Patch and Ball

[Dandyfunk]

Hello all, as most who have chatted with me know I am a total new guy to all of this. I have read many threads about ball size and patch selection and that one must experiment with combos to find what works best for their rifle. My question is where to start for my 50 cal CVA mountain rifle? What patch and ball would you use to start the process. Another question is what is the range of balls and patch sizes for the 50 cal? Smallest ball to largest would be helpful. Df

 

[galamb]

If you are buying "off the shelf" you will find .490 and .495 balls just about everywhere (Hornady and Speer make them as an example).

You may also find .489, .498 and .500 at muzzle loading shops.

I would suggest that .490 is probably the "most shot" ball out there for 50 cal. Not because it's best (maybe), but the most available.

Generally the Italian/Spanish barrels did not have the deepest groves so you might start with a .010 patch and then give a .015 or .018 a try after that (with the .490 ball).

Just as an example of what a couple of the barrel makers say to use:

GM .500 target/.495 hunting
Rice .490

You probably don't want to try anything "smaller" than .490 unless you have "tried everything" and you still can't hit the barn at 25 yards.

 

[TLanoy]

My Spanish made Kentucky barrel likes a .490 ball with a .015 patch and 70 grains of Goex 2F. This is with a 1:66 twist. If your Mountain rifle has the same twist, you could start somewhere around the same.

 

[Dandyfunk]

Thanks Graham, that is interesting because that is exactly what I have been tryng to use, a .490 ball and a .15 lubed patch. Here is the problem, the first set slides down the barrel with out a problem, the second is tough the third is hard and the forth is impossible!! If you follow my other posts you will see the process of insuring that my barrel is clean and free prior to each session. So with that in mind, am I using to thick a patch??? ball??? or is this typical??? it just seems that I should be able to run more than two loads through before it gets stuck. Today's forth load got stuck 1" from the top and had to beat down the barrel. So with all that what am I doing wrong???

 

[Dandyfunk]

I just read another thread on this forum on the same subject and the consensus is a .490 and a .15 patch for the start. But this is the combo that is getting stuck in my barrel after three loads????

 

[bpd303]

What patch lube & powder are you using? Wiping between shots will eliminate the hard loading.

 

[nchawkeye]

Sounds like you aren't cleaning between shots...With some rifles this is necessary to keep the groups nice and tight...Try running a damp spit patch down between shots this might help...

Or...Drop down to a .010 patch for the 3rd shot and see how she groups...

Other than that, go to a smaller ball...

 

[Dandyfunk]

Are you suggesting that it is normal for the gun to need cleaning between each shot?? It seems to me that it would suggest that something is wrong. This month I went to my first Rondy and watched people shoot ten to twelve shots with never swabbing the bore once. Why is mine different??

 

[mooman76]

It probably just has a tight bore. Have you tried spit patch? I can go all day without swabbing. I have a Mountain rifle in 50 but I bought it used. It was broke in well and has no issues. Have you also measured your RBs? Sometimes they can be oversized. Maybe a different lube would help.

 

[don hepler]

If you using 80 grains in a 50 cal.,(for Example), then someone else is using 50 grains, your barrel will be leaving move unburned residue, which will make it more difficult to load. I can shoot a caplock rifle with Black MZ, powder, and never have to clean the bore. FFF powder vs. FF, can also make a difference. The bores condition, can also make a difference. Even the type of ram rod can make a difference. With a one piece 3/8 rod, I can put a rather tight ball and patch, down the barrel. Unless you know all the factors, about what others are using, you will not be able to answer the question, as to how they are loading, without cleaning.

 

[tenngun]

Another thing to try, as I have used on humiddays, is to put a jag on your rod and run a damp patcch down as you push the ball down. Weather and age of the gun greatly affect loadablity. Dry weather with a gun thats had dozens of shots through it ann oft be loaded a lot with out swabing. Humid/ wet weather will often gum up with one or two shots. "Blood shooters" will swab heavy between shots. Most of the time I do a light swab between shots out to every3ed or fourth shot. There are tricks to getting lots of shots between swabing but they end to lower accuracy and increase misfires.

 

[TLanoy]

You will find 500 different recommendations for lube so, take this as you will. I have been using Mr. Flintlocks Lube/Cleaner and it is an amazing product. When you use it as a lube, it cleans as the patch and ball go down to be seated. I shoot 5 - 6 shots and then run one down strictly for cleaning the bore. YMMV! :thumbsup:

 

[Treestalker]

Dandyfunk, my late brother Tiny had only one BP rifle, a CVA Mountain. He won several ribbons at Beaumont,Texas's Muzzleloading Gun Club years ago, including a firstplace 100 yd benchrest. His load was 90gr 2f and a Hornady .490 with a pillow ticking patch lubed with Crisco. He told me Sgt. Keller taught him to shoot like that (with an M14) in the USMC. :shocked2: Cheers, George.

 

[Dandyfunk]

What is a "pillow ticking patch"?

 

[Dandyfunk]

Here is what I am using per the packages for each, Speer Bullets .490 round balls and a .15 Muzzleloadeer Original ticking patches with "Precision Lube 2000"
Just a reminder that this is a used rifle kit built by someone else, I have spent many hours cleaning the barrel per advise on this forum. It just does not make sense to me that it should stick so soon.
What is the smallest size ball suggested for a .50 cal gun?

 

[Treestalker]

Back in the day backwoods folks used blue-striped cotton cloth called 'ticking' to make pillows with, we used duck and chicken feathers for stuffing, Some of us used the cloth for making rifle patches. I killed a squirrel once with a CVA Kentucky .45 with a patch made from my T-shirt! I had neglected to resupply my hunting bag with patches. :redface: Tree.

 

[Treestalker]

Forgot to mention, my Ma loved the squirrel, but jumped timing over the t-shirt! :shocked2:

 

[ramrod 62]

if first load is going down ok it almost has to be fouling related . try hoppes #9 plus for lube.

 

[mooman76]

Every gun is different and every load is different per the gun. What works in one may not be best for another or may even work horrible compared to others. If the first loads fine and each after that are getting harder then you need to change something but only trying different thing will tell you what works. Just a guess but I would say the lube is building up the fouling so it's either swab between shots or try another lube until you find what's best. Maybe you need to get Dutches guide for finding the best loads. I have never read it but it comes highly recommended.

 

[tenngun]

how well does that first shot shoot? Does you accuracy fall off as you shoot? You may need a thinner patch. You may need to try moose milk as a lube or somthing very thin. If your just loading and shooting wetting a dry patch with spit may work well for you. But dont be adverse to swabing tween shots. If you check out an online ml supply such as track of the wolf or log cabin spot sop you can get a wide varitity of pre cut patchs in different thicknesses to try. Even the makers recomedattions are not always the best. As a dozen old smoke blowers whats best and you get a dozen answears. It seems no two guns act the same way.