standard roundball

[AxelP]

I am trying to determine a standard roundball size for the most popular big game hunting calibers. But I want to hedge on the smaller end of the sizes so as to accommodate a harder than soft-lead projectile and a little thicker patch? I'd love to hear as many opinions as possible on this topic. Here is what I have came up with so far...

.45-- .440
.50-- .490
.54--.530
.58-- .570
.62-- .595

I know that many guns prefer odd sizes, but I am trying to come up with a standard that will fit most.

thanks for all ya'lls help.

[vthompson]

http://www.possibleshop.com/s-s-ball-bullet.html

[Sir Michael]

If you are intending to do any hunting I strongly suggest you check your states rules about allowable calibers.  If you go with too small a size you may not be able to use it to hunt.

Oh, and I use a .610 ball with a .018 patch in my .62 and it works just fine.  

Finding patches .020 or thicker can be a problem unless you make them yourself.

[Bigsmoke]

I am with Sir Michael on the .610 in a .62.  I think a lot of fellows use .595 in smoothies, but that is a bit small for rifled barrels.

[Wyoming Mike]

It depends on what your rifle likes.  I had a .58 that preferred a .562 with a mid-thick patch.  The one I have now likes a .570 with a .020 patch.  I know quite a few people who like a .495 in a .50 rather than the more common .490.

[woodman]

In my smoothie if i tried Sir Michaels load in my 62 I would never get it down the barrel. I use a 610 ball (no patch). I have to push it down the muzzle. I use wadding in my smoothbore I pull the wool of an old piece of sheepskin and use the wool for my wad.
 Woodman

[pathfinder]

"220,221,whatever it take's" :rotf    As in cleaning,there really is no "standard" caliber. If your question is whats commonly available commercialy,that to is subjective. As you've noticed, a few replies and it's obviouse that most everygun is different,my particular .62 Tulle' likes a .600 ball,and my .62 Mackinaw gun likes a .590,same patch and powder for both with 1" bench groups at 25yds.
The balls available in the south central U.P. are .490's. If that was a concern for me,I'd work up a load that's shoots that ball best,may take a lot of work,but you can get close.

[AxelP]

I understand that a standard ball would not be optimum for everyone---especially for extreme target work... but I am more concerned with hunting projectiles... So long as the projectile is close---and can actually fit down the bore with a reasonable patch, but not too loose, then can a load be worked up to get at least satisfactory hunting performance? That is my goal with this conversation.

thanks all for the input, it is appreciated.

Ken

[Sir Michael]

Guys, in my .62 Trade Gun I use a .600 ball with a .010 patch.  The big difference is that with a smoothie there are no groves for the patch material to squeeze into so a smaller ball is a necessity along with a thinner patch.

As with most of muzzleloading, the ONLY thing that works is what works for you and every gun is different even if they are nominally the same size and made by the same maker.
 

[followed by]

The  patch/ball combo that works best for my .62 english fowler is 600x.010. It shoots well and loads firmly. I've tried about every combo I could think of and settled on this one. On the other hand, my 28ga-54 gun seems to shoot better on the range with a difficult to load 530x.015 so thats what I use for paper matches. When I hunt with gun and carry a loading block I go to 010 patches to ease loading in the woods and reduce the necessity of wiping between shots

[Three Hawks]

Your chart fits my guns to a "T".  My T-C .50 likes a .490 ball and .015 patch material, the .45 barrel for it does well with a .440 ball and the same patch.  I've got a .30 drop in for it, too and it shoots both .27 buckshot and .285 cast balls very well indeed.  Now my .50 smooth rifle wanted to be troublesome, but simmered down and behaves when offered .480 balls and the .015 ticking patch.  My .32 Crockett is happy with .300 buckshot or .311 cast balls.

My $0.02

Three Hawks

[vthompson]

My T/C 50cal Hawken likes a .490 round ball with  .018 ticking patch and 70grains of FFg. It shoots dead on at 60 yards.

[pathfinder]

AxelP,if we had an idea what your trying to accomplish,perhaps we could be more help. there are a lot of published data charts out there we could help you find, Good luck!

[AxelP]

You all are doing just fine. I can't share more info just yet, but I will as soon as I get the go ahead.

Ken