Shooting 45 cal ball in a 50 cal muzzleloader
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dragnetbill
36 Cal.
Interesting question. I've never tried it, but, I'd be surprised if nobody has. My guess would be that the integrity of the patch material could be vital to good performance. My other guess is that the rifle would probably shoot the lighter/smaller ball to a different point of impact.
Another thought just occurred to me. If by chance all stars would align and you discovered that you could accurately shoot .32, .36, .45, .50, and .54 round balls out of the same rifle with a variety of patch thicknesses you would find it impossible not to shout it from the roof top with pride. Unfortunately, She Who Must Be Obeyed would most probably respond with, "Great dear; that means you only need ONE rifle!"
GANGGREEN
45 Cal.
I think the over-riding question would be, why would you want to? I'm sure it can be done, but I doubt that the outcome would be that impressive, so why do it?
I guess you could. Sounds like a little wheel reinventing going on here.
"I think the over-riding question would be, why would you want to? I'm sure it can be done, but I doubt that the outcome would be that impressive, so why do it? "
That just about sums things up.
The movie "Pale Rider" comes to mind, "Isn't that kinda dumb mister".
That just about sums things up.
The movie "Pale Rider" comes to mind, "Isn't that kinda dumb mister".
Thank you
Don’t run off Kap, you presented an interesting question. I think if I were in the woods very early in the morning and fifty miles from home, only to find out I brought 45 call balls for my 50 cal rifle I would give it a try. I would be curious though as to how many patches it would take.
Griz44Mag
70 Cal.
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I will at least partially answer your question.
I was at the range one day with my 45 Pennsylvania.
A young man with a 50 TC showed up and set up next to me.
He was a brand new BP shooter, so when he bought ammunition for his new toy, he bought some 50 cal conicals, that were too big to even get started down the bore. He assumed the size should have been oversized like you do for those others.....
I only had .445 balls with me, so I helped him load up a .45 wrapped with 2X.018 patches.
So the .445 ball + .036 (x2) patch thickness made for a nice tight load - and they shot exceptionally well for him.
It saved his day - and made my day a pretty happy one because I get as much enjoyment out of helping a new shooter as I do shooting my own. The final load we used for him as a .445 ball, a .018 and a .015 patch (minked) with 65gr of his Pyrodex powder.
So get some thicker patches if you need to, or double up what you have, our BP guns are very forgiving of loads and patches - and are fun no matter what we shoot out of them.
I was at the range one day with my 45 Pennsylvania.
A young man with a 50 TC showed up and set up next to me.
He was a brand new BP shooter, so when he bought ammunition for his new toy, he bought some 50 cal conicals, that were too big to even get started down the bore. He assumed the size should have been oversized like you do for those others.....
I only had .445 balls with me, so I helped him load up a .45 wrapped with 2X.018 patches.
So the .445 ball + .036 (x2) patch thickness made for a nice tight load - and they shot exceptionally well for him.
It saved his day - and made my day a pretty happy one because I get as much enjoyment out of helping a new shooter as I do shooting my own. The final load we used for him as a .445 ball, a .018 and a .015 patch (minked) with 65gr of his Pyrodex powder.
So get some thicker patches if you need to, or double up what you have, our BP guns are very forgiving of loads and patches - and are fun no matter what we shoot out of them.
If you have a 50 cal rifle and some 45 cal balls on hand, why not try it. It won't hurt the rifle and you will know the answer to your question. Where's your sense of adventure?
I think similar experiences have been reported on the Forum. One would do as @Griz44Mag has done and applied a double patch to the ball.
I seem to recall on one of the Woods Walks, as part of the scenario one of the team lost his pouch and balls. To keep him shooting, we furnished undersized balls and patching.
Yes, you can shoot a way undersized ball with enough patching to engage the rifling. Do expect the group size to open up some..
I seem to recall on one of the Woods Walks, as part of the scenario one of the team lost his pouch and balls. To keep him shooting, we furnished undersized balls and patching.
Yes, you can shoot a way undersized ball with enough patching to engage the rifling. Do expect the group size to open up some..
The reason I'm bringing it up. I built a tradions percussion over 25 years ago when my middle boy was young. It was his project. With all of this crazyness going on with politics, I picked up the gun and tried to shoot it. MY first time for BP rifle. Didn't know anything about it. A gentleman at the range helped me out. He shoots a TC inline for PA deer season ( Allegheny county ) When I asked him about a 50 cal with 45 cal sabots, he told me they do that for speed and distance. The bug has bit me and I plan on getting a flintlock soon as they become available. I have a ton of cast 45 cal balls, but nobody has the molds in stock for a 50 cal. I do shoot a 45 cal 1858 traditions BP revolver on ocassion. I'm having more fun now than I have ever had shooting. I quit hunting over 25 years ago, but i'm starting to get the urge again. I thank everyoone for their answers.
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longcruise
70 Cal.
Why must there be a reason "why"? 
Ofcourse it will work. But consider a firewall. Maybe corn flour on top of the charge.
Mad Professor
50 Cal.
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He's asking about a 45 cal PRB, not a bullet in plastic suppository. Not sure if he was thinking of multiple patches or trying a plastic POS?
To OP use the 45 balls in the revolver, get a 45 barrel for the rifle, or the 45 flinter .
As a side note, there was a member Roundball, who experimented with shooting patched marbles out of his MLer.
Mad Professor
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OP wad with the buffer on top of that like a shotgun load. Would need a "patch/es" tight enough to grab the rifling
N.Y. Yankee
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I have asked about this in the past and got fairly decent replies. I would think though that if one were to use a doubled patch and could get it loaded and seated relatively easily, one might get fairly decent accuracy with it.
Griz44Mag
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I was on a hunting trip and one guy on that trip killed a nice buck with a marble he bought at the toy store that morning.
Yes, it is a deadly round at 80 yards!
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I took my .36 to the range one day and found I only brought balls in the .32, .45 revolver and .50 rifle. Since the .36 was the only muzzleloader I brought, I double/triple patched the .310 round balls and shot them in the .36. They shot fine, but weren't all that accurate. This has been a could of years ago and I was only shooting at 25 yards. A .440 ball in a 50 caliber would be about .060 of patching compressed which would equate to 3-4 layers of your normal patch. I suspect you would get smooth bore accuracy.
hanshi
Cannon
As long as the patching is thick enough to hold the ball tight in the bore it will shoot it with reasonable accuracy. You may have to double or triple the patch - I've done that - to make it work out. And a wad of something or other between patched ball and powder also helps.
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