Obturation of a patched round ball...real or imagined?

[coloradoclyde]

I wasn't sure that's why I asked...
If you can test hardness..... why not? it eliminates a variable.

 

[nkbj]

My two cents...
Don't worry about measurements and how much catching the ball created changes in shape. Use a thinner patch in a deep groove barrel.
Shoot them with gradually increasing powder charges. If the pressure overcoming inertia makes the ball get broader to any significance you will be able to visually examine the rifling marks and thus determine that the effect is present at some point even on balls that have physical changes during deceleration.

 

[coloradoclyde]

:thumbsup:

 

[M. De Land]

Good stuff guys,you sure know how to excite and shake the dust off the neurons! :rotf:

 

[M. De Land]

Did think to measure it the other direction Spence, good idea!

 

[M. De Land]

Didn't think to measure it the other direction Spence , good suggestion!

 

[Col. Batguano]

Just make sure you shoot it in to soft water.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Just make sure you shoot it in to soft water.

Beautiful response, Bat.
And, on that I believe we should move on to less controversial subjects. Like WD-40 or Wal-Mart. :shocked2: :rotf:

 

[azmntman]

Just make sure you shoot it in to soft water.

Beautiful response, Bat.
And, on that I believe we should move on to less controversial subjects. Like WD-40 or Wal-Mart. :shocked2: :rotf:

Or maybe if there a really good recipe for patch lube out there somewhere? :rotf:

 

[Larry Pletcher]

Like so may other things on this forum, when Pletch does the experiment,. we'll all know for sure.

Yeah, I'll wait for Pletch's pictures. . . . . .I suspect the only uncontaminated way to see it will be with in-flight photos and careful measurements by someone with the right gear.
Spence

I hope you don't have to wait too long, but you need to know I'm about $1200 away from buying that fast flash.
Regards,
Pletch

 

[Greenjoytj]

I think the correct answer to your obduration question is that the PRB is mostly but not 100% sealing the combustion gases behind it. Wholly dependant on the quatity of the fit of the PRB to the barrel.

It is certainly sealed much better than a naked ball against the powder even in a smooth bore, in a rifled bore the gaps are obvious.

What percent of a perfect seal are we getting?

I would say the the better your shot groups then you are getting the least amount of blow by gas pressure which could blow your group and or flame cut your patch. But it will never be 100%, particularly if the PRB has been loaded for a few days because I belive the soft lead ball continues to flow length wise to relive the equatorial pressure placed on it. Hence the large square patch marks on a pulled ball. I don't need to penetrate my ball puller to the ball center.

Also the patch material strength required to withstand the gas pressure needs to be thought about. That's why I choose to up my odds of getting a higher percentage seal by using an over size OP wadd saturated in melted trappers mink oil a heavy solid lube.