Guest gt2003 Posted July 5, 2007 Report Share Posted July 5, 2007 I'm wanting to pull out the ML plink around a bit. What kind of experience have you all had with using the inexpensive round balls and patches for this? I currently shoot a 220 grain bullet and have no idea how the weight of the round balls might compare. Please share your experiences. I've got almost 1/2 a pound of Pyrodex RS to play with so thought this would be a good way to do it. Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecumseh Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 That's the only bullet that groups well in my T/C Renegade, with 90 gr of 777 it prints a 1 1/2 group at 100 yrds.I use the Hornady round balls and they weigh 179 gr.I've killed several deer and a couple of hogs with them and they don't run far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gt2003 Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 That's cool. What do you use as a patch? I've never shot anything but sabots before so I was looking for something a bit different just to shoot around with. Can I buy prelubed patches etc? Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 I'm not much in roundballs, but thought the barrels for them had something like a 1of 66 twist to stabilize them. So I'm curious how accuracy is with a modern sabot type rifle ? too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gt2003 Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 It may be a better idea for me to find something cheap to shoot. T/C make an all lead bullet called the cheap shot. I'll track some of them down and that will give me something fairly reasonable to shoot until closer to season. Thanks for the help, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quackmaster4 Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 What kind of rifle are you shooting? Inline? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gt2003 Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 I shoot a knight wolverine with a 1:28 twist inline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_RIDGE_RUNNER Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Shooting round balls from a 1:28 twist most likely will not get you much accuracy. I have a bit of experience with round balls as PA used to dictate their use till a couple of years ago. Usually and I say usually it takes a 1:48 twist to stabilize the round ball and the even slower twist rates are better. You might also try Buffalo Ballets which are a round ball with a skirt. They arent too expensive and should shoot better than the round ball. I have never tried the TC cheap shots but they may work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 All of my ML's shoot roundball, but they are all flintlocks with slow twist or smoothbores. Your twist is truthfully too fast for roundball, by the books. But...every gun is dirrerent, yours MIGHT shoot them OK. Your best bet would be with sabot or Maxi's. If you do tinker with roundball, go to the fabric store and look through their cotton section for some "Pillow ticking". It's the old fashioned stuff they made pillows from with the blue stripes. It has pretty tight weave and holds lube really well. Try to get some about 10 thousandths thick, if you have a micrometer. Thompson Center Bore Butter is an excellent lube, or a mix of Crisco and beeswax works well too, just takes some practice to get the mix right. Check you patches as you shoot them to see if they are being cut by the rifling too. If they cut the patch real bad, you will have to try a different patch or possibly lap the barrel. As far as hunting, I have killed my biggest buck to date with roundball, and he went down fast. The worst hit would be a hard quartering away. Roundballs have a tendancy to want to roll on a rib or especially the shuouler blade on hard quartering away shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Thanks magna, good info !! too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted July 14, 2007 Report Share Posted July 14, 2007 No problemo too pointer. I check in here every once in a while to see if anyone has any questions on "old school" muzzleloaders, I know quite a bit on them and alot of tricks for hunting with them. Been shooting flintlocks for over 19 years and my Dad builds them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gt2003 Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 Thanks for the input guys. I'm searching for inexpensive "plinking" alternatives. I might even be able to shoot the Hornady xtp 250's. Not cheap, but they're a lot cheaper than the PR's. Thanks, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sabotmaker Posted July 17, 2007 Report Share Posted July 17, 2007 Round balls are good and inexpensive for plinking. A patched round ball over 50 grains of blackpowder in a fast twist 50 caliber inline will usually shoot very good. Shoot the round ball in the same fast twist rifle with 100 grains powder and accuracy often suffers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_RIDGE_RUNNER Posted July 29, 2007 Report Share Posted July 29, 2007 Round balls are good and inexpensive for plinking. A patched round ball over 50 grains of blackpowder in a fast twist 50 caliber inline will usually shoot very good. Shoot the round ball in the same fast twist rifle with 100 grains powder and accuracy often suffers. You may get adequate accuracy with a light load and a round ball. In my 50 cals I always use a .490 round ball and a .010 lubed patch You just have to try it and see, you are looking for a rather snug fit but not so tight you have to pound it down the barrel. I have even experimented with with a 1/8th inch thick .50 felt wad between the powder and patched ball. It seems to improve my accuracy even in my flintlocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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