Favorite RB size for a .45

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

Now, TDM, you get to play with patch thickness and material! Personally prefer old denim jeans, using the thin portion on the front of the thighs.
And lube! Again my preference is for 50/50 pure beef lard and beeswax. Get a wide, shallow brass tin with a lid and keep it in your bag - wipe the patch well with it. if shooting something that requires a felt wad, put a bunch of the wads in a tin with melted lube, pick out and drain on a sheet of wax paper (smooth bores and C&B revolvers).
Best of luck Sir!

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have several 45 calibers. The numrich arms barrels like a .435 ball, CVA's and T.C. like a .440, and the douglas barreled target rifle likes a .445 ball. Using .015 patches. So I suggest you try a few of each and see how they work.True patch size is as important as ball size. You want ball/patch combination that loads reasonably, but is tight enough to allow the rifling to grip the ball through the patch.

 

[Urban Coyote]

.440 in my T/C .45 caliber guns.
.445 in my GRRW Little Leman and most of my Green Mountain barreled Beaver Lodge guns. I have used .451 in my Green Mountain barrels as recommended by the builder, the late Ted Fellowes. The .451 load tightly but not unreasonably, however I stick with .445 in the field, accuracy still good but easy to load.

I recently bought a T/C Seneca re-barreled with a Douglas in .45 that so far seems to like .445 but I need to experiment with it some more.

On this Green Mountain barrel thing I also have a lightweight .50 fullstock by Ted Fellowes I use a .500 ball in, again at Ted's recommendation.

 

[Mark E. Prickett]

Let’s say that someone decided to order a Kibler SMR in .45 cal, but had never owned a .45 before.

What size do you prefer? .440 or?

I just shot my.45 Kibler smr Saturday for the first time. I used. 445 balls and 30 to 40 grains of Swiss fff. Grouping was good. What powder load,patch thickness and ball size did you end up with?

 

[TDM]

I just shot my.45 Kibler smr Saturday for the first time. I used. 445 balls and 30 to 40 grains of Swiss fff. Grouping was good. What powder load,patch thickness and ball size did you end up with?

.440 RB with .015 P and 45 gr of Goex 3F has been wicked accurate. But I’ll experiment some more next time out.

 

[Flintandsteel]

First 7 shots out of a new Kibler SMR, with a Rice barrel.

 

[TDM]

To say that these rifles are inherently accurate is a gross understatement. Makes shooting such a pleasure.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I have several 45 caliber rifles. The favorite ball for one is 0.433, one pistol prefers 0.437, one rifle gas a favorite ball of 0.440" diameter and one will only shoot 0.445" balls best.

You will have to go with the results of load development.

 

[CVA Enthusiast]

TDM thanks for asking all others for the awesome responses. I am acquiring a .45 Kentucky (odds are Jukar/Dikar) imported by CVA in early 80`s been looking for ball and patch ticking thickness and sizes popped into see what`s been working sort of a starting ground awesome reads and knowledge. The gent I am acquiring from, has posted all the info on it and is supplying a patch sample, but for the educational value figured I`d read up on it. Now it does throw in some wonder about my Kentucky Pistol and maybe tightening up my groups there a little bit?

 

[hanshi]

I use both .440" and .445 and see little difference between them in most loads. I suggest trying out .440" and some .445" ball before buying a mold or before buying ball in bulk.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

.440's, .018 patch, and a coned muzzle. Easy to load and accurate to shoot.

 

[CVA Enthusiast]

I use both .440" and .445 and see little difference between them in most loads. I suggest trying out .440" and some .445" ball before buying a mold or before buying ball in bulk.

yup working up the load for the best accuracy.

 

[wiscoaster]

I use a 0.445 ball and 0.010 patch in my Kibler .45 cal SMR.

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

I used .435 for a while but my grouping was bad - .445's are much better and I always use these now. Mind you, I tend to use old T-shirts for patches, so maybe the .435's were just not engaging the rifling.

 

[RMH]

Kibler SMR. I use .440 balls and ,016 ticking patch. 45 grains Swiss 3f

 

[smoothshooter]

Let’s say that someone decided to order a Kibler SMR in .45 cal, but had never owned a .45 before.

I use .433 balls I cast. The smaller balls allow a thicker patch which can carry more lube.

What size do you prefer? .440 or?

 

[Ohio Rusty]

It depends on your barrel. The Wife's .45 requires a .445 RB with a .015 patch. The 1970's CVA caplock rifle takes a .440 RB and a 15 thou's patch.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[ChuckJonesWagon]

I used .435 for a while but my grouping was bad - .445's are much better and I always use these now. Mind you, I tend to use old T-shirts for patches, so maybe the .435's were just not engaging the rifling.

Yeah.....but do you wash 'em first or leave 'em "lubed as is"?

 

[Pratt]

A .440 and a Crisco lube on the.010 patch has always worked well for me.

 

[oldwood]

.440 w/ appropriate patch , maybe .012 to .015.