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correct ball size

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JackAubrey

45 Cal.
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
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I have a Pedersoli Brown Bess musket.the literature that came w/ it said I need to fire a patched .735 ball.With a clean bore I almost need a mallet to seat the ball.I tried a .715 ball and was much pleased.After the first shot,w/ fouled barrel I dropped a UN patched .735 downbore.It shot very well.What is the size most people shoot in their besses?Best regards,J.A.
 
Well,I went to the range w/ my bess.I brought .735 balls and .715 balls.I was unable/ unwilling to risk hammering the .735 balls downbore.I was using walmart pillow ticking and the ball simply would not go.Thinking the patch thickness was to blame,I lubed up a piece of cotton flannel I use as cleaning patches but this was too thick aswell.N'er a problem w/ the pillow ticking and the .715 ball though.So that's it then.I did fire several shots of the .735 balls UNpatched.I managed a 18"-24" spread but since all the shooting was done off hand I cannot make a determination as to the accuracy of the musket.What sort of accuracy are others getting at 50 yards?I think you are right Sherpa Doug,.69 calibre sounds correct.Great for blasting block formations of Frenchies!But not sub MOA! :winking: Cheers,J.A.
 
the correct ball size, patch thickness, lube type, wipe method/or no wipe, fiber wad thickeness, etc,etc, is determened by the group size on the target, tested thru the seasons,,,,, this is limited by the time you want to take to reload..... it is great to get lots of help, and ideas, but they are tools in finding the path to your load for that firearm.... .. now the humidity varys the hardness of the fouling in your barrel.. some humid days you may be able to shove bare balls down all day.. but there will be days like a cold winter day that you will need a sledge hammer to get them down if you dont wipe the fouling somehow after a certain number of shots.. what i like is a patch/lube/ball size combo that wipes the (smooth)bore as its loaded so it stays the same shot to shot wether i shoot 2 or 20 rounds.. .. easier said than done,especially thru the seasons... dave.....
 
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