How to optimize smoothbore accuracy

[wahkahchimaol.com]

I would ask the award-winning, regional and national team shooters on this board: how do you optimize round ball accuracy with a smoothbore?

How do you optimize paper cartridge accuracy?

What guns are inherently more accurate?.such as the 1816, etc.

Thanks for any advice.

Pete

 

[Mike Brooks]

Tight patch and ball combo. Thickish walled barrel. Lots of practice.

 

[matt denison]

Tight patch and ball combo. Thickish walled barrel. Lots of practice.

Ezacly!

 

[Stumpkiller]

I would ask the award-winning, regional and national team shooters on this board.

Well, in spite of that I'd like to suggest weighing each ball and recasting anything out of a norm weight. Too heavy means the mold didn't close and it's out of round and too light likely means a void - especially in the larger sizes where the mold takes longer to fill.

To optomize the accuracy with ANYTHING you must maximize consistancy.

I don't know that you can say any smoothbore gun is "inherantly" more accurate. Some shooters go for originals and a repro M1777 or M1816 may have only passing similarities to the original, especially in barrel dynamics. The key is to work up an accuarte load in the one you shoot and practice, practice, practice.

I had a windfall of a couple reams of old onion-skinned typewriter paper that was durable yet easy to tear. You'll want to find a good paper that holds up to the loading and firing. Too tight a fit can peel them like . . . onions.

At one point Getz was the musket barrel to own for modern work.

 

[roundball]

how do you optimize round ball accuracy with a smoothbore?

For this first question, my best results have come from tight PRB combos pushed fast to avoid any knuckle-ball effect as they start slowing down.
Deer hunting Loads I've settled on:

.620" bore / 100grns Goex 2F / .022" patch / .600" ball

.540" bore / 90grns Goex 3F / .022" patch / .520" ball

 

[matt denison]

"540" bore / 90grns Goex 3F / .022" patch / .520" ball"

I have a .540 that was fussy, took a while to find that it didn't like anything over 65 grains of FFg. :idunno:

Every gun/barrel is different so what works in one won't work at all in another so trying to give an "optimum" load for somebody elses gun is futile.

Optimising any gun takes time to find the right load for it and then practice, practice practice.

 

[Wayne/Al]

I dont know if there any guidelines set in concrete. I have been working with my 12 ga smoothbores for a month or two and still not where I want to be as far as accuracy goes. I have went out and shot some pretty good groups and thimk I have found it but the next time out fall apart and not have such good groups. Lots of members here have good results shooting a PRB over the powder. That didnt seem to work for me . One thing that seem to improve both of my smoothbores was adding the 1/2 inch fiber wad lubed under the PRB. Dont know why but the 12 Ga SXS and the 12 GA fowler shot better with the fiber wad.
The SXS went from 12 inch groups to 3 and 4 inch groups at 30 yds.
The one variable I cant improve is my self,both smoothbores can shoot better than I can I'm sure.

BTW The fowler is flint and the SXS is percussion.

Anyway ..I sure enjoy trying to find that perfect load.

 

[roundball]

Every gun/barrel is different so what works in one won't work at all in another so trying to give an "optimum" load for somebody elses gun is futile.

The OP asked a question and my post was very clear:

For this first question, my best results have come from tight PRB combos pushed fast to avoid any knuckle-ball effect as they start slowing down.
Deer hunting Loads I've settled on:

:wink:

 

[Stumpkiller]

You can't load a rolled paper cartridge combo that is as tight as a tight patch combo. The paper won't hold together - especially after a fouled bore.

And assuming the shooter isn't swabbing between - which negates the speed and handiness of paper cartridges.

 

[hanshi]

By using a 1/2" fiber cushion wad over the powder and using a very tight prb, I've gotten my best groups yet with my .62 smoothbore. I had to use a .010" patch and the combo was still hard to load.

I used a .600" Lee mold and cast with WW. The resulting ball was about .605" which accounted for a bit tighter fit. I may revisit this load come spring and try and see what can be done to make loading easier. Without a doubt wiping after each shot would help a little.

Here's a 50yd group of 7 shots in 2.5". There are two flyers which were probably my fault. 60 grns 3F, .605 WW ball, .010" patch with Hoppes lube.

 

[justtim]

Tight patched ball. Heavy barrel. And if it needs it---bend the barrel. There, I said it. Yep, that should get someone wound up. :grin:

 

[wahkahchimaol.com]

Great advice! Thanks! Keep it coming!

 

[Maven]

After reading the other posts, I'm not sure I can add anything new, but I'll try. If you have a given RB diameter, use it, but change one variable at a time. Your testing regimen @ 25 yds. should look like this: Same RB + a given powder granulation and amount, but try tigheter -> looser patch combinations. Next, vary the powder charge in 10gr. (volume) increments, starting with say 60gr. FFg. Lastly, vary the powder granulation, but if you do, start at 70gr. FFFg. Once you find a promising combination, test it @ 50 yds. and then fine tune it. Btw, some guns are sensitive to patch lube, so select one and stick with it. Likewise, some need to be wiped after each shot, others not so much. Lastly, in my Green River Forge NW trade gun, I find "cheek weld" and head position to be of paramount importance in getting accurate results. Patch thickness, overpowder wads, and powder charge seem to make less of a difference in my gun, btw. In fact, a looser patch works as well as a thicker one, but your gun may be different. Lastly, for accuracy, but not authenticity, I'd add a rear sight to my gun.

