Paper Patch Maxiballs?

[ResearchPress]

Historically MLs only shot PP if they used a false muzzle and were NOT patched as BPCR bullets were. They generally used a 2 or 3 strip cross paper patch. These rifles often shot bullets swaged from 2 pieces with hard noses and soft bases. These were dedicated target rifles and seldom weighed less than 14 pounds and often 40 or more.

Somewhat of a generalisation and apparently aimed at the heavy American bench rifles.

British match rifles such as Whitworth, Gibbs-Metford and Rigby plus many more fired cylindrical paper patched bullets that ARE PATCHED the SAME as became the norm with BPCR, ie a double wrap of paper. False muzzles were not necessary for these rifles, although some were used but more to protect the muzzle when loading/cleaning rather than aid loading. These rifles were restricted to a maximum weight of 10lbs and were typically used in competition to 1000 yards - sometimes further.

David

 

[Cosmoline]

The big advantage I know of for conicals over PRB's is sectional density. Doubt you'd need it for typical game back east, but this is Alaska and some of the animals here have footprints a lot bigger than my size 13 Danners! So yeah I've come to appreciate the virtues of longer bullets.

Thanks for the link to Forsyth's book! I seem to remember reading another of his works. In any case, in order to get a PRB shooter up to speed for AK I'd need a MUCH larger firearm and borrow a few of Forsyth's "gun bearers" LOL Also, I'm legally forbidden from hunting big game here with a .50 muzzleloader unless I use conicals of sufficient weight.