New barrel vs. well used barrel ball sizes

[noahmercy]

I was just curious if anyone has found that his new muzzleloader loaded easily and shot well with one size ball (say a .530" ball with .018-.020" patching) and then went to a larger ball (i.e. a .535" w/ the same patch) once they had a couple thousand rounds through it. I know (in production barrels anyway) that the cutter marks will get polished out after loading, shooting, and cleaning for a couple years, and while this doesn't dramatically alter the actual bore dimensions, the smoother bore should reduce fouling and loading effort. Mind you, this is just mental meandering on my part... :youcrazy:

So how 'bout it...anyone start out shooting one size and then move up to a larger one after the barrel gets "broken in"?

Thanks for your replies!

:thumbsup:

 

:hmm: IMHO you should polish or lap the inside of any new barrel, this cuts down breakin time and messing about later.

 

[B.Habermehl]

After a few thousand rounds, it is not at all unheard of to go up a round ball mold size. Say was using .490 now using .495 in .50 cal. Maybe due to the lapping efect of the patch etc. I personally know two shooters who have done exactly this. BJH

 

[silverfox]

I can't really say why. I started out with a .490 because thats what the Manufacture recomended way back in the 70's for my CVA. Now I use both .490 and .495 in the same rifle just depends on what I have available. Accuracy is best with the .495 but then we are talking only about 1/2" diff. in groups at 50yds. Can't say if it's the barrel getting smoother or not. It could be the old tighter fit the more accurate slipping into the picture. We all know everyone likes more accurate.
Fox :thumbsup:

 

[paulvallandigham]

.005 " is the difference in size of the two round balls. Divide that by two, and you have the added width to each side of the barrel. .0025" is less than the thickness of a piece of notebook paper. A round Lead Ball should be able to bump up in size at least that much when it is pushed by the initial expanding gases. The larger the bore size, the greater the mass or weight, of the ball,, and the less difference you should expect to see in groups sizes. So, that means that if you are shooting a .36 cal gun, .005" has a greater effect on accuracy, than if you are shooting a .62 cal. gun. You are better off using a filler, or card wad on top of the powder charge to seal the bore and grooves of your rifles consistently, than relying on any combination of patch thickness and ball sizing. For hunting, most people are better served by not having a ball and patch combination that is too tight. You can load the gun faster with a looser ball, and it will be just as accurate for hunting purposes. IF you are on the target range, you had better go with the tighter ball, and patch, and take the mallet along to seat the ball on the powder!