Real stupid question!!

[Nor Cal Mikie]

From the question I'am about to ask you'll know that I'am real new to this black powder thing. :redface:
Whats the difference between a "round ball" and a "mini ball"?
Got a stash of different size "round balls" but a mini??

 

[Doc Arroyo]

From the question I'am about to ask you'll know that I'am real new to this black powder thing. :redface:
Whats the difference between a "round ball" and a "mini ball"?
Got a stash of different size "round balls" but a mini??

A Minie ball is a hollow based conical bullet that was designed by a Frenchman, and used with deadly results during the American Civil War (among others). In current times, it has been redesigned by numerous makers to provide a heavy hunting bullet for muzzleloading hunters.

Mostly, I find conicals to be accurate rifles that are made for them, but a little abusive on recoil. I switched back to a .490 round ball for my .50 caliber flinter 15 years ago, and never looked back.

By the way, we were all new to this stuff at one time or another. Welcome to one of the greatest hobbies (lifestyles) in the modern world!

PS- Where at in Nor Cal?

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Doc: I see you're on the other side of the hill from me. I'am 125 miles North of San Francisco. Just East of Hwy 101. Grass country. Not the mowing kind! :winkEmerald Triangle)

The "Front Loaders" are having a shoot this Sunday at the range so me and my shooting buddy are going to check it out.
I figure it will be a good time to learn something.
We're use to doing "bug holes" at 300 yards with out 6BR bench guns so this should be fun if not "just" a little different :grin: .

 

[shmrck1]

Mikie,
Let me just say for you and any other novice
to blackpowder that if you don't have the
answer to a question on your mind then there
is nothing stupid about asking the question.This is a friendly forum and we love to answer
questions.IMHO
snake-eyes:hatsoff:

 

[Many Klatch]

Mikey, a Dr. Minie in France invented the skirted projectile. It allowed troops to load a rifle as easily as they could load a smoothbore, yet shoot more accurately. The idea was that the Minie was slightly undersized and was rammed down on the powder. The action of ramming the ball onto the powder and the explosion of the powder caused the skirts to expand and contact the rifling. The Minie Ball made our Civil War especially deadly. We had tactics from the previous wars based on standing 50 yards from the opponent but this time the troops were aiming and shooting with rifles that were accurate to 200 yards.

Welcome to the club. I find that it is a lot more fun to spend a day at the range and getting in about 30 shots with my Flintlock than it is to spend 1 hour with a repeating weapon and shooting off 100 rounds, cheaper too.

Many Klatch

 

[bwhoffman]

so me and my shooting buddy are going to check it out.


I figure it will be a good time to learn something.
We're use to doing "bug holes" at 300 yards with out 6BR bench guns .

I used to do varmint rifles when I lived in central Oregon. it got old and expensive to get quality guns to shoot sub moa anddrill rock chucks repeatedly to about 350yds.
then I shot trap, breaking 100 wasnot good enough and it too got real expensive and a lot of attitiude.

So, like you, I hooked up with my friend and we started this BP stuff and have NEVER looked back!
its very relaxed, low key, nice folks, no ego's, I now spend in one year what I used to spend in two months shooting trap!

You DO NOT have to start out in this "game of ours" with a cadillac gun, a Nova will get you started just fine!
the choices... flint or caps, rifle style,caliber,rifled or smoothie, trapper or trader, 1700's or 1800's...it will all come in time!
so go out to your local club, bring all your stuff and hook up with someone there that will take both of you under their wing and walk you thru this stuff!
If you have wrong items or something you dont have, I will bet dollars to dounuts that someone there will be more than willing to stake you! thats the kind of folks you will meet!

one thing I would do prior to going...
Clean your barrels well and the flash channel, store your gun muzzle down and then wipe out with an alcohol moistened patch prior to arriving at the club range.
reason being, most show up the first time and have oil fouled in the breech end,have several misfires, spend most of their time pulling loads or being taught how to pull loads! leaves a bad taste in their mouths and they dont ever come back. A sad thing!
We started this game same way as you!....WELCOME!

Brett

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

One thing I've made sure of is that the flash channel is clean.
My pardner cleaned his rifle and when it came to fire it, it didn't! Got smoke from around the cap but no "bang". Tried it twice to be sure.
Figured out the nipple was plugged up solid. Couple of guys came by with nipple wrenches and picks and we got it sorted out. (won't happen again!)
I always pop a cap on mine to be sure it's clear before I load up. My buddy will be doing the same thing from now on! :wink:
My rifle gets cleaned with the nipple out and I can see the crud run out so I know the channel is clear. Barrel gets scrubbed, dried out and oiled up. Ready to go.
It's a learning thing and I'am enjoying every bit of it. Tomorrow should be fun! :grin:

 

[silverfox]

