Loading / shooting multiple balls( deliberately)

[Col. Batguano]

Has anyone tried loading multiple balls deliberately? (I'm not talking about a whole hat full, but just 2-3 maybe.) And I'm speaking about doing this from a rifled gun, with a PRB, not a shotgun load. I know guns are proofed that way.

Some .410 shotgun shells are loaded with 3 balls. It wouldn't seem to be a barrel obstruction to me, as, there would be no sudden deceleration of an exiting projectile. What kind of accuracy did you experience? Obviously you would want to be cautious with your loads.

Obviously, the front of the back ball would be flattened, as well as the back of the front, so aerodynamics (and accuracy at distance) would be affected.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Sure.
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/todays-hunt.117766/

 

[longcruise]

I did this once with a TC 50 cal. The balls patterned vertically and about 3" apart at 50 yards. Recoil was similar to shooting a heavy conical. I don't recall what the powder charge was but probably 70 grains of ff.

Doing this is not without risk. It's possible that as you seat the second ball you may be compressing air that has no escape around either ball. The compressed air may force the second ball partially back up the barrel. NOW you do have an obstruction !!! So, play safe!

 

[curator]

Thompson-Center did publish load data for double ball loads for their rifles. From my limited experience this worked fine and the two balls hit within a few inches of another at 50 yards. Most States expect firearms shooting two or more balls be at least 20 gauge to hunt big game.