Bought new fowler from TVM

[Mike Suri]

Well I finally decided on and purchased a new fowler from TVM. Really like it a lot! It has a Colerain 58 cal barrel but when I tried to load it with a .570 RB and a .010 patch I couldn't get it down the bore. I called Colerain and they let me know that the bore was .577 !! I know all guns are different but my question to all the knowledgeable members is in their experience is a smaller ball and thicker patch more accurate or a larger ball and thinner patch better ?? Thanks for y

 

[Snow on the Roof]

Mike you will find that each smooth bore has its own personality. You could try a .562 Round ball with .015 patching. I would try those .570 with out patching. My favorite smoothbore load is to use an 1/8" over powder wad followed by a cushion wad, a bare "chewed" round ball and another over powder wad to hold it all in. works very well in my guns.

 

[Mike Suri]

That does sound good. I am just learning about chewed balls. I have a nice old horseshoe rasp that I have used before !!

 

[spudnut]

Some wad some patch ,patch gives thickness all around the ball in a smoothie where a rifle has grooves to squeeze into.
I wad over powder,doesnt matter what so long as its natural and wad over the ball,When the ball sits on a wad it should come out sorta like a sabot and not bounce around inside the bore

 

[larryp]

My most accurate load is a 1/4" lubed wool felt wad, a .610 bare ball and over shot card. Much more accurate than any patched ball load I've tried.