Rice Smooth Barrel 20g ball size

[Micah Clark]

Just a quick and simple question . . .I am building a Chambers PA fowler . . it has a Rice Oct to Round barrel in .62 / 20 gauge.

I am curious if others have this barrel what size ball do you shoot?

I measured the ID before a show - forget off hand what it was - and bought some .585 & .590 size, but I wonder if that's too small.

 

[tenngun]

I have one rice barrel. Both .595 and .600 shoot well in it. Smoothies can be a lot more forgiving then them rifle guns.

 

[Micah Clark]

Thank you . . I'll pick up some .600 . . sounds like I am pretty close with what I have. It will be a while before I am shooting this project anyway.

 

[tenngun]

When I built my centermark they recommended 80 grain charge. I shot 80,went to 75 and things didn't improve. Then I tried 85 groups opened so I stayed with 80. Last year I read about people using 65 and it shooting well. Tried that and improved s lot. You might find 60/65 work real well.

 

[Tinker2]

My 20 is my go to deer gun I use a .595 PRB and 55 grains of 2F





William Alexander

 

[Cruzatte]

I have a Caywood R. Wilson model fusil, also in .60/20 ga. Since I don't patch the ball, I use a .610 in it with 60 gr. 2Fg, felt over powder wad, tow, the ball, and then tow on top.

 

[Micah Clark]

Thank you, this is all helpful info. Much appreciated.

 

[Ranger1759]

Keep the .585s...I use newsprint and .575/.585 roundball to make military style paper cartridges. I used 90 grains of 2f, bite and prime with it also, then shove ball and paper down....accuracy is reasonable out to 50/60 yards...

 

[Elnathan]

Sure it is a Rice? Last I heard Jim's smoothbore 20s came from Longhammock. Rice doesn't do smoothbores at all, unless something has changed recently.

 

[kurts]

I've got a rice 58 cal smooth bore 44" swamped oct.

 

[kurts]

I've got a rice 58 cal smooth bore 44" swamped oct. c wt

 

[SDSmlf]

Rice web site says "Calibers: 32, 36, 40, 45, 50, 54, 58, & 62 Rifled or Smooth".

 

[Tinker2]

Rice web site says "Calibers: 32, 36, 40, 45, 50, 54, 58, & 62 Rifled or Smooth".

Yep, I got one of his .36's smooth




Great barrels

William

 

[Micah Clark]

I am not sure about Chambers and Long Hammock barrels, now . . .

I talked to Jim and because I am cheap and poor, I asked about a Rice barrel because they have a booth at the NMLRA shoot in Friendship, IN and Jim goes there too. So to save on shipping I asked Jim to bring my kit and Jason at Rice to bring by barrel, and I drove down there and avoided some or all shipping costs since i was going to the shoot anyway.

 

[md2020]

I have a Green Mountain .615 bore in which i have to use .595 and pillow ticking .600 is rediculous to load

 

[Rifleman1776]

Thank you . . I'll pick up some .600 . . sounds like I am pretty close with what I have. It will be a while before I am shooting this project anyway.

Try them, will work OK. But as barrel gets dirty will be hard to load. As long as you are not casting (yet) also try some .595s. I believe you will be more happier. :grin:

 

[David Coulter]

Hi folks, I measured my Chambers Pa Fowler muzzle and only got about 610 or 609 and even less about an inch in. Could be I’m measuring inconsistently as I’m in the newby category. I’m wondering what sized balls to order. Thanks, dc

 

[Notchy Bob]

Rice doesn't do smoothbores at all, unless something has changed recently.

The Rice Barrels "Specifications" webpage shows octagon-to-round smooth bore barrels in.50, .54, .58, and 20, 16, 12, 10, and 8 gauge.

Best regards,

Notchy Bob

 

[Rich]

Measure the bore first. My .62 is .613 and I shoot .600 RB with .018 or .020 patch.

 

[rick1964]

chambers uses rice barrels now have for a good while i have used 2 of the 46" long 20 gauges. ball size will depend on how you are wanting to load it. with a cloth patch i use 12th super muslin lube with olive oil and then spit. with a 600 cast ball from a lyman mold. if using a cloth patch any thicker prolly going to load hard so drop to 595 ball. or bare ball it using a over powder card again a 600 ball but need to foul the barrel some to shoot. Rick