Tested some .570 and .575 balls in my Kibler smoothbore

Big shout out to Nazgul58 who sent me some .570 and .575 roundballs to test in my Kibler colonial smoothbore. 58cal.

All my shooting today was @ 30 yards I am pleased with both ball sizes I am kind of undecided but, the clear winner was the .570 ball with 85 grains of my homemade brew / 45 grains of corn meal a 1/8" felt wad with a .002 paper patch. The bare ball .570 did not do so well so, I switched it up with paper patching and bingo. Loading was very easy with the .570 ball and paper patch.

Next up was the .575 ball.....

The .575 bare ball was very easy to load and shot pretty well. The load was 85 grains of my powder, 45 grains of corn meal 1/8" felt wad over the powder bare .575 ball and a shot card on top.

What did you use for the paper patching? Just confirming you loaded powder-corn meal- wad and then ball?

garypl said:

What did you use for the paper patching? Just confirming you loaded powder-corn meal- wad and then ball?

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Correct powder then corn meal right on top of the powder 1/8" felt wad then patched ball. Paper used was butcher paper.

Not bad shooting! Have you tried shooting a pillow ticking patched ball? I’m looking at getting the same setup. Your gun looks great too!

Ballshooter said:

Correct powder then corn meal right on top of the powder 1/8" felt wad then patched ball. Paper used was butcher paper.

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I’m just getting ready to start on my .58 colonial smoothbore and will try this combination!

Coolhand said:

Not bad shooting! Have you tried shooting a pillow ticking patched ball? I’m looking at getting the same setup. Your gun looks great too!

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Pillow ticking was way to tight in my smoothbore. I did try muslin cloth with a .562 ball this was the best group I have ever got @ 45 yards dot is 1 1/2".

You don’t buy a smoothbore to shoot round ball, you buy it to shoot shot for wingshooting and birding.

At least that’s what some will tell you.

In truth, they can be effective when loaded with a single near bore sized round metallic projectile with proper load development.

Smokey Plainsman said:

You don’t buy a smoothbore to shoot round ball, you buy it to shoot shot for wingshooting and birding.

At least that’s what some will tell you.

In truth, they can be effective when loaded with a single near bore sized round metallic projectile with proper load development.

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Lol I got it to hunt rabbit and grouse mostly..but also bear,deer and elk....versatility is what I wanted.

garypl said:

I’m just getting ready to start on my .58 colonial smoothbore and will try this combinati

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You will love it!

Pretty impressive there Mr. Glad for you

How’s cleaning after shooting with corn meal? Have seen the use reference a few times, but haven’t seen what the aftermath is like. Nice shooting!

Ballshooter said:

Pillow ticking was way to tight in my smoothbore. I did try muslin cloth with a .562 ball this was the best group I have ever got @ 45 yards dot is 1 1/2".

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I think that is a fine group!

Zutt-man said:

How’s cleaning after shooting with corn meal? Have seen the use reference a few times, but haven’t seen what the aftermath is like. Nice shooting!

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The cleaning was no problem , don't know how it would be in a rifled bore the smoothbore was not any harder to clean plus every shot smelled like corn bread lol.

The corn meal seems to keep the thin paper patching pretty much intact.

Good group and good shooting.

How thick was the patch with the 562 ball?

roundballman said:

How thick was the patch with the 562 ball?

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.008 muslin patch loads very easy no short starter needed.

I'll be dipped in sheep dip. I was wondering what the corn meal was for.
Your results have made the smooth rifle more interesting. Have you worked with shot loads with it?

Nice shooting I would be real happy if that was my gun.

Fine shooting right there