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Author Topic: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot  (Read 2844 times)

Online Rob DiStefano

smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« on: August 06, 2015, 07:33:41 AM »
what and how are you guys loading yer smoothies?  please share.

i tried a patched ball and that required a drastically undersized ball and accuracy was very spotty.  currently using an over powder 1/8" card wad with sheep tallow on the ball side, then a .010" undersized ball (.570 for a 24g musket), and another dry 1/8" card wad to hold in the ball.  this seems to work well.

haven't tried a shot load yet, but was considering the 1/8" over powder lubed wad, then a 1/2" wad, the shot, and an 1/2" over shot wad.

anyone have a source for big wad punches?  i'd like to punch out my own wads for the .580 bore.
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Offline prairie dog

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Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2015, 12:40:03 PM »
rfd,

I posted some data on the subject here:

Loading a muzzle loading shotgun and smoothbore

Google arc punches and you will find the punches you want.
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Steve Sells

Online Rob DiStefano

Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2015, 12:51:01 PM »
thanx steve, great info!
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Online rollingb

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Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2015, 01:14:19 PM »
Rob,.... here's another good place for smoothbore info,..... Request Rejected  :rt th
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Online Rob DiStefano

Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2015, 01:57:42 PM »
more good stuff - thanx!
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Online Hank in WV

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Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2015, 05:16:43 PM »
melsdad on this forum used to make punches. I don't know if he still does or not.
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Hank in WV
TMA Charter Member #65, exp 4/30/2026
"Much of the social history of the western world over the past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what sounded good. . ." Thomas Sowell

Online Rob DiStefano

Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2015, 06:20:16 PM »
how oversize should the punch be for a .58?
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Offline Joel/Calgary

Re: smoothbore loading for both ball and shot
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2015, 06:28:42 AM »
Quote from: "rfd"
how oversize should the punch be for a .58?
Circle-fly's sizing chart suggests that it varies somewhat with bore size, but in the mid-range sizes (12-24 ga.), 0.010" larger than your actual bore diameter should be good, but a bit larger usually doesn't hurt.  I have a couple of punches for my 16ga; one cuts cards ~0.020" over-bore and they load just about as easily as the commercial and homemade cards 0.010-0.012" over-bore, and they may give a better seal (multiple cards O/P) or grip (O/S) when using slightly softer or thinner cardboard like cereal boxes or milk cartons.

Regards,
Joel
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