69 cal roundball in a 12 gauge muzzleloader shotgun

I'm looking help making an informed decision. I want to use a 69 cal roundball in a 12 gauge muzzleloader shotgun. The 3 shotguns I am looking at are 1. CVA 12 gauge s/s muzzleloader and the 2. Beretta over/under 12 gauge muzzleloader shotgun ( made in the early 1980's, anniversary or standard------are they the same grade quality?). 3. Navy Arms sxs 12 gauge
*I was able to find the CVA PDF manual and that indcate this shotgun is made to shoot roundball and they stronly recommended using only 69 cal roundball.
*I am very interested in the Beretta over/under 12 gauge muzzleloader shotgun and would like to know if I can also shoot roundball out of it.
* Iv'e been searching a Navy Arms sxs 12 gauge as well but they seem to be scare, I heard they are good quality and made by pedersoli.
** which shotgun would you recommend for roundball, does anyone have experience with these 3 shotguns with roundball?
** I assume only fixed cylinder and modified cylinder can be used for roundball, is this correct?

Thanks, Mike

If a roundball will go down the barrel, it will come out. It's breech-loading shotguns that you have to be careful about shooting ball through a choked barrel.

Thanks for the response, that uncomplicates things (what goes in will come out) ---Mike

A 12-gauge, or 12-to-the-pound should be approx. .729" or .73 caliber. A true .69 should fit. Perhaps a .680" with a patch might be good too, or a .69.

The Brits used a .69 caliber ball in the Brown Bess .75, while a lot of modern shooters use .715s. The U.S. used a .643" or .65" (later) in a .69 caliber musket.

The Berretta and the Pedersoli I have used.
The Berretta is best due to its configuration and the pedersoli are best used as a combination gun as in choose one barrel as the favoured ball barrel.
Stick to cylinder barrels.

DaveC said:

A 12-gauge, or 12-to-the-pound should be approx. .729" or .73 caliber. A true .69 should fit. Perhaps a .680" with a patch might be good too, or a .69.

The Brits used a .69 caliber ball in the Brown Bess .75, while a lot of modern shooters use .715s. The U.S. used a .643" or .65" (later) in a .69 caliber musket.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, experimenting will be fun. I got out bidded on Gunbroker yesterday for a CVA 12 ga. $360 (a bid high).

Britsmoothy said:

The Berretta and the Pedersoli I have used.
The Berretta is best due to its configuration and the pedersoli are best used as a combination gun as in choose one barrel as the favoured ball barrel.
Stick to cylinder barrels.

Click to expand...

Was your Berreta an over/under? If so any issues with misfires on the lower barrel? Just saw a Navy Arms -Piatta 12 ga is up for auction on Gunbroker today; $450 (no bids) and it runs out in a few hours, I sent a message to the seller asking if/what chokes it has, most likely too late for a response. Any feedback on the Navy Arms -Piatta version?
Thanks, Mike

Michael w Parenteau said:

Was your Berreta an over/under? If so any issues with misfires on the lower barrel? Just saw a Navy Arms -Piatta 12 ga is up for auction on Gunbroker today; $450 (no bids) and it runs out in a few hours, I sent a message to the seller asking if/what chokes it has, most likely too late for a response. Any feedback on the Navy Arms -Piatta version?
Thanks, Mike

Click to expand...

Never had any issues with the super imposed Berretta.
Not shot a Pietta but they do seem heavy!