Round ball size for .720 cylinder bore

[Rfp10000]

I have a newer Pedersoli Coach gun sxs . I wanted to try round balls without patch, just an overshot card. It’s .720 cylinder bore according to Pedersoli. Can you recommend a size ball to use?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Try a 0.715 ball. I would recommend a nest of tow to hold the ball in place. Get some manila or hemp twine and shred some 3" to 4" lengths of twine into a nest of strands.

 

[Rfp10000]

Try a 0.715 ball

Would you expect that size still might need some ramming to get it down especially after shooting a bit? … I have a nice strong hickory ramrod with a 12 gauge tulip that should work fine ..
Right now I have over powder and cushion wads on hand to try.

 

[Grenadier1758]

After shooting a bit, the fouling will build up and start to make loading difficult.

 

[Elgatodeacero]

I have a TC New Englander 12 gauge smooth bore and the bore measures .735 before the choke tube.

I use a .690 ball with a .020 ticking patch and it shoots pretty good at 50 yards. I do install a cylinder bore choke tube when shooting round ball. This loads very easy even after a few shots.

 

[Ray-Vigo]

If it's a cylinder, measure the bore diameter with a set of calipers before settling on a ball size. Usually .715 is good if shooting with just ball and wad, but it will get tight if the bore begins to foul. I've also used a .690 with a heavy denim patch, and that shoots well. But the bore size as listed in the spec sheet is a nominal number, and sometimes you get an actual diameter that is a little different on the particular gun you buy.

 

[Rfp10000]

the bore size as listed in the spec sheet is a nominal number, and sometimes you get an actual diameter that is a little different on the particular gun you buy

Good call … using digital calipers I got more like .715 on the cylinder bore barrels so the .715 balls I tried were understandably tight … some dropped down fine but others did not seem to fit. I did not push it because I felt there was no need to end up with a stuck ball thread
It seems the .690 would be better for this gun if I want to try this m.

I am really only trying a round ball in the shotgun to see how it works and didn’t intend patching it but just wanted to try something with a relatively close fit that wouldn’t get stuck using nitro card , cushion wad and over powder card.

 

[Rifleman1776]

FWIW, I used a .715" in my Ped. Brown Bess.

 

[59sharps]

I use a .715 in my .72 Potsdam. Can get about 12 shots off before I have trouble loading. I dip them trice in 50/50 beeswax crisco . 55 gr or 69 gr 2ffg give me the same group size. Point of aim is a little different. Haven’t tried 3fffg yet. Will sometime this spring. A few guys i know have gone to the 3fffg from 2ffg w reduced load.

 

[FlinterNick]

I use a .685 ball paper cartridge in my .72 caliber Charleville, same as a Brown Bess cartridge.

 

[Rfp10000]

I use a .685 ball paper cartridge in my .72 caliber Charleville, same as a Brown Bess cartridge.

Thanks … when I actually measured the nominal cylinder bore of .720 it turned out to be .715. Thus the .715 balls I bought were indeed too tight for a reason. Some would Drop in & others would get stuck a bit an inch or so down. I didn’t want to enter the stuck ball thread crowd so I figure a .690 would probably be what I’d want … I’ve just been sticking with shot and actually played with wax slugs a bit which did work but I didn’t pursue it ..

 

[tenngun]

Play with it a bit. Patching a round ball may have been unknown before the 1840s but a patched .690 or smaller May work well for you.
Look up ‘chewed balls’ some folks get great results.
In my .62 I’ve shot .575 in a paper cartridge that gave deer accuracy out to fifty yards.
Also think big. A .700 or .690 with a larger powder charge May do wonders for you with bare ball and just a wad on top
Smoothies are forgiving of what you feed them. And you may find several ‘best loads’
Many of us find a smoothie will print two holes within an inch and the third shot wild, I can’t explain it, but see it often, and I wipe between shots
Try a lot before you settle

 

[Timber Wolf]

Don’t know about unpatched, but I shot my CVA SXS 12 bore last weekend with patched .690 balls. I did not do an exhaustive session, but a load of a .690 ball, patched with .020 (thickest patch I had) over a home made Durafelt greased wad and a thin over powder card propelled by 80 grains Pyrodex RS shows great promise. I would like to try some larger balls, but may try some thicker patch material first. Although to be honest, the above load probably shoots “better than I can”.