using mallets or hammers

[Rifleman1776]

So the revolver is a bigger ball made smaller when pushed through the revolver barrel, but would not malleting the smaller round ball in a muzzleloading rifle, when coupled with a very tight patch, make it bigger? Just a tiny bit, but a few more thousandths of an inch of rifling contact might be what makes the difference?

You are not wrong. But, I believe, there not enough resistance to expand the ball, it will just slide down the bore. Unless it is grossly oversized. I often used a .457 in a .45 Douglas barrel and the balls did distort on loading to give a very tight, and consistent, accurate fit.

 

[nkbj]

Currently experimenting with .600 ball in a .61 rifle. Muslin doesn't need a whacker but everything else does. Greased drill will load if I go Bruce Lee on the short starter. Reckon it needs about five pounds of lead through it before I get too excited.

 

[SR James]

I have one rifle that I load using a mallet. The stock was broken in half through the front of the lock panels and repaired. Using a mallet to seat the ball flush with muzzle puts a lot less stress on the stock than using a short starter. It creates a small flat on the ball about like a sprue on a cast ball. Accuracy is fine.

 

[nkbj]

When using the patch tenderizer I grip the rifle behind the front sight and hold it up off the ground. Don't know if it helps but it makes me feel better.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Might keep you from splitting the stock in half just ahead of the lock panels . . . or at the wrist. ;-)

 

[BrownBear]

That's always been my concern in using them. I've been resting the butt on my foot the few times I've used a mallet, but wondered if that was enough.

 

[SR James]

Yes, I also hold it up off the ground while using the longer rod of the short starter. I put it back down when seating with the regular ramrod.

 

[meanmike8665]

Mr. Terry has left us. Sorry can't remember exactly when, maybe 2 two years ago.
Michael

 

[Rifleman1776]

Mr. Terry has left us. Sorry can't remember exactly when, maybe 2 two years ago.
Michael

Thanks for the info. I had guessed that would be the case. Sad though. He was one of the greats.