Smallest ball possible?

[CyrusP]

Hello. A mostly theoretical question if I may. How small a ball can one use in a smoothbore assuming the patch(es) make up the difference?

The context is if one were in a situation where all they had were smaller balls and distance was up close and personal. My Pedersoli Howdah 20 gauge is my first smoothbore and I am enamored to say the least.

Thanks in advance.

 

[user 49399]

I don’t have a ball mold for my .62 caliber Fusil de Chasse. I normally use shot in it for squirrel hunting. So, I use .495 round balls in paper cartridges when I want to plink with round balls. I have also used this size round ball nested in tow.

Using paper cartridges, I can hit a coke can most of the time at 25 yards. Using tow I can hit a basketball size target at 25 yards.

 

[CyrusP]

Thanks for the info. She’s a lovely piece, by the way!

 

[Maven]

Hello. A mostly theoretical question if I may. How small a ball can one use in a smoothbore assuming the patch(es) make up the difference?

The context is if one were in a situation where all they had were smaller balls and distance was up close and personal. My Pedersoli Howdah 20 gauge is my first smoothbore and I am enamored to say the least.

Thanks in advance.

Based on what I've read about 20ga. smoothies, I think .595" is as small as I'd want to go. Finding such a RB will be another matter though.

 

[Many Klatch]

Check out www.ballmoulds.com. They make custom sized brass moulds in any size. I have several, they all throw exactly the right sized ball. The moulds fit standard handles. They don't have sprue cutters so you have to cut the sprue off after the lead cools. Back before covid I could usually get one in the mail a week after I ordered it, no idea how long it would take now.

 

[Robby]

I would think you could use any sized ball you have on hand by adding more and more patching till you get a fairly snug fit. The blow by will pretty much center it enough for your purpose.
Robby

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Hello. A mostly theoretical question if I may. How small a ball can one use in a smoothbore assuming the patch(es) make up the difference?

The context is if one were in a situation where all they had were smaller balls and distance was up close and personal. My Pedersoli Howdah 20 gauge is my first smoothbore and I am enamored to say the least.

Thanks in advance.

Well the Howdah pistol was an "up close and personal" gun meant to get the angry tiger that one had just shot, off the elephant where one is seated and away from you and the Mahout who is chauffeuring you around the jungle. So there were two schools of thought, and one was you wanted a large single ball to get the job done and the other was that you wanted a nice load of buckshot to get the widest area of damage on the cat..., but not sure how the second method would do for the poor elephant beneath it all....

IF it's not rifled, I'd say you can use as small as a .590 ball if you make the paper cartridge right. The paper cartridge will act as a sort of "shot cup" for you. I have a .590 mold for my 20 gauge fusil, and I use paper cartridges for that. Especially if you used a fiber wad between the powder and the paper encased ball, you get more velocity using the same amount of powder, than with the heavier .610 ball.

LD

 

[CyrusP]

Thank you everyone.

 

[hanshi]

My .62 smoothbore has a bore that's a bit tighter than some, .600" ball works well if the patch is thin. I have a .590" mold and the ball shoots pretty well with a double patch or a thicker single patch.

 

[Black Powder Guy]

Muzzleloader Builder's Supply has a few 50 caliber smoothbore barrels on their page. A .490 ball and a .015 patch would be nice in one of those.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Although larger that the British ordnance ball of 0.690", I shoot a 0.715" ball in my 0.770" bore of my Bess. Several wraps of paper seem to center the ball well and performance is okay. I trust the gas plasma to center ball on firing.

 

[CyrusP]

I went to Dixon’s in PA yesterday (my happy place) and bought 100 .600 round balls, .010 lubed patches, 20 gauge fiber cushion wads and some tools as well. Also scored a 250-pack of RWS caps. No powder as expected. I have an assortment of pillow ticking in various thicknesses as well. I’ve also been making cork wads with a 5/8 punch that work nicely. I’m shooting shot as well.

 

[tenngun]

I shoot a .600 in my TFC, .575 whit a paper cartridge
Duelist 54 Mike Beluve shot his .69 charley real well with some .600 ball on you tube.
A smoothie is more forgiving.