There's an interesting article in this issue of ML magazine concerning the loading and shooting of 1/2 balls. Everyone has probably heard the story of how Daniel Boone, while a captive of the Shawnee, was given a rifle and one bullet a day to harvest meat for the camp. Crafty old Daniel cut the bullets in half, hunted with half bullets and squirreled away the unused whole bullets toward the time when he would make his escape. In this month's article it is shown that shooting half balls, properly patched and seated on a reduced load will indeed consistently take game at reasonable ranges. Interesting, and lots of room for further experimentation. Can't help but wonder if Boone came up with this idea on the spot, or if it was a practice that was common knowledge to the frontier riflemen.
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half balls
- Thread starter dodgecity
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When I was a young pup my grt. grandfather told me about this. They were from the Shenedoah Co. area of Va. He said they always shot small game with a 1/2 ball and light chg. I have never tried it myself but it seems the old Scotts Irish folks did do this.
Redwing :redthumb:
Redwing :redthumb:
I have no idea,should have asked. But after over 50 years I would have forgotten anyway. As this has been in the back of my mind for some time, I plan to try it for my self very soon, see how it works.
I am glad some one brought this up.
redwing :redthumb:
I am glad some one brought this up.
redwing :redthumb:
According to the article, they were shooting a 50, and the accuracy was obtained by loading the flat side up. On the other hand, loading the round side up increased penetration, but at the cost of accuracy. Loading a full charge of powder with the half ball also destroyed accuracy. Other than the old Daniel Boone story, I never knew anyone who tried this. I've used reduced (even half) powder charges many times for small game, but always with a complete bullet. It may very well be though, like Redwing says, that at a time when lead was both scarce and expensive, the use of the half ball was more widely employed than we realize.
Va.Manuf.06
58 Cal.
I have to ask, what did he cut the balls with and how did he keep them anywhere near round? If they were cut using a saw they might stay round (how did he do that behind his back? :shocking: ) but if they were cut using a pliars type of tool they would be distorted (I know, he didn't have any dykes to use :haha: ). I'm sure they were not cut with a knife - sounds to me like "ole Dan'l" was pulling someone's leg... 
As I am getting ready to try this I cut 6 balls. I took 6 .50 Cal. balls and cut them in half. I used a hunting knife and struck it on top with a wood block, very easy to cut.
No I don't think D.B. was BSing. When this Wyoming wind stops blowing I am going to see how well they shoot. They are not perfect but survival items never are.
Redwing :redthumb:
No I don't think D.B. was BSing. When this Wyoming wind stops blowing I am going to see how well they shoot. They are not perfect but survival items never are.
Redwing :redthumb:
The test shooting that the article refers to was done at small game targets at ranges of 15 to 25 yards. Ole Daniel (and others of the time) would have cut their bullets as you did with a knife. In the article, however, they cast the balls in halves by sandwiching a piece of heavy paper between the two halves of the mold. The two halves of the resulting ball were therefore only held together by the sprue, which was trimmed off flush. This half ball thing is something I too am going to try in the next couple of weeks. I'm also intersted to see how it works with the smaller calibers.
Well went out and fired some of the half balls today. I tried .495 half balls with an .18 patch,Wano Shuetzen powder
1-60 twist bl. Rifle zero with round ball .50 grs. at 25 yds.
25 Grs. 25 Yds. 4'' groupe 5" low right
35 Grs. 25 yds. 2" 3" low right
35 Grs. 15 yds. 1" 4" right elevation on
50 Grs 25 yds. 12" 6" high right
All loads except the 50Grs. cut perfect round holes in the target. The 50 Gr. loads went in side ways and cut slits in the target. For some reason all the loads shoot to the right. I think with some work you could come up with a very good short range load with the half ball. It seems im my rifle that some where around 30 to 35 Grs. will be my starting point. They were loaded flat side up and went down with no problem. The next time I plan to use a .20 patch as some of the patches had small burn holes. The lube used was Snot. It was down to 0 here this morning so no heat problems.
Redwing :redthumb:
1-60 twist bl. Rifle zero with round ball .50 grs. at 25 yds.
25 Grs. 25 Yds. 4'' groupe 5" low right
35 Grs. 25 yds. 2" 3" low right
35 Grs. 15 yds. 1" 4" right elevation on
50 Grs 25 yds. 12" 6" high right
All loads except the 50Grs. cut perfect round holes in the target. The 50 Gr. loads went in side ways and cut slits in the target. For some reason all the loads shoot to the right. I think with some work you could come up with a very good short range load with the half ball. It seems im my rifle that some where around 30 to 35 Grs. will be my starting point. They were loaded flat side up and went down with no problem. The next time I plan to use a .20 patch as some of the patches had small burn holes. The lube used was Snot. It was down to 0 here this morning so no heat problems.
Redwing :redthumb:
Yes it gets very hot back there. I worked out of Monks Corner, SC for a number of years. Very hot and lots of gators. But I sure enjoyed the fine folks and all that fine southern food.
But was always glad to get on the plane and head back to the high country at the end of the week.
Redwing :redthumb:
But was always glad to get on the plane and head back to the high country at the end of the week.
Redwing :redthumb:
