Round Ball patch idea...???

[Regulis7]

I mostly shoot patched round balls in my ml's and have been looking for an easier, less messy way for loading.

Thinking about taking a slightly large patch and wrapping the ball entirely, tie the open end with thread and snip the excess material with scissors, then lube the patch. This way I could carry 50 pre-patched, pre-lubed balls per tin in my shooting bag.

Any comments or feedback on this? Any chance of the tied end causing problems when the round is fired? Will load the round with the tied end facing the muzzle.

Regulis7

 

[musketman]

Interesting idea...
Would the patch sepperate from the round ball after it was stored a while?

I used a hard wood loading block before, that held ten .54 caliber patched round balls.

If you try it, let us know how it works.

 

[Claude Mathis]

A more traditional way to have your patch and ball ready would be to use a loading block. This device is documentable and works fairly well.

Simply drill holes the size of your caliber and "load" your lubed patch and ball into them.

Here's a photo of one I made. I made a small starter to push the ball just inside the barrel.

 

[Regulis7]

The loading block is something I have thought about too, made a mockup model last week out of pine just to see if I was on the right track.

I am gonna get some harder wood this afternoon and make one that will hold at least 8 rounds of .50cal PRB. The little starter thing is a neat idea.

I did try to wrap some round balls with patching material, used sewing thread to tie the open end and a dab of parafin wax to help seal the affair. Not sure how this will turn out though, kinda reminds me of a fly tying episode I went through several years ago...LOL Anyway, the knot made for a pretty big protrusion on the forward end of the ball, and this concerns me a bit when firing.

Well, another fun filled weekend working on my muzzleloader.

Regulis7

 

[musketman]

Regulis7:

If you recall, there has been many Civil War bullets and round balls that have been tied this way.

The linen and paper cartridge was one of these.
I'm showing these to let you see how it was tied at the top.