Do PRB come off the powder with a smoothbore?

[JerryToth]

Halloo the camp,

Forgive the probably very basic question.

I've read that the conicals, and the Maxiballs have a danger of "coming off the powder" when a rifle is handled a little rough, such as perhaps a fall in the woods while hunting. Of course a tightly patched roundball in a rifled barrel doesn't have this same danger of separating from the powder charge.

My ignorant question is whether a patched roundball in a very clean smoothbore barrel has the same danger? (We're talking about an absolutely clean barrel, not shot that day, in a deer hunting situation.)

Regards to all,

Ironsights Jerry.

 

[Rebel]

There is a possibility that it could. It doesn't take but a moment to pull the ramrod and check it. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[musketman]

Yes, all projectiles have the potential to move forewords, I make it a practice to DE-prime and reset the round ball when I suspect the ball may have moved... (don't forget to re-prime once your done)

Marking the ramrod once the ball is seated on a powder charge will let you know if the ball has moved as well...

It only takes a few seconds to recheck the projectile, that's better than ringing the barrel (bulge) or worse...

 

[tg]

Whether rifle or smoothie the tightness of the patch and ball are trhe factors that will detrmine how it stays in place and remember with a smoothbore the patch is in contact with the entire circumfrence of the bore not just the rifleing, which may give it more purchase even if it is not as tight as a rifle.

 

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

Sounds like a good experimental project for HighRockers website...

http://www.ctmuzzleloaders.com/mlexperiments/mlexpts.html

 

[sebago]

It might be possible. Along with the other suggestions maybe placing a thin overshot card wad over the prb would provide a little more resistance and help keep it in place.

 

Only if you don't use a nice tight patch. Use a cloth patch with them seated soundly on the powder and they won't move of the powder.
: On the other hand, you would use a loose ball with a tight overshot wad and that too will keep the ball on the powder. This might also allow the ball to gain a spin before leaving the barrel and thus will probably be less accurate than with a cloth patch.
: Buffalo hunters & military men running buffalo from horseback often spit balls down their barrels then hoped they stayed put long enough to shoot down into a running buffalo. There were many accidents, but not enough to stop this practice. Many thought the spit stuck the ball to the powder, but what probably happend was the powder stuck to the ball would prevent it from rolling & therefore kept it fairly close. I would NOT trust that method as even a small space is asking for a rung or burst barrel.
: Use a cloth patch and don't worry about it. Even the first loaded paper ctg. in a clean barrel, will hold against the powder & not move.