Proper ball size for .41 derringer?

[biologist]

I just bought my first muzzleloader - was at a gun show and couldn't resist. It is a used .41 cal Italian made percussion derringer. Actually has a rifled barrel. Does anyone know what size ball and approximately what size charge I should be using. I have been firing split shot fishing sinkers (about .36 to .37 - they are far from round) with 10 grains of FFFG. Accuracy is poor but it is great fun!

 

[Zonie]

Hornady makes a .395 diameter ball. They are commonly used in .40 caliber rifles but if you find some patching that is about .018 thick (like WalMarts red/white or blue/white pillow ticking) they should work quite nicely in your .41.

They might be a little hard to start into the muzzle because they will have an effective diameter of .431 and while the cloth will compress it might need some persuasion.

The next smaller standard ball is .375 which with a .018 thick patch would have an effective diameter of .411. That should be a "push it in with a pencil" fit.

Now for some strange non Historically Correct ideas, you could try to get some lead bullets for a 10mm Pistol. These bullets are .401 diameter.

My Cabela's shooting catalog says they have 135 grain round nose copper plated bullets for about $14.50 for a box of 250.
These wrapped with a .010 thick patch might work pretty good over 10-13 grains of FFFg or Pyrodex P.
Zonie

 

[bwhoffman]

Biologist,
I recently acquired a .41 cal derringer smoothbore. Posted the same type question here with zilch response, so I winged it.
I found a .400 rb mould and patched to it for fit.
I found that an .010 did ok, but mines a tad different from yours.
I am told that the .400 is a tough one to find, but there are makers out there that can make any size you need for a fair price, I think tanner is in the links section.

Brett

 

[torn moc]

I know...it is fun to shoot yer 1st muzzleloader..keep in mind that shooting split shot sinkers aint doing yer rifeling any good at all.....try to find the correct ball & patch combo...and then have fun..the right way
let us know how things turn out

 

[Don]

A .395 ball with a patch is the way to go with your derringer. May have to experiment with different patch thicknesses but the .395 ball is what you need to start.

Don

 

[TN.Frank]

Yep, I'd go with a .395" ball and patch it to fit. That'll give ya' a good reason to buy a nice 40cal flint rifle, heck, you'll already have the ammo for it,LOL. :winking:

 

[torn moc]

Hey Frank, thats how I ended up with a whole room of front stuffers....fun aint it?

 

[TN.Frank]

Yep, don't ever throw away anything. I have some 12ga wads that I got about 10 years ago for a double that I had, now I'm getting another double and guess what, I've got wads for it, no need to buy any. I had a 50 cal round ball mold for a few years with no gun to shot them in but I hung onto it and finally picked up a 50cal flintlock. That would make a neat little belt gun for a nice 40cal rifle though since you can feed em' both with the same ball. :winking:

 

[biologist]

Thanks for the info folks. I am going to get some .395 round balls and see how they shoot. If they do well, I will buy a mould. It is so much fun shooting the derringer that I suspect it is just the first of many front-stuffers in the gun cabinet.

 

[torn moc]

Yep....next ya need a full sized kentucky...just to see the difference in power...then some revolvers and rifles too!!!.
cant never have enough!!!! I try to buy one every payday!!!

 

[TN.Frank]

Don't forget the smoothbores. A good double barrel shotgun or a nice flint fowler can be used for small game with shot or large game with round balls. Truly a versital gun to own. :v