Leather patched ball?

[Jason.45]

So I've been thinking of squirrel hunting with a muzzleloader, but the only rifle I've got is a .58 Hawken.

Kinda big to be shooting at squirrels with, but recently on a woods walk I realized I might not have enough rb's to shoot all the targets (I did) and one of the guys I was shooting with suggested double patching a .530 ball if I ran short. This got me thinking about just how far one could take that, and thus, using .110" leather cut to resemble a very short petaled shotgun wad with a .375 rb for squirrel.
I'd think you'd have to load it rough out, as the rough would likely absorb lube better, and the skin would hold it together better on the inside.
Anyone ever played with something like this?
Any ideas as to how well it'd work?
Thanks.

 

[Billnpatti]

I have my serious doubts about the accuracy of such a load as you describe but if you have the leather and the small round balls, give it a try and see how accurate it will be.

 

[necchi]

Usta use my 54 for squirrel all the time,, just bark'm.
Shoot the branch next to the head.

 

[Wes/Tex]

I've been using leather patches for quite a few years. I'm talking about chamois or slightly thicker. Very thick leather or doubled thickness would be too soft and compress at different thickness at different points around the ball. I'm afraid you'd have accuracy measured in 'slim to none' category. Also, with leather patches, they seem to work better if the rough is against the ball. I believe it probably grips the ball better than the smoother exterior side. Just for the record, the reason I started doing this was an article written years ago that peeked my interest. The author found leather patches compress better than cloth, don't smolder on the ground and unless your bore is very sharp along the lands, the patches can actually be reused. I've tried that a few times but have never felt so broke I couldn't haunt the auto parts stores during chamois sale days!

 

[M. De Land]

The twist would not be fast enough for a .38 cal ball if the 58 is rifled for a patched ball. MD

 

[nkbj]

Why not? People shoot .32's with a 48" twist all the time.

 

[Swamp Rat]

Two choices. on this cause I tried something similar and well, just say fail. LOL. Choice one: have your gun bore to smooth bore and shoot shot for the small game. Choice two and is a good excuse to buy/build a new gun. on and one more but you have to check your regs shootem in the head. Just make sure you have a good backstop because that ball liable to hurt when it comes down.

 

[dbutch]

Jason What type of Hawken do you own???
maybe we can help.