 

[rabjr]

I can only echo whats already been said about tight ball/patch load. I would also have to say a rear sight is a big help here. I have a .12ga smoothbore with rear sight thats pretty much like a rifle at 50 yards. My .20ga however has no rear sight but can shoot nice groups as well if I do my part....

 

[tg]

I think practice is the biggest issue I have had good results with just wading and no pattch or pretty loose pathces not quite as tight of groupsd as a tighter combo but not the kind of difference I found in rifles, and for me some smoothies just shoot better for me than others no matter what I have tried, I have a Fusil now that is a .58 bore and I can shoot .535/,550/.562/.570 bals with various or the same patch and different combos of wadding and cards and hunt Deer to 50 yds with most any combo I try, the best is a .562 ball with a .018 patch 80gr3f/3f prime and no buffer twixt ball and powder, but not really best by as much as one would excpect,on a good day when my bad shoulder does not mess me up I can get a 3" group offhand at 50 yds, at least I could, I have not eally punched paper for almost 2 years, I might completely miss the paper now :shocked2:. I think a rear sight would help a bit but it does well enough that I do not need one, I did shoot it as I worked the buttstock down to get my cheek to rest "automaticaly where I wanted it when I brought the gun up which I think was a very big factor as I can close my eyes and bring up the gun and the sight picture is always nearly identical when I open my eyes, I have had smooth guns in the past that I had to squiggle and wiggle for position to get the right view and sight picture after bringing up the gun and it always felt "forced" and not natural like this gun does, I do think a good fit is a very valuble tool for shooting guns with no rear sight, I would not hesitate to add a rear sight if one was needed, it could be removed for mathces forbbiding their use and a blank put in the dovetail, it might just be my imagination but even if so I will stay with it as it works well whatever one calls it. take god notes and try everything that has been mentioned and vary the combos and methods and you will likley find what you tre looking for with some time and patience, the latter is the most important aspect of this game with smoothbores I believe. just my rambleing thoughts on the matter, but keep in mind that consider South Park a master piece of American adult satire before taking to seriously anything I say....now Scr#w you guys I'm going home...G&d Da&^% It those are my Cheesy Poofs and I Da*& it am not fat, just big boned :wink:

 

[RC]

all I can say..is practice practice practice..an try try try..an when you hit on it..you will know it..nice to have starting point but each gun, an each shooter has their own lil niche how bad you wanna shoot good? is based on how long you practice an how much you try an what you are willing to settle for,,,best is,,get so you trust the gun,,get it to do same thing over an over,,then...work on getting it better..good luck...an enjoy..its not work..its enjoyment..even missin with a smoothie is fun..course dead-on is more !! :thumbsup:

 

[Britsmoothy]

I think practice is the biggest issue I have had good results with just wading and no pattch or pretty loose pathces not quite as tight of groupsd as a tighter combo but not the kind of difference I found in rifles, and for me some smoothies just shoot better for me than others no matter what I have tried, I have a Fusil now that is a .58 bore and I can shoot .535/,550/.562/.570 bals with various or the same patch and different combos of wadding and cards and hunt Deer to 50 yds with most any combo I try, the best is a .562 ball with a .018 patch 80gr3f/3f prime and no buffer twixt ball and powder, but not really best by as much as one would excpect,on a good day when my bad shoulder does not mess me up I can get a 3" group offhand at 50 yds, at least I could, I have not eally punched paper for almost 2 years, I might completely miss the paper now :shocked2:. I think a rear sight would help a bit but it does well enough that I do not need one, I did shoot it as I worked the buttstock down to get my cheek to rest "automaticaly where I wanted it when I brought the gun up which I think was a very big factor as I can close my eyes and bring up the gun and the sight picture is always nearly identical when I open my eyes, I have had smooth guns in the past that I had to squiggle and wiggle for position to get the right view and sight picture after bringing up the gun and it always felt "forced" and not natural like this gun does, I do think a good fit is a very valuble tool for shooting guns with no rear sight, I would not hesitate to add a rear sight if one was needed, it could be removed for mathces forbbiding their use and a blank put in the dovetail, it might just be my imagination but even if so I will stay with it as it works well whatever one calls it. take god notes and try everything that has been mentioned and vary the combos and methods and you will likley find what you tre looking for with some time and patience, the latter is the most important aspect of this game with smoothbores I believe. just my rambleing thoughts on the matter, but keep in mind that consider South Park a master piece of American adult satire before taking to seriously anything I say....now Scr#w you guys I'm going home...G&d Da&^% It those are my Cheesy Poofs and I Da*& it am not fat, just big boned :wink:

Amazing :shocked2: I could of wrote that!

That describes my 58 load wise too :hatsoff:

Brits.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

For a single projectile, a rear sight is best. Yes, there are a lot of folks who can do wonders without but they are just good regardless. A rear sight would make them even better and certainly no worse no matter what anyone might tell you.

I agree with tight combos and lean to a heavier patch in that combo for a smooth gun.

Consistency an all things is the key in anything.

On second thought, forget all of that. I am not a regional or national shooter in shooting PRB in a smoothbore. :grin:

 

[Stumpkiller]

On second thought, forget all of that. I am not a regional or national shooter in shooting PRB in a smoothbore.

I figured I could chime in because my smoothbore generally hits within the region I was looking and aiming at. Certainly within the nation the target was sitting in.

 

[RC]

On second thought, forget all of that. I am not a regional or national shooter in shooting PRB in a smoothbore.

I figured I could chime in because my smoothbore generally hits within the region I was looking and aiming at. Certainly within the nation the target was sitting in.

:hmm: figured I've shot in 5 different states..should make me a national shooter.... :grin: an I'm lutheran so that covers region..