Overpowder Wad For Musket?

[pheenix99]

Last Saturday, I took my .69 musket (Pedersoli Revolutionaire) back to the range and set the target at 50 yards. At first, I was pleased that I was able to hit the target each time, but then I started thinking...would an over powder wad help with accuracy? For context, the pic below was a patched .660 roundball behind 70 grains of Goex 2F. Either way, still getting used to shooting without a rear sight.

 

[tenngun]

Try and see.
There is no right answer, people get super results that others don’t from x set up.
I can’t shoot worth a darn with out a rear sight, others get scores I could only dream of with just a front sight.
Large charges and small, big ball and under sized, lots of different wads and lubes have done wonders
I know it’s a chore, but you will just have to put your big boy pants on and suffer through experiments at the range, till you get the scores your happy with
Oh the horror

 

[pheenix99]

Try and see.
There is no right answer, people get super results that others don’t from x set up.
I can’t shoot worth a darn with out a rear sight, others get scores I could only dream of with just a front sight.
Large charges and small, big ball and under sized, lots of different wads and lubes have done wonders
I know it’s a chore, but you will just have to put your big boy pants on and suffer through experiments at the range, till you get the scores your happy with
Oh the horror

I'll practice a little more as-is (powder, patch, ball) until I get used to not having a rear sight), then I'll fiddle with things like over powder wad and charge size.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I agree, you just need to try it out!

Muzzleloaders are like woman … all individuals … you just gotta find out what THEY want and like!

For example, my 75-caliber long barreled (60”) club butt musket will shoot paper cartridge loads (no cloth patch, no wads, nada …) into some really tight groups, like 3-4” groups or better from the sitting position @ 50-yards, using 100-grain 1Fg (due to the looooong barrel length).

Once came in 2nd place to a rifle in a local woodswalk, but I broke a few of the gong/metal targets, so they kindly asked me not to bring that one back again, LOL!

 

[pheenix99]

I agree, you just need to try it out!

Muzzleloaders are like woman … all individuals … you just gotta find out what THEY want and like!

For example, my 75-caliber long barreled (60”) club butt musket will shoot paper cartridge loads (no cloth patch, no wads, nada …) into some really tight groups, like 3-4” groups or better from the sitting position @ 50-yards, using 100-grain 1Fg (due to the looooong barrel length).

Once came in 2nd place to a rifle in a local woodswalk, but I broke a few of the gong/metal targets, so they kindly asked me not to bring that one back again, LOL!

Unlike a woman, a muzzleloader isn't gonna complain if I come home with another muzzleloader.

 

[Cruzatte]

Last Saturday, I took my .69 musket (Pedersoli Revolutionaire) back to the range and set the target at 50 yards. At first, I was pleased that I was able to hit the target each time, but then I started thinking...would an over powder wad help with accuracy? For context, the pic below was a patched .660 roundball behind 70 grains of Goex 2F. Either way, still getting used to shooting without a rear sight.

View attachment 155886

I think that's pretty impressive shooting. I'd be happy with a 50 yd. target like that.

 

[pheenix99]

I think that's pretty impressive shooting. I'd be happy with a 50 yd. target like that.

Thanks. There's certainly room for improvement. Eventually, I'd like to be confident enough to take it hunting. Though I may very well end up with a Jaeger for that purpose.

 

[Nobade]

With my own trade musket, a wad does improve things if I use a bare ball. If it's patched I can't see that it makes any difference. Still need to get around to making some paper cartridges for it. As has been said, just got to try things and see what happens. Especially with smoothbores!

 

[tenngun]

Unlike a woman, a muzzleloader isn't gonna complain if I come home with another muzzleloader.

You make them itty bitty crescent plates on so many southern and western guns. Not much wider then a quarter. Slim, even on big ol Hawkins their ‘dainty’.
Building an early Lancaster with plans for an Isaac Hines. Well over two inch’s and flat plate.
So my little gun had to ask, while she looked up at thin SMR on the wall,
Does this plate make my butt look fat?
No sweetie you look just perfect