Muzzleloading - Page 3

thallub · October 23, 2013, 07:02 AM

Some modern fast twist rifles shoot patched round balls surprisingly well. My old CVA StagHorn with it's 1:32" twist rate makes tiny groups using patched round ball and 70 grains of 3F Goex Pinnacle. The newer Stag Horn guns have 1:28" twist rate . My .54 caliber TC Fire Hawk inline has a 1:38" twist rate. It shoots patched round balls like a dream.

The slow twist rate of the old patched round ball guns allowed for a wide variation of the powder charge without horizontal dispersion when using the fixed sights.

This is a good article that dispels some myths and explains some things about the old patched round ball long rifles. The link may have been posted here previously:

http://home.comcast.net/~illinewek/faqs/boonegun.htm

**Mike Irwin** · October 23, 2013, 07:12 AM

"The wheel weight balls are accurate too."

I never had ANY success with balls that were much harder than pure lead. The guy I shot with said it was probably a case of the patch being unable to adequately grasp the ball.

"Some modern fast twist rifles shoot patched round balls surprisingly well."

It's easier to get decent accuracy from a slow-twist projectile in a fast-twist barrel than from a fast-twist projectile in a slow-twist barrel.

Over stabilized means stabilized, but under stabilized means not stabilized.

Tad_T · October 23, 2013, 08:30 AM

Quote:

You can still find some old/new stock on the Maxi's as well as molds. A very good sub or even better than the MaxiHunter, is the Hornady Great Plaines and still, there are better than those. .....

I have been looking for some, but I'm not having much luck.

I did pick up a box of the Great Plains to try, but I haven't yet.

flintlock.50 · October 23, 2013, 08:08 PM

Pure lead isn't necessary for good accuracy with a round ball. This target was shot at 50 yards using balls cast from used wheel weight lead. I fired 10 shots, though only 9 are discernible. After my first shot I adjusted my sight picture a bit to get the very nice group shown.

I was shooting a .50 cal flintlock with open sights. I should note that I've never been mistaken for a true marksman. I suspect younger eyes could do better.

**Mike Irwin** · October 24, 2013, 07:27 AM

As I said, I never had much luck with anything harder than lead...

In MY rifle.

Thinking some more about it, based on what my shooting partner said, I wonder if using a different thickness or weave patch material might have made a difference...

flintlock.50 · October 24, 2013, 07:41 AM

With pure lead balls I used .495" balls with a 0.018" patch, which is a tight load. When I switched to wheel weight balls I dropped down to a 0.490" ball and 0.015" patch to make loading easier. That's what I used to shoot the above target. It seems to work. The elk thought so too!

October 23, 2013, 07:02 AM	#51
thallub Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: South Western OK Posts: 3,112	Some modern fast twist rifles shoot patched round balls surprisingly well. My old CVA StagHorn with it's 1:32" twist rate makes tiny groups using patched round ball and 70 grains of 3F Goex Pinnacle. The newer Stag Horn guns have 1:28" twist rate . My .54 caliber TC Fire Hawk inline has a 1:38" twist rate. It shoots patched round balls like a dream. The slow twist rate of the old patched round ball guns allowed for a wide variation of the powder charge without horizontal dispersion when using the fixed sights. This is a good article that dispels some myths and explains some things about the old patched round ball long rifles. The link may have been posted here previously: http://home.comcast.net/~illinewek/faqs/boonegun.htm Last edited by thallub; October 23, 2013 at 07:13 AM.

October 23, 2013, 07:12 AM	#52
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	"The wheel weight balls are accurate too." I never had ANY success with balls that were much harder than pure lead. The guy I shot with said it was probably a case of the patch being unable to adequately grasp the ball. "Some modern fast twist rifles shoot patched round balls surprisingly well." It's easier to get decent accuracy from a slow-twist projectile in a fast-twist barrel than from a fast-twist projectile in a slow-twist barrel. Over stabilized means stabilized, but under stabilized means not stabilized. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 23, 2013, 08:08 PM	#54
flintlock.50 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 233	Pure lead isn't necessary for good accuracy with a round ball. This target was shot at 50 yards using balls cast from used wheel weight lead. I fired 10 shots, though only 9 are discernible. After my first shot I adjusted my sight picture a bit to get the very nice group shown. I was shooting a .50 cal flintlock with open sights. I should note that I've never been mistaken for a true marksman. I suspect younger eyes could do better. __________________ NRA Benefactor member; NRA rifle and home firearm safety instructor; NMLRA member; NMLRA instructor for rifle, pistol and shotgun A government that takes from Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote!

October 24, 2013, 07:27 AM	#55
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	As I said, I never had much luck with anything harder than lead... In MY rifle. Thinking some more about it, based on what my shooting partner said, I wonder if using a different thickness or weave patch material might have made a difference... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

October 24, 2013, 07:41 AM	#56
flintlock.50 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2009 Posts: 233	With pure lead balls I used .495" balls with a 0.018" patch, which is a tight load. When I switched to wheel weight balls I dropped down to a 0.490" ball and 0.015" patch to make loading easier. That's what I used to shoot the above target. It seems to work. The elk thought so too! __________________ NRA Benefactor member; NRA rifle and home firearm safety instructor; NMLRA member; NMLRA instructor for rifle, pistol and shotgun A government that takes from Peter to pay Paul can always count on Paul's vote!