Small bore questions

[Col. Batguano]

So as I understand what you're saying is that you use your normal patch & ball combo, PLUS an additional cleaning patch on top of the ball as you are seating it? I suppose that could help in getting at the fouling the patch & lube didn't get, but it would certainly get more if the operation of swabbing happened BEFORE the ball was seated.

Sounds like closing the barn door after the horse is gone to me.

 

[Crow-Feather]

Contemplating building a TOW SMR in small bore but have never even shot anything below 45 cal.

Have read that 32's and 36's are kinda finicky in the fouling dept. Are they needy in the patching dept between shots?

My suspected needs for this rifle will be small game, lotza targets and tin cans as well as the most dangerous targets ... the mean and hungry shotgun birdy's (clay pucks). I feel the need for shooting soft accurate fun in the 0-50 yards with small charges to get the most shots per pound and the most ball's per pound.

Guess what my main query is just how much of a pain is a 32 to 40 gonna be?

My 62 shooting patched ball's can go till I get tired of shooting
My 50's and 54's go around 8 to 10 shots before needing to swab them out.
My 58's seem to do very well with minies but prb's are bout like the 50 and 54's.

I find this to be very acceptable so question again ... how different will a small bore be?

I had a 32, still have a 36 and 40. I make my round balls and they have a sprue. Getting the sprue from a 32 right side up was a pain for my thick fingers. My wife shoots a 36 and loves it both for accuracy and recoil. I have a poor boy in 40 and find it to be much the same as the 36.

 

[hanshi]

I agree that a patch with a good lube wipes the bore "clean" when the prb is seated. Some lubes just form more gunk.

 

[bigted]

Well got my barrel ... a Colorane 40 with round bottom rifling. She is Oct to round and swamped. It is an A profile . Hefting that little barrel is a treat. Bet it only weighs round 4 pounds.

Now to find a stock for it. Then a nice little flint lock.

Wheww this is gonna take some time. Shoulda just bought a kit from somebody.