Ok question on round balls

[tenngun]

One of the best targets I ever shot. Lost count on a three shot group and shot four
100 yards, 70 grains GO, .15 patch, lard for lube, .527 Lee cast ball in 36” Green River rifle works barrel from cross sticks. V rear sight silver blade front.
1) not best sighting picture
2) not best rest
3) single eyed, my right eye was 20/15 at the time, left 20/200, so always close left eye, so even best sight picture not best.
4) shot on wooded land, middle of the day, with lots of shadow and bright light along flight path
So….
Could better sight, conditions,rest improve the group?
Could better rest improve the group?
Would a tighter load or different lube be better?
Bottom line
So many variables that a difference between mould/swigged are less of important loading and sighting

 

[hanshi]

Shooting 32,,36,,40,,50 and on up
What is the overall opinion or fact on which ball would shoot most accurate. I know there's alit if variables but your experience does swaged or cast shoot the best. And that reminds me,,I have been taught on cast balls the sprue should go towards muzzle which seems wrong to me but just stating what some others have told me many years ago. Sprue toward the muzzle is the only way to determine if it's canted or not. More importantly is the fact that bullet accuracy is more dependent on condition of the base and not the bullet nose. While the ball is not actually "bullet shaped", so to speak, the clean, uniform base of a ball allows even pressure against the ball which is supplied by the burning powder.

 

[M. De Land]

One of the best targets I ever shot. Lost count on a three shot group and shot four
100 yards, 70 grains GO, .15 patch, lard for lube, .527 Lee cast ball in 36” Green River rifle works barrel from cross sticks. V rear sight silver blade front.
1) not best sighting picture
2) not best rest
3) single eyed, my right eye was 20/15 at the time, left 20/200, so always close left eye, so even best sight picture not best.
4) shot on wooded land, middle of the day, with lots of shadow and bright light along flight path
So….
Could better sight, conditions,rest improve the group?
Could better rest improve the group?
Would a tighter load or different lube be better?
Bottom line
So many variables that a difference between mould/swigged are less of important loading and sightingView attachment 204266

What happens occasionally with group shooting is our wibbles compensating for our wobbles and a tight group can be had. The problem is repeatability and being honest with ones self about what actually occurred. A series of ten shot groups sort this out in a hurry !

 

[Edm]

I have always heard and tried sprue up. However it always seems to move when I use the short starter. That said, I’m still hitting where I aim.

 

[tenngun]

What happens occasionally with group shooting is our wibbles compensating for our wobbles and a tight group can be had. The problem is repeatability and being honest with ones self about what actually occurred. A series of ten shot groups sort this out in a hurry !

No no no, saw an old boy shooting at three hundred yards with a bess against another shooting a three band enfield
The bess got one hit center of target, best hit in the competition.( other nine shots were never on paper, enfield got six or seven)
That’s the one you cut out and save a a perfect three hundred yard bess shot.
‘All I’ve done
For want of wit
in memories now
I don’t recall’

 

[longcruise]

If you want an eye opener, set up with a target at whatever distance appeals to your eye sight and put an identical target directly over it. Shoot five shots and take the top target down and replace with a fresh one. Shoot a total of four fresh targets five shots each.

That bottom target with 20 holes in it tells the real story. The four top ones will probably produce at least one lovely "internet group" but you will never view those three or five shot groups of your own or others the same again.

Also, if you measure the four five shot groups and average them the average group size will probably be smaller than the true 20 shot group.

 

[Freedom]

Keep in mind that lead balls can become cylinders before they leave a barrel.
Look at this recovered .570 ball, and notice that it fully obturated to fill rifling grooves, as well as the flat back.
Hornady .570, .017 ticking, Neatsfoot oil
100gr 2ff Goex OE 1820fps
Colonial .582 bore/.604 groove

 

[S.Kenton]

I’ve got a 40 caliber 40 inch Green Mountain barrel that’s an absolute tack driver! I also have a 54 caliber Lyman GPR that I use in woodswalks, I consistantly place in the top 3 with that rifle. With that being said, about all my rifles shoot better than I do. That being said, it’s all about working up a load and being consistent.

 

[Crockford]

Shooting 32,,36,,40,,50 and on up
What is the overall opinion or fact on which ball would shoot most accurate. I know there's alit if variables but your experience does swaged or cast shoit the best. And that reminds me,,I have been taught on cast balls the sprue should go towards muzzle which seems wrong to me but just stating what some others have told me many years ago.

I always start .005 below the caliber. So .50 cal, I would start with a .495 ball. The tighter the better, but I don't want to have to drive the balls down with a hammer. If I'm just shooting that .50 for fun and letting friends shoot, I will shoot .490 balls. They load easier. That being said I like cast balls and pour my own. Sprue up is how I load them.
One thing you will find is not all caliber barrels are the same. It may be a .50 caliber but it is actually .498 or .502 .
Every barrel maker could be a little different.
There is no one size fits all in ML. That is all part of the fun....figuring it out!

 

[longcruise]

Keep in mind that lead balls can become cylinders before they leave a barrel.
Look at this recovered .570 ball, and notice that it fully obturated to fill rifling grooves, as well as the flat back.
Hornady .570, .017 ticking, Neatsfoot oil
100gr 2ff Goex OE 1820fps
Colonial .582 bore/.604 groove

View attachment 209299

View attachment 209300

Pretty sure that didn't happen in the barrel

 

[Freedom]

Pretty sure that didn't happen in the barrel

Sure it did... or the rifling wouldn't be obturated into it.

It is certainly interesting anyway. I usually shoot wheel weights and that doesn't happen from the ones I've recovered in snow. The one pictured is pure lead, and was shot through a tree, I should go shoot some pure lead balls into the snow bank before it melts.

 

[longcruise]

Sure it did... or the rifling wouldn't be obturated into it.

It is certainly interesting anyway. I usually shoot wheel weights and that doesn't happen from the ones I've recovered in snow. The one pictured is pure lead, and was shot through a tree, I should go shoot some pure lead balls into the snow bank before it melts.

Hmmmm, try loading the same combo into the same barrel and then pull it or blow it out with CO2. Im thinking the ball will have those see groove/lands impressed into it.