Patched Ball Accuracy in Repro Springfield Rifled Muskets

[smoothshooter]

What kind of accuracy are you getting when shooting from a rest?
Since the rifling is so shallow do you have to back off the powder charges so the patches don’t skip the rifling?

 

[dave951]

What kind of accuracy are you getting when shooting from a rest?
Since the rifling is so shallow do you have to back off the powder charges so the patches don’t skip the rifling?

I have to ask why are you shooting round ball in a gun designed for the minie?

 

[smoothshooter]

I have to ask why are you shooting round ball in a gun designed for the minie?

Flatter trajectory, more shots per pound of lead, probably a reduced likelihood of ricochets. Very little of my shooting is done on ranges.

 

[dave951]

Flatter trajectory, more shots per pound of lead, probably a reduced likelihood of ricochets. Very little of my shooting is done on ranges.

Flatter trajectory? Maybe. More shots per pound? Depends on the design of the minie. Reduced ricochets? Nope. But if you insist, bless yer heart.

 

[Sun City]

Springfield Rifled Muskets and RB go together akin to water/oil!! Just my opinion!

 

[BillinOregon]

A guy can hunt up a machinist with pin gauges to determine exact land and groove diameters of his particular repop barrel, then the shooter has the privilege of ordering what will probably be a custom mold and or sizers, then casting the minies, which can be pretty frustrating -- or he can pay through the nose for said projectiles from a vendor. On the other hand, the local Sportsman's, Cabelas or Bass Pro will likely have a box of pure lead swaged round balls from Hornady or Speer for under $15 bucks. A rag of denim, linen or pillow ticking, powder and caps and he is off shooting his Springfield. Unless re-enacting or skirmishing, shooting PRBs in military muskets makes all kinds of sense.

 

[lexington1]

Many years ago, like in the 70's, I had an Italian Zouave. I didn't have any bullets for it but did have a round ball mold. I found that it had pretty good accuracy, but it had to be kept pretty clean.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Lots of folks used to do this years ago. A patched round ball works very well in a rifled musket, even with shallow rifling. By using a roundball a shooter could use his musket in roundball rifle matches as well as musket matches.

 

[PastorB]

I don't have repros, but I do have several original rifled muskets. Patched round balls (.570) shoot very accurately in my rifles, using the standard 60 grain service charge. However, they impact very high above the point of aim, about 24" at 50 yards, compared to about 5" high with standard Minies. I can hold for 5" and still whack a deer, metal clanger, or a bowling pin, but would struggle to hold 2 ft. low and still hit my intended target. Not going to fiddle with my sights on an original, but on a repro I certainly would come up with a solution to get POA and POI in alignment.

 

[smoothshooter]

I do insist.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Flatter trajectory? Maybe. More shots per pound? Depends on the design of the minie. Reduced ricochets? Nope. But if you insist, bless yer heart.

Yall could have left out the "bless your heart"

 

[Adam in WI]

I don't think you can find a projectile that will ricochet worse than a round ball.

 

[towgunner11h]

Back when my eyesight was better I could expect cloverleaf groups at 50 yards with a Colt repro "artillery" musket, using iirc 70 grains of 2F Goex and a 015" patch. At 100 yards it would open up accordingly.