Round ball surface finish.

[hanshi]

I just tumble mine in an old Thumbler Tumbler. The sprue simply disappears.

 

[bpd303]

I only cast my ball's on the dark of the moon. No further treatment needed. :rotf: :wink:

 

[Billnpatti]

NO! NO! Never cast balls in the dark of the moon. Everybody knows that if you cast your balls in the dark of the moon that the demons will come out and ride your ball and make it erratic in flight. That's long been known to be a scientific fact. :haha: :haha: :bull:

 

[ron wehmeyer]

Yeah everybody knows that ! Only cast on the second Tuesday of the month. Never humpday balls.,,,DT

 

[BrownBear]

I've started using deer tallow to flux my lead.

Man what a difference! Deer can't see a ball coming, and the balls home in on deer like they're laser guided.

Been considering using snowshoe hare fat for my small caliber balls. Never miss a bunny head again. :grin:

 

[Mean Gene]

:youcrazy: sounds like vodo ballistics, but it is October after all.

 

[Dr5x]

You can tumble or whatever ritual grabs you, but in a ML rifle you will probably NEVER fire a round ball.
The roundness is removed when you short start it and give it straight sides with grooves cut into it, the front of the ball may be a bit squished into widness. The rear of the ball which sits on the powder my be the only thing that can be described as "round"..
When you short start your previously very round ball, you are extruding it into a somewhat different shape.
You might actually shoot a round ball but only in a smoothbore.

Excuse any typos as my vision is swiftly departing

Dutch


Dutch Schoultz

 

[John May]

Update on the surface finish. I shot cannon at the competition last week-end and didn't notice any significant advantage using the textured RB, however... In the same competition I used textured round ball in my .40 cal matchlock and shot a personal best of 84?? Nothing else had been altered, I used the same load of 30 grains of Swiss 1 powder driving a .390 cast RB with a 015" patch. The group was a lot closer than on previous occasions and I even managed to get all the scoring shots (we shoot 10/13) in the black at 25 metres. I will certainly be roughing the balls I use for this gun in future and if the results are purely psychological then I can happily live with that!

 

[George]

It's too bad George Hanger was never successful in his efforts on our behalf. Shooting would certainly be a lot less complicated if he had been. :wink:

General George Hanger to all Sportsmen, Farmers, and Gamekeepers, 1814:

"I should be extremely happy if it were in my power to instruct the Bunhill-Row and Spital-Fields Cockney-sportsmen, and other bad shots, how to improve in their shooting; but, after much reflection and study, I find it totally out of my power. However, I am labouring for their advantage, and with no small doubt of making my fortune also, should I succeed: it is by the invention of STRAIGHT POWDER. But, hitherto, I have failed of finding an effectual composition to mix with gunpowder, to make it shoot straight; and have been equally as unsuccessful as the chemists have been in their endeavours, to find out the philosopher’s stone, who have wanted nothing to complete their long-wished-for object but a perfect powder of projection. However, like them, I do not despair; but shall labour on with assiduity, to find out some composition, for the benefit of all bad shots, which will make powder shoot straight."

Spence

 

[peter5761]

Go hit a golf ball with no dimples then one with you will see the difference I have. BTW I play off 5. There is a scientific reason Ping spend millions on ball development. Must be for some reason.

 

[Bo T]

Not many shots with a golf ball spin perpendicular to the flight path. And, how many golfers can consistently get within a couple or three inches of their target at 100 yds?

 

[Wes/Tex]

It's too bad George Hanger was never successful in his efforts on our behalf. Shooting would certainly be a lot less complicated if he had been. :wink:

General George Hanger to all Sportsmen, Farmers, and Gamekeepers, 1814:

"I should be extremely happy if it were in my power to instruct the Bunhill-Row and Spital-Fields Cockney-sportsmen, and other bad shots, how to improve in their shooting; but, after much reflection and study, I find it totally out of my power. However, I am labouring for their advantage, and with no small doubt of making my fortune also, should I succeed: it is by the invention of STRAIGHT POWDER. But, hitherto, I have failed of finding an effectual composition to mix with gunpowder, to make it shoot straight; and have been equally as unsuccessful as the chemists have been in their endeavours, to find out the philosopher’s stone, who have wanted nothing to complete their long-wished-for object but a perfect powder of projection. However, like them, I do not despair; but shall labour on with assiduity, to find out some composition, for the benefit of all bad shots, which will make powder shoot straight."

Spence

Thanks compadre...remembered his comment from a few years back but have been unable to find it till now. The man had a lot to teach us in the 'common sense' field! Still my personal conviction, for his time and ours, people are trying to hard and would enjoy things much more if they kept it simple and developed a wee bit more stalking skills! OK...end of sermon, thanks again! :wink: :thumbsup:

 

[hanshi]

A balls surface is the last thing on my mind when I go shoot. I often tumble them after casting simply to smooth the sprue and any imperfections. It seems to me that just going to a .005" larger ball would do the trick without rolling them on a file.

 

[necchi]

It's too bad George Hanger was never successful in his efforts,,

:grin: :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

You can tumble or whatever ritual grabs you, but in a ML rifle you will probably NEVER fire a round ball.
The roundness is removed when you short start it and give it straight sides with grooves cut into it, the front of the ball may be a bit squished into widness. The rear of the ball which sits on the powder my be the only thing that can be described as "round"..
When you short start your previously very round ball, you are extruding it into a somewhat different shape.
You might actually shoot a round ball but only in a smoothbore.

Excuse any typos as my vision is swiftly departing

Dutch


Dutch Schoultz

Amen, Bro.
This is basic info often forgotten or ignored.