45 plus years in the game and I can tell you that every bore is as different as women. A micrometer or even machinist standard will only tell you part of the story. Bores aren’t settled in their ways (lands generally smoothed out) until after about 200 shots and patches stop “cutting”. Then maybe you can use a .495” ball or thicker patch and see some happy groups with your 50cal.
Thank you sir. Very informative, very simple and very helpful. Back in the 1980’s, I bought my Dad a Thompson Center Hawkin. It’s a beautiful rifle and a couple weeks ago I got it out of safe and started cleaning and cleaning and cleaning on it. After it was good and clean I fired a cap through it, then I loaded 70 grains under a wad of cloth to make sure it would fire, before I seated a bullet in it. All went well and I put a patch in a jag and ran it down and back. After that, I loaded it again but this time with a .490 round ball. First shot at 25 yards was dead center left to right and 1” high. 2 more shots revealed a 1.62” 3 shot group. I figure the gun will do better than that and the shooter is the deficient part. Just my thing, but regardless of what I happen to be shooting, I limit my range to whatever distance at which I can shoot a 2” group, or less at, so for now, shooting at game, I won’t attempt a shot past 30 yards. Dad passed last spring, so next fall any animal not taken with my recurve will be taken with Dad’s Hawkin, just to commemorate him and to remember all the many days that we spent afield. Thanks again for the video. One question, if with practice my shooting improves, what do think is the maximum lethal range of a .490 round ball on a mature whitetail buck? Your recommendation on other solid lead projectiles that I can get a mold for would be appreciated as well. Regards
A patch of 10 thousandths of an inch plus a .49 round ball = 0.51 in the bore. Measurement between the lands may be 0.50, but the groove depth may vary, this is where the patch helps take up the difference. Too thin a patch may tear.
That is true. I have an older .45 barrel that is a much smaller bore than stamped on the barrel. It actually measured at .439 and .449 so the .433 ball and .015 works good for my rifle. Always measure the bore to make sure of the actual size if the breech plug can be easily removed slug the barrel and measure the slug it is the most accurate way of knowing for sure.
Olive oil plus bees wax equals bore butter. Just add wintergreen essential oil for scent. I used cedar oil but it has a really weak smell. Works great though. Much cheaper than buying it and you can vary the amount of bees wax for cold and warm weather.
If you have to pound your ball down with a mallet, either ball or patch is too big. Most muzzleloading shooting at most rendezvous is standing, free hand, at 25 yards or more. Virtually nobody can hold a 5 foot gun steady enough to notice any difference between adequately tight patch ball combo and too tight of a patch ball combo. 52 years experience.
From what I read his famous Kentucky rifle Ol’ Tick Licker was a .44 caliber flintlock that was 5 foot in length and weighed nearly 11.5 pounds or there abouts.
A .015 patch ends up being .030 when wrapped around the ball. So that would put you at .520 total
45 plus years in the game and I can tell you that every bore is as different as women. A micrometer or even machinist standard will only tell you part of the story. Bores aren’t settled in their ways (lands generally smoothed out) until after about 200 shots and patches stop “cutting”. Then maybe you can use a .495” ball or thicker patch and see some happy groups with your 50cal.
Thank you sir. Very informative, very simple and very helpful. Back in the 1980’s, I bought my Dad a Thompson Center Hawkin. It’s a beautiful rifle and a couple weeks ago I got it out of safe and started cleaning and cleaning and cleaning on it. After it was good and clean I fired a cap through it, then I loaded 70 grains under a wad of cloth to make sure it would fire, before I seated a bullet in it. All went well and I put a patch in a jag and ran it down and back. After that, I loaded it again but this time with a .490 round ball. First shot at 25 yards was dead center left to right and 1” high. 2 more shots revealed a 1.62” 3 shot group. I figure the gun will do better than that and the shooter is the deficient part. Just my thing, but regardless of what I happen to be shooting, I limit my range to whatever distance at which I can shoot a 2” group, or less at, so for now, shooting at game, I won’t attempt a shot past 30 yards. Dad passed last spring, so next fall any animal not taken with my recurve will be taken with Dad’s Hawkin, just to commemorate him and to remember all the many days that we spent afield. Thanks again for the video. One question, if with practice my shooting improves, what do think is the maximum lethal range of a .490 round ball on a mature whitetail buck? Your recommendation on other solid lead projectiles that I can get a mold for would be appreciated as well.
Regards
A patch of 10 thousandths of an inch plus a .49 round ball = 0.51 in the bore.
Measurement between the lands may be 0.50, but the groove depth may vary, this is
where the patch helps take up the difference. Too thin a patch may tear.
That is true. I have an older .45 barrel that is a much smaller bore than stamped on the barrel. It actually measured at .439 and .449 so the .433 ball and .015 works good for my rifle. Always measure the bore to make sure of the actual size if the breech plug can be easily removed slug the barrel and measure the slug it is the most accurate way of knowing for sure.
Olive oil plus bees wax equals bore butter. Just add wintergreen essential oil for scent. I used cedar oil but it has a really weak smell. Works great though. Much cheaper than buying it and you can vary the amount of bees wax for cold and warm weather.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes as long as the bore butter has petroleum in the product. Some brands do others do not.
If you have to pound your ball down with a mallet, either ball or patch is too big. Most muzzleloading shooting at most rendezvous is standing, free hand, at 25 yards or more. Virtually nobody can hold a 5 foot gun steady enough to notice any difference between adequately tight patch ball combo and too tight of a patch ball combo. 52 years experience.
What brand of caliber did Daniel Boone use? LOL
From what I read his famous Kentucky rifle Ol’ Tick Licker was a .44 caliber flintlock that was 5 foot in length and weighed nearly 11.5 pounds or there abouts.
What "brand of caliber" do you use? I didn't know calibers came by brand. LOL
Boone used a JeepReef brand caliber, you idiot.
Your volume is too low. Fix it.
Sorry. 500 barrel is wrong. More so .501 to .503 is the correct answer. I own 3 rifles in. 50 caliber, not 1 measures out to. 500 just the facts