Someone else that knows how to load a ball. Thank You Robert. I totally agree with you.
I'm not the best at explaining things with text but I will try.
I shot bench rest with my dad from 1960 to 1964 using a model 70 220 swift target rifle. In 1964 I bought my own model 70 in a 225. That same year an old gentleman introduced me to black powder bench rest using his warner under hammer 50 cal. paper patched rifle and a no name muzzle loader using round ball and patch. He taught me how to load for accuracy.
It started out by screening all the powder to remove all fines. Then the charge was weighed and poured down the clean barrel. Next a felt wiper on the end of a rod was used to push down any powder that might have stuck to barrel walls. Then he told me to tap the gun twice lightly on the ground to settle the powder.
Then a lubed paper patched bullet that just fits the bore with a snug slip fit (not the groove dia.) is started in the false muzzle. a special starter is set onto the false muzzle to start the bullet square. Not to force the bullet in but just to align it straight with the bore and through the false muzzle. It slides easily through.
Then the ramrod is set on the bullet and just it's weight will slowly slide the bullet down till it sits very lightly on the powder.
The round balls in the other gun were loaded much the same way but without a false muzzle. The lubed patched ball was a was only a thousands or two tight to the bore size. Again not the groove dia.
The bullets or balls expand to totally fill the grooves in the barrel.
The very soft lead can expand greatly. Without a barrel to contain it, it would flatten out a lot. You all know how much the gun kicks on your shoulder and you know that the weight of the gun soaked up a lot of it. That blast is also hitting the soft lead the same amount. Which is enough to flatten it.
If you are testing for accuracy you certainly don't want tight fitting balls or bullets for a couple good reasons.
One is you distort the bullet or ball upon loading.
The next is that it is imposable to get that tight bullet or ball down on the powder consistently the same each time. You just can't feel how hard your pushing it into the powder.
As I have said before, black powder does not compress. It's granules break into finer parts if you try to push it into a smaller space then it fills normally or with gentle tapping. And there goes the accuracy out the window.
I'm not the best at explaining things with text but I will try.
I shot bench rest with my dad from 1960 to 1964 using a model 70 220 swift target rifle. In 1964 I bought my own model 70 in a 225. That same year an old gentleman introduced me to black powder bench rest using his warner under hammer 50 cal. paper patched rifle and a no name muzzle loader using round ball and patch. He taught me how to load for accuracy.
It started out by screening all the powder to remove all fines. Then the charge was weighed and poured down the clean barrel. Next a felt wiper on the end of a rod was used to push down any powder that might have stuck to barrel walls. Then he told me to tap the gun twice lightly on the ground to settle the powder.
Then a lubed paper patched bullet that just fits the bore with a snug slip fit (not the groove dia.) is started in the false muzzle. a special starter is set onto the false muzzle to start the bullet square. Not to force the bullet in but just to align it straight with the bore and through the false muzzle. It slides easily through.
Then the ramrod is set on the bullet and just it's weight will slowly slide the bullet down till it sits very lightly on the powder.
The round balls in the other gun were loaded much the same way but without a false muzzle. The lubed patched ball was a was only a thousands or two tight to the bore size. Again not the groove dia.
The bullets or balls expand to totally fill the grooves in the barrel.
The very soft lead can expand greatly. Without a barrel to contain it, it would flatten out a lot. You all know how much the gun kicks on your shoulder and you know that the weight of the gun soaked up a lot of it. That blast is also hitting the soft lead the same amount. Which is enough to flatten it.
If you are testing for accuracy you certainly don't want tight fitting balls or bullets for a couple good reasons.
One is you distort the bullet or ball upon loading.
The next is that it is imposable to get that tight bullet or ball down on the powder consistently the same each time. You just can't feel how hard your pushing it into the powder.
As I have said before, black powder does not compress. It's granules break into finer parts if you try to push it into a smaller space then it fills normally or with gentle tapping. And there goes the accuracy out the window.
He didn't get away and now I have three pounds of powder FFFg sitting here next to me.
