What size balls?

I want to get supplies for my "new to me" T/C Cherokee & just want to see what size balls you're all using in them. The T/C info that I found online says to use:
.315 round balls for .32 caliber
.440 balls for .45 caliber

The info chart didn't say what thickness patches these ball sizes are requiring. I want to use pillow tick patches & if I remember right the thickness of the material I bought for use in my .54 barrels is in the .015-.017" range.

Anyway, what size balls do you all use in the T/C Cherokee barrels?

The TC info is just a general guideline. You will get varying responses on what others use. Depending on your preferences it can be anywhere from .440" ball and thin patch to .445" ball and thick patch. I suspect .440" and lubed ticking patch will work fine for you.

I was kind of thinking that I probably need .310 balls for the .32 with tick patches. Even that seems kind of tight when you add .310+.15+.15 (patch material on each side of ball)=.340 in a .32 barrel. But I was hoping to get some feedback from others with experience with these T/C barrels. I just didn't want to end up buying balls that I won't end up using.
Maybe I won't be able to use tick patches?

I don't have a TC but do have sever 32s and the 310 balls fit good and shoot well. One of mine uses .320 balls but it's an older one with a slightly larger bore. I believe about 310 is what most like but each gun likes it's own.

For the grandson's Cherokee we use .440 ball and .010 patch over 25 grains FFF. Easy loading and good accuracy on paper targets. For trails I up the powder charge to 40 grain FFF.

Bald Mtn Man said:

I was kind of thinking that I probably need .310 balls for the .32 with tick patches. Even that seems kind of tight when you add .310+.15+.15 (patch material on each side of ball)=.340 in a .32 barrel. But I was hoping to get some feedback from others with experience with these T/C barrels. I just didn't want to end up buying balls that I won't end up using.
Maybe I won't be able to use tick patches?

Click to expand...

The commercial .310 RB's (Speer ? Hornady ? I mis-remember) that I tried in my .32 T/C Seneca were waaayy too larger/tight, even with a thin/wet t-shirt patch - they could only be loaded with some serious pounding to get one started downbore.


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I used to shoot my Cherokee with a .440 rb and a .015 patch ahead of 60 gr of black powder or Pyrodex. Shot well and that was my deer load as well. Greg

For years I've used .311" ball from a Lee mold and .024" ticking patches. It's a nice, snug load; also helps keep the fouling down enough so that I don't have to wipe the bore during an afternoon's shoot. I had a Traditions Crockett for years that I really liked a lot. My current .32 is a Tn flinter that loves that same snug load.

In my .45s I use a .440" ball cast from a Lee mold and the same .024" patch. When I cast up some .445" ball and use the .024" patch I can't tell any real difference in shooting or loading; just a frog hair snugger.

I had a similar question about what size balls to use. I am pretty new to muzzleloading. I've been using .490 round balls in my Hawken .50 Cal, with linen patches lubed with beef tallow, using 80 grains of pyrodex. It shoots pretty well, but the ball sure seems like a tihgt fit. Also the patches come out with holes worn through on one side. Should I go to a .480 diameter, use thinner patch material, or just stick with what I have?

Not all .32s are .3200 bore from land to land. Same w other calibers. Some .54s are actually .53xx land to land etc.

Rifling depth varies greatly too. Ball and patch combination should at least fill the groove to groove. A .310 ball and .015 patch will seal a .32 that has .010 rifling depth BARELY. .310+.015+.015 = .340. A .32 barrel w .010 rifling = .340 G2G. If the barrel is button rifled .004 deep on ea groove, that combo is tight.

Get good measurements on the barrel, balls and patch material. Make sure the crown is good.

I had no problem yesterday loading .395s in my Douglas barreled .40 using saliva on material measuring .020 w calipers. Rifling is .012". The .035 denim I tried was tight using the short start then went down easily but didn't shoot any tighter groups sooooo..

TC

Your questions and concerns are universal to beginners with traditional muzzle loading. This comes from experience and a mindset with modern firearms.
The best advice I can give is to wipe the hard drive in yer skull clean and let us help you with this new old game.
Ain't nuttin' except safety rules, carved in stone with this ml business. For starters, saying an ml rifle is "45 caliber" just a generality. That rifle may want round balls anywhere from .430" to .470" . Only trying will determine what is best for your gun. Now, todays barrels and factory rifles will generally want a .440" or .445" ball in it's "45 caliber" barrel. Don't be afraid to try. In fact it is best to try. Get a box of both sizes, some patch cloth and lube and head to the range. Your wants, grouping, needs, patch cloth and moon phase can affect what you end up with.
Fer instance, I have two rifles used for both competition and hunting that are nominally "45 caliber". Depending on what I want to do, I'll use a .440", .445" or .457" ball in them. Admittedly, the .457" does require a bigger hammer to start but it also gives me the best groups in competition. We will help here but your real learning curve will come at the range. Good luck.

I've had better luck with a ball, that is closer to the caliber. Thus, using a thinner patch. However, sometimes, I use the closest dia. that I have available. I use .310 in my Cherokee, but I would use .315 if I had them. My Cherokee rifle, had a lot of pitting, in the barrel, when I bought it, so I had to go to Black MZ powder, to reduce the fowling. As far as patching, I use the tightest fitting patch, that the rifle will allow. I know the ramrod is pretty thin, on a 32, so start with a thin patch and work up, or until you get acceptable accuracy. Great little rifle..You'll love it.

As Rifleman stated, bore sizes are, often as not, nominal. By that I mean to say one maker's .45 might be .43" and another's .454" even thought both are advertised as ".45". I have one very accurate nominally .45 rifle, now retired, that the manual accompanying it said to fire .433" balls. My other two can easily load .445" ball.

One thing I learned over the past 50 years is that "grease type" lubes combine with the fouling to form a sludge in the bore preventing loading more than two or three additional shots unless wiped after each shot. Spit is one of the best lubes but does dry out fairly quickly. In general, liquid lubes, rather than grease, allow many more shots before wiping is needed.

Thanks all for the advice. I think I'll try the .480 diameter balls, and see how they work. I may end up sticking with .490 balls since they seem to shoot well for me. Need to do some experimentation. That's part of the fun.

I think you would be better off to switch your patch material first. I have found that linen is not the best. Try pillow ticking, the weave is generally tighter.