballs from the same box and in the 3-4” range or more. Have seen significant weight variations in both red and yellow boxes of purchased swaged roundballs.
View attachment 88985View attachment 88986View attachment 88987View attachment 88988

 

[LME]

I am one of those crazy folks that takes the time to weigh their cast roundballs. Easy to sort and recast any outliers.

As far as swaged roundballs, here are photographs of the weigh-in of two different balls from a single box of purchased swaged roundballs. Found nearly 10 grains of weigh variation, less than .0005” in diameter variation. Have seen worse, but don’t have photographic evidence. Personally have found that when everything is perfect and using weighed balls will have groups in the one inch range at 100 yards. Mix in the known goofballs from the same box and in the 3-4” range or more. Have seen significant weight variations in both red and yellow boxes of purchased swaged roundballs.
View attachment 88985View attachment 88986View attachment 88987View attachment 88988

I think I need lesson on how to post. I posted without putting in my statement ?
I weighed several of my balls and found the same results? Mine were .54 and they were averaging 226 grains with a two to three grain difference. I weighed Hornady and Buffalo brands with the same results. It must not make a lot of difference? I shot a three shot group at a 100 yards with the Hornady balls all the hole overlapped one another.

 

[RAEDWALD]

In the early 19th century the British government spent a shad load of money on machines to swage musket balls (and belted rifle balls) and they were renowned tight ar*ses who would not spend a farthing that they could avoid but trials showed that all cast balls had small erratic voids and swayed balls were measurably heavier as they eliminated the inevitable void in casting and much more consistent.

Now how much more accurate I do not known but the b*gers made large careful trials before they spent the money on very expensive machines so it would appear that swaged balls are superior. I am sure there would be a queue of posters to say that they outshot the universe using cast balls and well they might, but I strongly doubt that anyone on the forum has done as much testing of swaged versus cast balls as the British Ordnance. Smooth bore and rifled.

 

[FishDFly]

"Now how much more accurate I do not known but the b*gers made large careful trials before they spent the money on very expensive machines so it would appear that swaged balls are superior."

Kinda hard to believe a mythical test from the 1800's without actually seeing it.

Most folks find what SDSmlf posts.

Bevel Brothers just did a test and found out that it does not matter where the sprue is when loading, the orientation of the sprue, does no impact accuracy.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

In my personal experience over twelve years of N-SSA pistol completion, I found that my cast and sorted .457 round balls (in a 1858 Remington) were more consistent in size and weight, and shot better scores, than purchased swaged round balls. I never took the time to weigh sort the store bought swaged round balls.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Rfp10000]

I was able to get cast balls when swagged ran out and for my purposes they are fine. I do try to keep sprue up but not perfectly. Lee 2ball mold was used in making them and sprue is about as small as it can be and still be seen.