I watched a video of a guy with a 62 cal smoothbore and he was saying that the fusil's were usually loaded with a round ball with out any patch. just powder wad ball wad.but if the ball dia.is .61 i would think it would need a patch to fit the bore correctly?
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to patch or not to patch
- Thread starter themarmot
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I do neither. I make up paper cartridges (like the Bess and Charleville used).
Prior to that - cloth patching.
Prior to that - cloth patching.
No problem with that -- (if) it checks the gas and keeps the load in until ready to shoot -- though intuitively a PRB might be better including more accurate (fewer, smaller, bounces in the bore). I too like paper carts and a layer around the ball is my preference. Only the multiple fold-overs at the bottom of the cart act as a wad (including when I add the proper sized buckshot for buck-n-ball loads)...
The most accurate load for my .62 smoothie is with 75gr of 3fg, a 1/4" lubed wool felt wad, a bare .610 ball and a thin overshot card. Patched balls give only so-so accuracy for mine. I think upon firing the wad forms around the base of the ball and acts like a sabot centering the ball for more accuracy.
Following that...since the patching material does not have the grooves from the rifling as it does in a rifle barrel, the patch folds in a different manner every time you load, thus adding an inconsistent variable for the position of the ball related to the line of the bore.
Which is the theory for the reports of many ball shooters finding that a bare ball shoots better than a patched ball from their smoothbore...and for folks like me who have found that a paper cartridges (which give consistent ball placement) shoots better than a patched ball in a musket.
It's also the theory why there is no period reference for patching a ball in a smoothbore from the 18th century....even in areas where the patched ball was know to be used by rifle shooters.
LD
Which is the theory for the reports of many ball shooters finding that a bare ball shoots better than a patched ball from their smoothbore...and for folks like me who have found that a paper cartridges (which give consistent ball placement) shoots better than a patched ball in a musket.
It's also the theory why there is no period reference for patching a ball in a smoothbore from the 18th century....even in areas where the patched ball was know to be used by rifle shooters.
LD
Didn't think there was that much complication loading and shooting a smoothbore..... an OP wad and then another wad atop the ball would be slow loading? Unless one also shoots shot, why a smoothbore? Not criticizing, just curious because I've never owned a smoothbore.....Fred
Because a smoothbore gives you the option to shoot shot. Or, is that it gives you the option to shoot ball?
In a good year I may shoot one or two deer (I bet my average distance on almost 50 harvests of whitetail is 30 yards - and that is from the ground) but there will be dozens of shots at grouse and rabbits. A rifle hardly justifies itself. ;-)
And a fowler weighs multiple pounds less in some cases vs. a similar length rifle. Much easier to clean. Makes running/flying/snap shooting shots practical.
In a good year I may shoot one or two deer (I bet my average distance on almost 50 harvests of whitetail is 30 yards - and that is from the ground) but there will be dozens of shots at grouse and rabbits. A rifle hardly justifies itself. ;-)
And a fowler weighs multiple pounds less in some cases vs. a similar length rifle. Much easier to clean. Makes running/flying/snap shooting shots practical.
Billnpatti
Cannon
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I saw that same video. I am certainly no expert on historical correctness :idunno: but it is my understanding that in the day, the smoothbores were shot using no patching, just wads. But, if I were shooting it, I think I would prefer to use a patch.....or maybe an OP wad and a patch. It just seems like a good snug fit would result in better accuracy.
I started out like many shooting a rifle, Over the years Ive completley fallen in love with the smoothbore,for its versitility ,ease of cleaning and just plain fun to shoot.
Im my area of historical interest the rifle is a rare bird and the smoohbore was king.
Im my area of historical interest the rifle is a rare bird and the smoohbore was king.
So wat? 
Do yer own thang. :surrender:
(as long as it is safe) :wink:
Do yer own thang. :surrender:
(as long as it is safe) :wink:
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I have found that using two farrier files, I can change the surface of the roundball. I get better results with a roughed up ball than with a patch.
I couldn't hit the side of a barn shooting various size bare balls, wad columns, and powder loads in my jug choked 12 ga. With a patched ball I can shoot a 3 shot cloverleaf at 25 yards.
Every gun is different.
Every gun is different.
Richard Eames said:
Unless its on the internet! :rotf:
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flehto said:
I am given to understand that the overwhelming number of households in the colonial are could afford only one firearm. additionally, many of these households were subject to military service of some sort, which entailed at least one male member of the household showing up on the town muster field with a serviceable weapon, ball and powder.
if he was required by circumstance to use this weapon against an enemy, he wants to be shooting, not cleaning, as the enemy advances against him. for this purpose, a musket is better suited, since a rifles barrel must be swabbed after five or six (or fewer) shots, but a smoothbore can go twenty or better.
additionally, if this fellow could only afford one gun, he would pick one which could shoot both ball and shot, thus maximizing his chances of putting something on the table. most of the deer taken in the northeast are shot at ranges under fifty yards, and a man with a smoothbore can do almost as well as one with a rifle at that range.
I've known folks with smoothies which wouldn't do at all well with PRB, and some that do. so, I guess the best answer to the question is: try it and see what works best for you.
Make good smoke! :grin:
Because if you miss you can say "I am shooting a smooth bore after all. They are well known not to be as accurate as rifles, so thats part of the sport. Any one could pick up a rifle and hit it, no big deal." If you hit with the smooth bore you can say "Well I m shooting a smooth bore. I guess any one can learn to do it, but I didn't learn over night. You have to practace and get to know your gun. You have to be one with the gun, its all very zen." So on and so on. Smoothies are a win win gun.flehto said:
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