Reconfire85
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How do I determine what Size ball my new pistol takes? Its slightly smaller than my .50 balls for my rifle.
Size ball
- Thread starter Reconfire85
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Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Depends on what caliber for starters. .45 is slightly smaller than .50 :idunno:
nwtradegun
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need more info. single shot, revolver. make etc.
Reconfire85
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Single Shot German Target Pistol.
You will need to know the exact bore size by having it measured if you want to use balls that will give good accuracy.
Once the bore size is known you need to subtract a value that will provide clearance for the patch.
This is usually about .010.
For example being German I'll assume for a minute that it has a metric sized bore of 10mm.
That is equal to .394 inches.
Subtracting .010 from the bore size gives a ball size of .384.
That's not a commonly available size but looking at the Track of the Wolf site they have some balls that are .380 which would work.
Pistols don't need the tight ball and patch combinations that rifles use so using that .380 ball with a .010 thick cotton patch would work fine.
I know this example isn't going to give you the right size but you should be able to see what I did so after you find out what your pistols bore size really is you should be able to figure it out.
Here's a link to Track of the Wolf's lead ball's.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/127/1
(edit) You guys who shoot cap and ball revolvers can't use the above to determine the right ball size.
Cap & ball revolvers use oversize balls without a patch so the right ball size will be .002 to .007 larger than the diameter of the pistols chambers.
Once the bore size is known you need to subtract a value that will provide clearance for the patch.
This is usually about .010.
For example being German I'll assume for a minute that it has a metric sized bore of 10mm.
That is equal to .394 inches.
Subtracting .010 from the bore size gives a ball size of .384.
That's not a commonly available size but looking at the Track of the Wolf site they have some balls that are .380 which would work.
Pistols don't need the tight ball and patch combinations that rifles use so using that .380 ball with a .010 thick cotton patch would work fine.
I know this example isn't going to give you the right size but you should be able to see what I did so after you find out what your pistols bore size really is you should be able to figure it out.
Here's a link to Track of the Wolf's lead ball's.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/127/1
(edit) You guys who shoot cap and ball revolvers can't use the above to determine the right ball size.
Cap & ball revolvers use oversize balls without a patch so the right ball size will be .002 to .007 larger than the diameter of the pistols chambers.
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