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Un-patched balls ruin your barrel.
- Thread starter JoJoLesh
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cullen1780
32 Cal.
Not in the first 4,000 rounds, as far as I can tell, in a smoothbore anyway.
Don't think it's any different than using a conical bullet. Except that an unpatched ball wouldn't seal up in the barrel very well. I would think that you'd lose a lot of energy and accuracy.
Won't ruin it but could lead the barrel up some in the rifling if you do it enough.
Won't wreck the rifle but most likely be detrimental to accuracy and leading of the bore.
Ok, what if it is a ball that you would normally patch, not an extra tight one.
Let's say I ran a ball (.490) down my barrel with no patch because of..... Reasons.
I happen to get a good hit (maybe a one off) center of target at 75 yards.
It was at the end of a long day of shooting, I was tired, hungry, frustrated, and stressed. When I saw the hit (on steel) I assumed that I had hit the stand. When the plate stopped swinging, I saw that it was a center hit.
There were spectators, and I figure that nothing that good comes without a huge price.
Let's say I ran a ball (.490) down my barrel with no patch because of..... Reasons.
I happen to get a good hit (maybe a one off) center of target at 75 yards.
It was at the end of a long day of shooting, I was tired, hungry, frustrated, and stressed. When I saw the hit (on steel) I assumed that I had hit the stand. When the plate stopped swinging, I saw that it was a center hit.
There were spectators, and I figure that nothing that good comes without a huge price.
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JoJo. I think you RUINED that rifle, and you should send it to me for disposal. LOL, seriously, if you only did it once no harm, but I wouldnt make a habit of it.
There was actually an article in a old magazine I read I believe Shooter Illustrated, one of those thick annual gun mags. Anyway he was saying some shooters several century's ago shot RBs without a patch. He used a slightly over sized ball. Accuracy was not as good but still not that bad.
Yup, you flinched it right on center.
I do that all too often either a flinch or pull it off point of aim.
Those things happen.
I do that all too often either a flinch or pull it off point of aim.
Those things happen.
Oh ya, those were the last 3 shots of the day and I was late getting home. I was distracted, tired, and I definitely flintched.... Hard.
When I shot I saw my stand rock around, and thought, "Shoot, I hit the stand. Probably blasted a hole right through it. "
I expected a non patched ball to be way off at that distance. I am new to BP, and I have heard all these tales about how in accurate they are. Well, a in patched ball out of a dirty barrel, I was expecting a 50 MOA shot, at best.
All I have to say is...lets see ya do it again.
Lordy Lordy!!
Just make sure the ball stays on the powder charge. If your undersized ball comes off the powder you have a bore obstruction.
While I don't plan on doing it again, I was surprised that I hit anything. I was REALLY surprised that I hit where I was aiming.
In retrospect, I should have just packed down some wadding (used cleaning patches) and fired it off with those.
The onlookers would have gotten to see a flintlock go off and I wouldn't have worried about any gas cutting.
In retrospect, I should have just packed down some wadding (used cleaning patches) and fired it off with those.
The onlookers would have gotten to see a flintlock go off and I wouldn't have worried about any gas cutting.
I have been shooting unpatched round balls in my rifle for years ,
but I use an oversized ball that fills the grooves ans "seals" the rifling
if there was a gap between the bottom of the rifling and the ball, the gasses running through this space could erode the barrel, mainly at the breech (I own a rifle that was ruined that way)
Of course this will not happend with just a few shots.....but don't get used to do so
my advice would be= if ,for some reason, you have tu use a naked lead ball, be sûre to use a size large enough to avoid any leakage of gas and don't forget to grease it,, to ease the loading and to avoid lead deposit
usng a big greasy wad could help but will probably not be 100% efficient
of course, as there is no patch to push the soot, the barrel should be quickly cleaned between the shots, just before loadind the bullet
sorry for the spelling, English is no really my cup of tea, just trying to help
but I use an oversized ball that fills the grooves ans "seals" the rifling
if there was a gap between the bottom of the rifling and the ball, the gasses running through this space could erode the barrel, mainly at the breech (I own a rifle that was ruined that way)
Of course this will not happend with just a few shots.....but don't get used to do so
my advice would be= if ,for some reason, you have tu use a naked lead ball, be sûre to use a size large enough to avoid any leakage of gas and don't forget to grease it,, to ease the loading and to avoid lead deposit
usng a big greasy wad could help but will probably not be 100% efficient
of course, as there is no patch to push the soot, the barrel should be quickly cleaned between the shots, just before loadind the bullet
sorry for the spelling, English is no really my cup of tea, just trying to help
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Years ago at a rondy there was a timed woods walk. The shots were mostly short range so most shot the first target with a patched ball and subsequent targets with a bare ball. No harm done to the guns.
I appreciate all the help guys!
Ya, I don't plan on making a habit of this. Actually a .490 ball was showing me better accuracy than a .495, with the same .018 patch, and with the smaller ball I have never had such a problem ramming it home.
Still now I have 90 larger balls that I will use for shots that I care less about....
Unless I find them better with .010 patches
Ya, I don't plan on making a habit of this. Actually a .490 ball was showing me better accuracy than a .495, with the same .018 patch, and with the smaller ball I have never had such a problem ramming it home.
Still now I have 90 larger balls that I will use for shots that I care less about....
Unless I find them better with .010 patches
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