Hey Swamp Rat smoothbore target

[Rebel]

Thought you might like to see how those bare .600 balls shoot. I shot this today with my Jackie Brown Carolina smoothbore. 75 grs Goex 3f, thick overpowder wad, half a lubed fiber cushion wad, bare home cast .600 rd ball, thin overshot card wad. This was a 4 shot group. I did manage to put one high, but the rest were pretty good. I think i put my temporary rear sight in the right spot. :grin: I now have 105 shots on this flint and it is still in really good shape. No misfires, hangfires, flashes in pan today, just instant ignition. Like shooting a 30/30. :grin: I hope the pic comes through.[url] http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/Rebel-1/IM000723.jpg[/url]

 

[rabjr]

Niice! I'll havta try some neked balls. :thumbsup:

 

[Rebel]

Well some are on there way your direction. :thumbsup:

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Way to go Rebel, good shooting.

I shoot a lot of bare ball too in my .62 fusil de chasse when just rock plunken on a walk in the desert. Can't hardly tell the accuracy difference betwixt those and patching the balls.

 

[Rebel]

Thank you. Yea, the bore is so tight that i have to use a real thin patch with a .600 ball. So bare ball is easier.

 

[Wehrmacht]

Rebel,

Just out of curosity---actually have a burning desire to know---
1. Have you miched your cast balls
2. What is the exact caliber of the barrel
3. How much difference between the two

Please expand a little on this.I'm presently pulling my hair out with something similar that I can't get to work right.

 

[Rebel]

My bore is .615 and the balls are from a Lee mould but have no idea what they mic at. I had a friend mic the bore right after i got the gun,but have never mic'ed the balls. Sorry. I know that a .010 patch is a good snug fit. I did shoot some today with patches and the groups were not as good. I used an overpowder wad and half a lubed cushion wad with the patched balls too, to keep the patch from burning up.

 

[Wehrmacht]

OK, thanks for the info. I'm going to try what you have done as soon as it's light enough to shoot in the morning! :thumbsup:

 

[Rebel]

Well, i hope it works ok for you. It is easier to load than with a patch.

 

[Wes/Tex]

That's the trick Rebel old son, got to try all the different wad, ball, patch combo till the gun tells you which one it likes best! :hatsoff:

 

[whitetrash078]

I sure wish I could get bess to shoot that good :bow: Got any tricks or hints you could share? I will not shoot past 25yds with bess for fear of wounding critters with my shooting :redface:

 

[BillinOregon]

I have a Lee .600 RB mould that I use to cast round balls for my overbored .577 Snider carbine. Using pure lead, my mould drops balls about .602. By the way, they shoot great in the Snider. Good to know this mould might also work with a .62 smoothie.

 

[Rebel]

I use a bare ball over the wads. This load was listed above. If you have a near bore sized ball it is the only way to do it. Might try a .735 rd ball, over an ovwrpowder wad, half a lubed fiber cushion wad, the nall, and then a thin overshot card.

 

[Rebel]

The bore on mine is about .615 and the Lee rda balls i use are a pretty tight fit. I can't use anything but a real thin patch or the bare ball. I like the bare ball better.

 

[steveh]

Nice target Reb...What distance?

 

[tom hargrove]

been shooting bare balls in my caywood for years .620 bore +.610cast ball (lyman mould) 75gr 3f dixie fiber wad 1/2 over powder other 1/2 over ball shoots as well or better than a patch and ez load cleaning is about the same as a patch ball never noticed any lead in the bore like a lot say of this practice but anyway it works for me :thumbsup:

 

[Frank/Pa]

Why not try a .575 ball and a .020 patch. Should be easy loading and a thick patch will not burn thru. Thick patching is good.

 

[Deadeye]

What about fouling? Do you clean between shots or are your wads lubed or is fouling just not a problem?

 

[PvtC]

Is it possible that the bare ball is deformed by the breech pressure sufficiently to fill the bore? Hence the good accuracy.

 

[Wehrmacht]

OK,Rebel....

Here's a very cautious preliminary report of what is taking place this morning! I must admit that when I first read your initial report and looked at the target( :shake: ) you made and posted, I thought "yea,right, :youcrazy:, :haha:.

BUT.... I just finished five rounds using 70gr 3f GOEX,over powder card,1/2 cushion wad plus a felt WonderWad,the ball (308.3+-.2gr) and an over shot card.The balls drop freely down the bore.

Round one was exactly at point of aim (6 o'clock military hold),rounds 2 thru 5 were all 1 inch left and 1 inch low,BUT ALL FOUR GROUPED IN ONE AND ONE-HALF INCH! This is much better than I've been able to get out of a very thin .009 patch :shocked2: .Range is 35 yards.

I've knocked off for a couple of hours 'till the sun gets behind my range.Mirrage and sun angle this morning is bad.I'll finish up in early afternoon,and hopefully will be able to report even better grouping with 75 and 80 grains of powder!