Nor Cal Glad to see you asking questions and learning along the way. The only thing I saw was you said I cleaner up real good with the nipple out to see the crud flow out then dry and Oil Her Up. Snap a cap before I load. Well before you go and snap a cap you need to be sure to clean the oil out of you barrel and dry it. Then snap a cap and load if it is clear.
Best of luck and have fun.
Fox :hatsoff:

 

[bucktales]

You DO NOT have to start out in this "game of ours" with a cadillac gun, a Nova will get you started just fine!
Brett

Now Brett, you're bound to hear from a Nova owner now :blah: .
I've had mine for 30 yrs, all restored and pushing close to 400 hp.
You don't want to know what they are fetching in today's market. :rotf:

 

[bwhoffman]

You DO NOT have to start out in this "game of ours" with a cadillac gun, a Nova will get you started just fine!
Brett

Now Brett, you're bound to hear from a Nova owner now :blah: .
I've had mine for 30 yrs, all restored and pushing close to 400 hp.
You don't want to know what they are fetching in today's market. :rotf:

Glad you still have yours! (400hp...wow!)
I had a 67 elcamino 327/300hp, M22, STOCK and not a flaw in it. wanted 4x4 in college, sold it. (1981)Looking back, I should have been shot, drawn and quarted or castrated. I dont know which :rotf:
the 67 would bring in about 22K around here these days.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
I was refering the caddy/nova thing to the intimidation factor brought on to the "new" players of our game that show up with cva's and other lesser guns.
those are what I started out with, still have and shoot and have out performed others several times over with same! Most of it is the shooterand not the gun!
"Run what ya brung"

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Well, today was the shoot. Had a "blast"!
About 30 of them to be exact. Found out I need to patch about every 8 or 10 rounds. Rod didn't want to go all the way down.
Had fun,learned a lot and will go back soon.
They treated us "rookies" real good.
Got it cleaned and "dried out". :wink:
Got one little short "gal" (the only one at the match) that cleaned house.
She sure knows her stuff. First thing that comes to mind is "ringer"!! She sure was good.
All in all a good day. :grin:

 

[bwhoffman]

Glad you had a great time with no major fubars!
so, when are you going back? :wink:

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

"Front Loaders" shoot is every 2nd Sunday of the month. I'll be sure to get in some "trigger time" between now and then. Maybe they'll quit calling me "rookie" when I show up. :wink: Good bunch of folks to be around. Lots of info to be had. Learned a lot in one morning. Everybody was ready to help. And you can teach an "old dog" new tricks! I'll take notes so I don't forget. :grin:

 

[bwhoffman]

You will be "rookie" until some other guy comes along to take your place :blah:

If you regularly shoot other diciplines, you might notice that those scores will probly go up!

my hand gun shooting has excelled, my trap shooting flinch is a ghost!

They way this works....you tell afriend, and they tell 2 friends, and they....
Bring/convert folks into this just like you have!

 

[Deadeye]

Hi Mikie, Glad to hear you had fun, wondering if Bob Fenton was there and also wondering if that was his wife that cleaned house. He used to be the black powder guru for the gun club. I shot there for 25 yrs but have been gone for 16 yrs. now.

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

This little gal and husband might be pushing 50?
I think her name was Tammy? Too busy watching her ring the gongs.
Didn't get any names. I was too busy taking care of myself and trying not to look too bad! :wink:
She was out shooting him! :thumbsup:

 

[Deadeye]

Sounds kinda like them except he's about your age
but may look younger, tall, about 6'3". If that's
Bob, he's a good man to know if your interested in
muzzleloading. Lives over near the Broiler Steakhouse in Redwood Valley. He taught his wife to shoot and now she outshoots him.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Happens all of the time with the women folk! We teach 'em how to shoot and they learn too good :surrender: . Most men know how to shoot, or THINK THEY DO, whereas most women know they don't, so they watch, listen and ask lots of questions, to the point that they KNOW how to shoot just as you FORGOT :rotf: .

My Son's girlfriend is a classic example. She can shoot doubles from a foot-pedal Trius trap easier than my Son! A regular Annie Oakley. Guys down the range tease me and call her my future Daughter-inlaw :haha: .

Now to the original poster: Don't dismiss the accuracy of those big .58 cal Minnie's...one of the guys at one of the clubs that I belong to once used a set of crossed sticks to shoot his Zouve and man could that thing shoot! Put 3 shots into a ragged single hole at 100 yards :applause: . Just remember that the Minnies come in two flavors: Thin Skirt and Thick Skirt, with different load developements required for each, as a thin skirt is easily blown when you use too much powder :blah: .

Hope that this helps.

Dave

 

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Deadeye: Not the same folks. I asked where she was from and she mentioned Forestville, just North of the Santa Rosa area. I'll keep an eye out for them and I expect to learm more as I go along. Good bunch of folks to play with. Really looking forward to our next get together. I'am about due for another "fix"! :wink:
If they live in Redwood Valley, they probably belong to the club. I'll get names next time! Thanks. Mike.