to patch or not to patch

[MattC]

This conversation reminds me of rural southern Michigan where I grew up. Machine shops and family farms; not much money for more than an 870. Shot for birds and foster slugs for deer.

 

[Rifleman1776]

The force of the powder going off actually obturates the ball, so it fills the bore...

Huge differences of opinion on whether that really happens. This is a major-major rant starter subject. :shocked2:

 

[Vaino]

After reading all the posts so far and neglecting that which was done way back when, my solution is to have 2 MLers....one a smoothbore and the other a rifle.

Using the smoothbore only w/ shot and the rifle w/ a PRB eliminates all the complications of just shooting a smoothbore....and besides, who wouldn't like to own 2 guns in lieu of one?....Fred

 

[Stumpkiller]

After reading all the posts so far and neglecting that which was done way back when, my solution is to have 2 MLers....one a smoothbore and the other a rifle.

That was my solution as well. One good example of each in flint. And, as it turns out, I could probably do with, and have been mostly using, just the smoothbore.