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Ball diameter

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RATROD56

40 Cal
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
187
Reaction score
162
I see .50cal balls with different diameters ie. .490, .454 I'm confused on what type to use. I have a T/C Hawken 50cal by the way. Sorry for my ignorance but I'm new to black powder and trying to learn.
 
.50 cal rifles mostly use a .490 ball with .015” patches. Some use a .495 ball but then a thinner patch.
Be aware though that a few .50 cal marked rifles actually have a bore diameter greater than .50 cal and as such require the use of an actual .500 (or slightly larger) ball.
However, your TC Hawken will likely love a .490” ball and .015” patch.
Hope this helped.
Walk
 
454 is for a 44 cal revolver. Why larger? Because they don't use a patch and are press formed into the chamber. There is no one fits all thing and allot of variables out there.
 
There is no perzactness in this game. Stated 'calibers' are often a generalization. Back in the day new rifles came with a mould to match. However, in our current times with so many factory made rifles on the market we do have some standardization. OTOH, the shooter often has the option of trying different loadings to achieve accuracy or whatever his goals. I used .457" rb in a Douglas '45' cal. barrel for many years. That required a short/long starter, hammer and effort to seat. But, they gave excellent accuracy. I, of course, used only pure soft lead. Do way works for you whether it is .485", .490" or .500". Results an a happy shooter are what is important.
 
Like most, I would suggest.490 for the first box of balls. Trying different patch thickness and materials is next on your list. Again, using .015 as a good jumping off point. Powder charge will likely be 80 to 100 grains volume of ffg...
 
Back "in the day" the ball mold was sized to allow a ball to be started using one's thumb. There was not the precise fit that was started in the late 19th century. I haven't heard of a rifle with pouch with round ball, patching and a mold that can be measured to see just how precise the sizing was.

Now we measure the bore from land to land and use a ball 0.005" to 0.010" less in diameter. Then we use a patch that is 0.015" thick that require a short starter and some effort to load a round ball.

So, my question to Ratrod is, do you want a ball and patch combination that is easy to load or do you want the best in performance accuracy? For the T/C Hawken to be easy to load, then a 0.490" or 0.480" ball with 0.015" pillow ticking patching, spit lubed, is good. To determine the ball, patch and lube, and powder charge. one will need almost all of Dutch Schoultz's "Black Powder Accuracy" 94 pages to develop the best load.
 
.50 cal rifles mostly use a .490 ball with .015” patches. Some use a .495 ball but then a thinner patch.
Be aware though that a few .50 cal marked rifles actually have a bore diameter greater than .50 cal and as such require the use of an actual .500 (or slightly larger) ball.
However, your TC Hawken will likely love a .490” ball and .015” patch.
Hope this helped.
Walk
I did help, thank you!
 
Like most, I would suggest.490 for the first box of balls. Trying different patch thickness and materials is next on your list. Again, using .015 as a good jumping off point. Powder charge will likely be 80 to 100 grains volume of ffg...
490 seems to be the most advised. I greatly appreciate it.
 
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