Wad as opposed to patch

[riarcher]

The armies 300 years ago hit upon the quickest reload method for,,,,

Yup, you're right. However, remember that the call of the day was more like, "Send Lead,,, THAT-A-WAY!!!!"
For light loads paper maybe okay, but I just can't believe that paper carts are equally as accuate in mid to heavy loads as a patched ball. I tried it,,, many ways. Like comparing apples to banannas.

 

[riarcher]

Many did. But accuacy was not their main concern. Fast volleys were.
Aiming was not warrented, that's why bayonet lugs, not sights were installed (military fashion).
Later on when commoners got ahold of these (as military surplus?) often many modifications were made or just barrels were used to make a more dependably accuate musket/shotgun.

 

[BS]

The armies 300 years ago hit upon the quickest reload method for,,,,

Yup, you're right. However, remember that the call of the day was more like, "Send Lead,,, THAT-A-WAY!!!!"
For light loads paper maybe okay, but I just can't believe that paper carts are equally as accuate in mid to heavy loads as a patched ball. I tried it,,, many ways. Like comparing apples to banannas.

Paper works well with heavy loads and a rifled barrel, why do you think it won't work as well in a smoothbore?

 

[BCarp]

Actually, priming the pan before ramming down down the load is not a very SAFE idea. To much chance of an accidental discharge. Better to load them prime.

Well, I've attended hundreds or reenactments with thousands of guys loading and firing their muskets this way. Accidental discharges have never been a problem.

As for accuracy, it depends on the gun and the load you work up. I had a .69 cal that shot best with paper cartridges, lousy with patched ball. Go figure...!

 

[riarcher]

I believe you're refering to paper patched bullets? Maxi and such?

I've tried paper in the .75 smoothie and I can get "fair" accuacy at best with 100+ gr. loads. The cloth patch has shown much better and consistant accuacy. I've heard the same from others on here and elsewhere enough to think it's not just my experiences with the paper carts.
Since this is the Smoothbore link, I'm assuming we're talking smoothbore, roundball, and paper carts. as compared to (cloth) patched ball.
I'm still trying to get equal accuacy from a cart. I've a couple of novel ideas to try yet. but thus far, with all the various spins on the classical military carts, results were not too impresive at 50+yds.
The best to date is a cart tied with plenty of "soft" paper tied below the ball, dipped in lube to the ball, cooled and formed into a wad type configuration and redipped just to the top of the ball. So far this is working better than anything else tried. Essentially, I'm creating a lubed fiber wad under the ball for loading. NOT a clasical approach by any means, but shows promise.

 

[BS]

riarcher- No, I was refering to paper cartridges, like:

Link to Paper Cartridges.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Smoothies don't have anywhere for patching to move to as does a rifled gun, even those with shallow grooves. Smoothies are at the mercy of the even diameter of the bore- if there are any high or low spots, its almost impossible for the patch to seal the bore from gas blow-by.

If you use a chronograph when working up a patched ball load for a smoothbore gun, you will find that using a good overpowder card wad will seal the bore much better, give you more consistent velocities, and better accuracy because of that consistency. The Patch can then simply lube the board as it is run down on the wad, and again as it is fired out the barrel, while perfoming its second function, that of holding the Round Ball in place. Then its only a question of learning which works better in your gun. Dry, or wet lubes, cut patch at the muzzle, or use pre-cut patches, pre-cut patches square, or round, etc. You can also try running a lubed patch down the barrel after the PRB is seated to evenly distribute lube in the barrel. This may work best if you are using a dry lube patch.

Because you aren't going to get the same compression in a smoothie that you would expect in a rifle, you probably will have to use a thinner patching material, and that overpowder card wad may become a necessity. Otherwise you may have find a smaller ball size, in order to allow you to use a thicker patching material.

 

[riarcher]

If it's working for you,,, good.
I just can't get them to perform anywhere near the patched ball for me.
Small ball, thick patch, plenty lube is my best thus far.