.40 Cal

[Cattywompuss]

So, I'm totally new to .40. Noticed the common ball size for the caliber is .395. I'm sure some folks have to go a little smaller, but while I wait on my LRB order to arrive from Grafs, I was wondering why .395 instead of .390. Being brand new to such a "small" bore, isn't the increased surface area going to make getting patch with a tighter ball down harder than usual?

Again, brand new to smaller calibers so any advice is welcome regarding ball size. Coincidentally the fella who built the rifle went with a 5/16 rod even though a 3/8 fits perfectly down the bore. I think he did so because the thimbles are too small for .3/8.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

I have a .36 flintlock that likes a .360 round ball best. Not .350 or .355 or .358, just .360.

They are all individuals.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[olskool]

i have a 40, got it fresh built. i have used .400 and .395, it shoots them the same but the .395 sure loads easier. never have tried .390,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Billy Boy]

My .40 shoots both 390 and 395 just fine. For me, if my barrel has shallow grooves I get better results with a larger dia ball, thinner patch. With deep grooves, smaller dia ball, thicker patch. Your milage may vary but this seems to have worked out best for me in all calibers. My experience with 40 s has been excellent, no matter what you feed them.

 

[Zutt-man]

My .40 poor boy has shot .395 with thin patching it's whole life. I should experiment with it one of these days

 

[Cattywompuss]

My .40 poor boy has shot .395 with thin patching it's whole life. I should experiment with it one of these days

Would thin be something like .015 or thinner? I tried using some formerly high quality bedsheets one time and boy was that too thin.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Any of you guys shoot .389 ?

I ask as when I went to order .390 round ball, they were not available but I did find a package marked .389.
I doubt that one ten thousandth makes a difference, but just wondering if anybody else has seen this?

LD

 

[Zutt-man]

Would thin be something like .015 or thinner? I tried using some formerly high quality bedsheets one time and boy was that too thin.

.010 patching for me. I like an easy load. Have had a pile of them for years, so I can’t for the life of me think where I got them. Will have to look at the packaging when I get home

 

[hanshi]

I always fired a .390" ball in mine. With the variability of molds there's likely no measureable difference between .390" and .389" unless you use a mic and measure at least 100 of each.

 

[Art Caputo]

Any of you guys shoot .389 ?

I ask as when I went to order .390 round ball, they were not available but I did find a package marked .389.
I doubt that one ten thousandth makes a difference, but just wondering if anybody else has seen this?

LD

Yes....with good results.

 

[oldwood]

Love my .40 , .390 ball w/ .007 patch. 30 gr. fffg = light load , 60 gr. fffg = heavy load. Accuracy better than this old guy deserves. 3/4 " oct. x 38" long , Repurposed Pittsburgh iron parts , w/ copper thimbles. She's from an original Appalachian W.Va. Mtn. rifle . A Cheat River walnut flint rifle , call her Plain Jane. Skinny and carries good, slightly less than 5 lb. , and she's a killer. She shot the head off a grouse @ 12 yds. .................oldwood

 

[brazosland]

.395 with .015 in my Rice barrel with square grooves. Shoots better than me.

Never tried another ball size, but there is no reason another combo wouldn’t work just as well.

I have more than a couple of .62s and .58s...but the .40 bug has bitten me hard. I’m trying to figure out how to buy another.

 

[Cattywompuss]

.395 with .015 in my Rice barrel with square grooves. Shoots better than me.

Never tried another ball size, but there is no reason another combo wouldn’t work just as well.

I have more than a couple of .62s and .58s...but the .40 bug has bitten me hard. I’m trying to figure out how to buy another.

I hear ya. I have never had anything below a .45 until now. When I drove three hours to be the first to view this estate, I wanted a smoothie for turkey and a squirrel rifle. Having never had a small bore, I reckoned the .40 I got was a .36 or so. My micrometer told me what I actually had.

The three guns I bought were my picks for one reason. Out of 50-70 guns, the three I bought had slings on them. Paper shooters don't need slings. Hunters do. So I got a .40, a .50, and my .60 smooth buck and ball gun.

The .40 is the most exciting because I've never used anything below .45. I can't wait for my LRB's to arrive to I can burn some powder!

 

[Herd48]

I have a 40 with a rice barrel. It’s new. Only about 40 shots through it. 395 balls load hard with .015 patch. I shot .389 balls lately with same patch. Much easier to load. And accuracy was acceptable. I’ll work on that.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

Just came back from the range with my .40 caliber Isaac Haynes (left hand flint.) With 50 grains 3F Swiss and a .400 round ball with a .020 Wonder Lube patch, I clustered five shots off the bench into one ragged hole. Then I reloaded and took my last shot offhand. It was in the same group. Right at point of aim.

I tried two different powders, three different diameter balls, and two patch thicknesses. Got lucky on combination four.

Interesting that my Wonder Lubed patches, unopened but four years old, worked perfectly.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[jlatz]

I have been using .40 rifles since the late 1960s. It is a good caliber for targets and small gave. My favorite is a Vincent style rifle.

 

[Mark Herman]

Have been shooting .40's for a long time. Have several but the favorite is an 1 1/8" Ed Raul barrels underhammer that I table shoot with. Use a .395 ball with .018 Teflon over 65 grains of FFFg. This is a 13 shot group

 

[Mark Herman]

Should have read Ed Rayl barrel in above post.

 

[Tom A Hawk]

.380 ball and a .015" patch in my .40 Colerain barrel with 50 - 60 grains 3F Swiss. Its wonderful.

 

[sb 54 cal.]

Have been shooting .40's for a long time. Have several but the favorite is an 1 1/8" Ed Raul barrels underhammer that I table shoot with. Use a .395 ball with .018 Teflon over 65 grains of FFFg. This is a 13 shot group
View attachment 75059

Please explain .018 teflon