Wad as opposed to patch

[Cpl.Parker]

I have heard that the most accurate way to shoot a smoothie is to use a wad and a tight ball as opposed to a patch round ball. Any thoughts?

Kevin

 

[Rebel]

Mine shoots fine with powder, thick overpowder wad, half a fiber cushion wad, bare ball, and then an overshot card to hold the ball in. See thread below for pics of groups fired.
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/192963[/url]/

 

[BS]

There is no one real answer to what your gun likes, but I like using bore size balls over a Nitro Card/ Lubed 1/2" Wad/Ball/Over Shot card.

I use a 50/50 mix of Mineral Spirits and Veggie Oil .....for the lube. I keep some wads stored in the lube, just pich a time or two, then Load..........and shoot, load and shoot.....no cleaning between shots...........do use a big rod, not som flimsly little thing. :grin:

 

[Cpl.Parker]

Thanks for the link and replies. It gets me to thinking!

K

 

[Wes/Tex]

Bob Spencer's site is also a good one for the beginning smoothie shooter. His ideas work well and I owe him a lot for helping me along. Sure had developed some bad habits!! :shocked2:
[url] http://members.aye.net/~bspen/index.html[/url]

 

[roundball]

"...Bob Spencer's site is also a good one for the beginning smoothie shooter. His ideas work well..."
[url] http://members.aye.net/~bspen/index.html[/url]

Amen to that...it's a great article of information

 

[J.D.]

I dunno, I can consistently hit a head size, steel target at 70 yards, off hand using a .715 ball with an .018 patch, in an 11 ga (.748 bore dia) musket. This combination loads with only thumb pressure, and shoots nearly as well as a rifle at ranges to 50 yards, off hand.

That said, every gun is different, so's ya gotta experiment, but don't reject an idea simply because it is "common knowledge", or because someone heard such-and-such. Try both and see what works for you.

BTW, I much prefer patch and ball because there is less to carry and fiddle with in reloading, not to mention that patch/ball is faster to reload. IMHO.
J.D.

 

[musketman]

I have heard that the most accurate way to shoot a smoothie is to use a wad and a tight ball as opposed to a patch round ball. Any thoughts?

Kevin

Try it both ways, your gun will let you know which way it prefers...

 

[Many Klatch]

If you are on a woods walk or a situational shoot, you probably won't want to mess with all the over and under wads. Often at shoots like this there will be a speed shooting target to see how many shots you can get off in a minute or two. If you have to mess with all those wads you will be giving up a lot of points.

Many Klatch

 

Good point---placing all those wads and cards into the bore is time consuming, and I am sure our forefathers did not do it--many did not even use a patch in the heat of action. That said, each gun/load is a little different and if target accuracy is what you are after, then you need to find the best combo for you (your gun). I have used only patched ball in my smoothie so far, but a buddy and I have tried everything in his gun with mixed results. The gunmaker who made his gun has an identical one (same components built by same hand) that shoots like a rifle with an undersized patched ball! Part of this equation is getting used to no sights and learning to hold the same way for each shot at a given range. All those wads and cards just seem too cumbersome to me. I have read that many old timers just dropped a bare ball on the powder and held it all in with some sort of wadding (even just leaves). But I doubt best accuracy is so attained.

 

[paulvallandigham]

The fastest, and safest way to reload in one of these seneca runs, or running courses, is to use the PRB. However, the targets are usually set fairly close- often 20 yds or less because you are in a wooded area, where getting longer distances can be problematic for the course designers. The idea is to hit a target, and move on, and not make the targets so difficult to hit that the contestant has to spend a half hour at the position before moving on. If you can use pre-cut patches for you gun, a little oversized, this will allow you to reload the quickest, while being safe. Most runners put the patch in their mouth while they move to the next station- you are not allowed to run with a loaded rifle or musket- so that their spit us the lube for the patching. You can be getting another round ball out of your pouch while on the run, but most wait until they get to the next station, pour a measured powder charge down the barrel, thump the barrel to settle the powder, and then position the patch on the muzzle, reach for that ball, and center it on the patch. One stroke with the ramrod and you are loaded. Just prime and fire. Most men also don't put the ramrod back into the thimbles of the gun, carrying alongside the barrel in their hands, so they can have it at hand quickly at the next station, or simply putting it down the barrel for transportation to the next station. just stick it in the ground in front of you when not in use, at each station, and pull it out of the ground when you move. Reducing the number of gross movements you make with hands and arms while loading is the way to save time, not cutting corners loading your gun.

 

[lyuv]

In a traveling guide from 1852, it was suggested that for loading in a hurry, have the patch sawn over the ball.

You get all the advantages of a patch with no fuss.

I guess that if you saw it lightly, the patch will tear of upon shooting.

 

[paulvallandigham]

I don't have a clue what was menat by " Sawn" over the ball. Do you? Is someone just using archaic language to describe cutting the patch off with a patch knife after the ball and patch are pushed into the muzzle of the gun?

 

[AZ-Robert]

I believe he is referring to sewing the patch around the ball.

 

[musketman]

I don't have a clue what was menat by " Sawn" over the ball. Do you? Is someone just using archaic language to describe cutting the patch off with a patch knife after the ball and patch are pushed into the muzzle of the gun?

The term "sawn" goes way back, as in binding a book, this application could be applied to patch and ball...

A method of sewing a book by hand which involves cutting grooves into the spine of the gathered sections and recessing the cords into those grooves. A single length of thread is carried from kettle stitch to kettle stitch, as in FLEXIBLE SEWING , but passes across the cords instead of encircling them. The sewing may be done ALL ALONG ,TWO ON , etc., as in flexible sewing.
Sewing on recessed, or sawn-in, cords is relatively old, having been used in France as long ago as 1580. It continued in use in France until about 1650, and in England, particularly for thin books bound in sheepskin, until about 1770.

 

[Slamfire]

The last time I bound any books we used a sewing machine, then white glue. :hmm:

 

[riarcher]

Patch dipped in pure Bee's wax and seated in a loading block to cool, then pushed out. They'll stick like glued until loaded. Use hot balls too, but not wet. Like balls in a baggie in boiling water. Place ball spue down on a board, cover with waxed patching, press loading block on to patch and ball, trim patch and repeat. Makes for perfectly centered spues also.
Olive oil can be added to the wax if it's too cold and the wax gets brittle at loading.

 

[BCarp]

The armies 300 years ago hit upon the quickest reload method for smoothbores: powder and ball rolled up in a self-contained paper cartridge! Playing with ball size and thickness of paper can yield a very accurate load for your piece. Once you hit upon it, bite it open, prime the pan, ram it down! Nothing's faster....

 

[Rebel]

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.

 

[brubincam]

i thought they closed the frizzin then loaded,,,powder went threw the touch hole when shoving load down barrel,,,,just cock and fire