This week, I get a little more serious.
I test the accuracy of .480 round balls verses .490's in a 50 caliber flintlock, enjoy:
I test the accuracy of .480 round balls verses .490's in a 50 caliber flintlock, enjoy:
Testing the Accuracy of .480's verses .490's in a 50 caliber flintlock...
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Working up a powder load on each diameter ball would be necessary to do an even test.
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I use a .480 ball in my .50 longrifle, but use a felt wad under the patched ball. I use that combo for deer hunting because it’s a load that goes down easily without a short starter and using only the hickory ramrod. Yet, it groups just as well as a tight, patch only load that requires a short starter and range rod. My powder charge is 70 grains 2F swiss or Old Eyensford.
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I have one .50 that shoots .480s and one that shoots .490s. My Tradition Frontier has a tight bore and likes .480s and my CVA plainsman likes .490s. The Tradition likes 60grs of 3F and the CVA likes 70grs of 3F.
.480s shoot as well for me as .490s and load easier.
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Banjoman
Hillbilly
One of the things I like about your videos is that you shoot like I do. If I can hit a gallon milk jug at thirty yards with a easy loading muzzleloader, I’m happy.
Sniperdoc
32 Cal
When I built my Flintlock approx 25 years ago, I shot .490s over 50 grains of Goex, through a 36", 1" diameter, Green Mountain barrel.
Considering that it was the first one I built (actually built vs kit), and there were plenty of mistakes, it shot pretty well
Absolutely!
I much prefer shooting milk jugs, still, bowling pins, etc verses paper and that's why I pour triple the number of .480's verses .490's. I seldom get involved with shooting matches preferring to shoot the above targets.
I leave that precision shooting to the professionals because I'm not much good at that.
I shoot for the thrill of pulling the trigger.
Hitting the target is just a bonus.
I have two .50's, a flintlock and a percussion that I regularly switch back and forth with for deer hunting. Both are long rifles with 42 inch barrels. However, the percussion mics at .509 while the flintlock mics at .502. Different barrel makers, and I'm not taking the barrels off to check who made which.
In the percussion with the .509 barrel I can shoot .490 balls all day. .495 is a tighter fit and is better if I want to do some precision target shooting, but the difference in group size really isn't all that much.
The flintlock, however, with the .502 bore gives me fits when I try to load a .490 ball. It is very tight. So, I use a .480 ball in that rifle, and it works fine.
Don't ask what patch thickness I use. I have never bothered to measure my patches. I use whatever works. Usually that is standard pillow ticking from WallyWorld, but I have used everything from old shirts to worn-out underwear. Although I recently bought one yard of "Waverly 100% cotton". The package says it is for "Crafting, Quilting, Apparel, and Home Decor Projects". I think I paid $1.98 for it. I haven't tried it yet. It feels a little thinner to my fingers than does the pillow ticking. I'll try it after the New Year.
My standard hunting load for both .50 caliber rifles is 70 grs. of 3F.
I also have a chunkgun in .50 caliber. In that one I always use a tight fitting .495 ball for precision target shooting. I haven't measured the bore on that rifle. My load for that is 90 grs. of 3F for use on 60 yard "over-the-log" shooting matches. Same patch material. But I'm not going to carry this 16-pound rifle out in the hunting fields.
In the percussion with the .509 barrel I can shoot .490 balls all day. .495 is a tighter fit and is better if I want to do some precision target shooting, but the difference in group size really isn't all that much.
The flintlock, however, with the .502 bore gives me fits when I try to load a .490 ball. It is very tight. So, I use a .480 ball in that rifle, and it works fine.
Don't ask what patch thickness I use. I have never bothered to measure my patches. I use whatever works. Usually that is standard pillow ticking from WallyWorld, but I have used everything from old shirts to worn-out underwear. Although I recently bought one yard of "Waverly 100% cotton". The package says it is for "Crafting, Quilting, Apparel, and Home Decor Projects". I think I paid $1.98 for it. I haven't tried it yet. It feels a little thinner to my fingers than does the pillow ticking. I'll try it after the New Year.
My standard hunting load for both .50 caliber rifles is 70 grs. of 3F.
I also have a chunkgun in .50 caliber. In that one I always use a tight fitting .495 ball for precision target shooting. I haven't measured the bore on that rifle. My load for that is 90 grs. of 3F for use on 60 yard "over-the-log" shooting matches. Same patch material. But I'm not going to carry this 16-pound rifle out in the hunting fields.
I shoot .480’s in my .50 Woodsrunner with a .018 patch, 70 grs 2F Swiss. Won a turkey at 75 yards at our annual shoot. Split a card, same day, same load. I’m satisfied.
I'm with you my friend. I have never measured patch thickness. I don't care and use what I can find.
The red/white ticking is usually what I use simply because I can find it at Walmart or Joanns.
However, I've used muslin material, cotton material, old T-shirts and I've even stuffed grass down the barrel occasionally.
tdoyka
32 Cal.
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i was with you guys too, i never measured patches. now today since i got my used CVA Hawken, i have to use .005" patch. i can go .010", but after 2 shots i have to clean the bore out. If i don't, then i will have to use a mallet and synthetic rod to put the RB down the barrel. its not fun, trust me.
i use a .488" ball and 70gr of Goex FFg. i will do a cloverleaf at 50 yards, but it is with a bench and sandbags. since i am disabled (right arm/leg are no good), i wull set in on a 4'x4" topped off with 1" pipe insulation or my tripod and then it is like 2 or 3". i can do 1 1/4 - 1 1/2" 3 shot group when the shooting gods smile upon me, but that ain't too often
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i use a .488" ball and 70gr of Goex FFg. i will do a cloverleaf at 50 yards, but it is with a bench and sandbags. since i am disabled (right arm/leg are no good), i wull set in on a 4'x4" topped off with 1" pipe insulation or my tripod and then it is like 2 or 3". i can do 1 1/4 - 1 1/2" 3 shot group when the shooting gods smile upon me, but that ain't too often
.Well dang it. I just cast about 300 .490 ball for my TC hawken. They work well with a .020 patch, but it's a tight combo. I made a short starter like a little mallet with a leather bumper on the face because my palms got sore smacking the other one. The combo works great, I won a turkey in November and a ham in December, not bad for a pitted 45 year old short barrel. But now you guys have me wondering if I'm doing a lot of extra work for nothing. I'm going to have to find a box of .480 to try.
westrayer
40 Cal
Tighter ball and patch combo usually yields a more accurate load. But these guns are individuals so you can try different combinations.
Just a FYI, commercial manufacturers barrels are generally larger in bore size than custom barrels. It is seldom you can buy balls for a custom barrel off the shelf, as they tend to run smaller. My custom .54's tend to like .526, 50's .480, .45 .429-.440, 20 bore fowler .595, .62 rifle .600.
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