What Ball for 16 ga.

[sb 54 cal.]

I am looking @ a 16 ga. trade gun with a26 inch barrel. What is a good round ball size to try. I have a 28 ga. I shoot with wad and bare ball with good accuracy to 40 yards and am thinking on trying that if I get the gun. Thanks

 

[cullen1780]

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/197/1/BALL-648-X

 

[Grenadier1758]

Get out your dial calipers and measure the bore. It should be 0.663" in diameter. The 0.648" ball should be fine either with 0.015" lubricated patching or 16 gauge wadding.

 

[Juice Jaws]

I have a 16 ga. and use 60grs 3F and a .648 ball, .10 patch and that load shoots very well for me. Have tried the bare ball but found the patch ball is a much better shooter, plus lots less fouling.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I use a 0.648" ball in mine and make paper cartridges. But they work with cotton patching as well.

 

[Lobo]

My 16ga Trade gun is almost done, I've got some .648 rb's that I got from T W waiting for it.

 

[Metalmechanic]

!6 gage is roughly .690" I have used a .65 ball with success. All cartridge loads, the paper acting as a patch of sorts. Barrel scraped after 5 shots.
General rule of thumb (military thumb that is) for ball dia is .03" to .06" less than the bore diameter.
L

 

[Grenadier1758]

A 16 gauge barrel diameter should measure 0.662 inches. A suitable ball would be a 0.648 inch diameter ball.