Making a bullet board

[Tankerchief]

Now that I've been bitten by the Black Powder Bug, I want to start small and slow, and make a bullet board for my .50 Hawkin. How think should the board be to hold the balls securely?

-Mike

 

[oldwood]

That's a loaded question , however , I prefer about 3/8 " to 5/16 " thick wood , so the patched ball can protrude below the wood slightly. This allows the protruding patched ball to center itself , in the bore , before the short starter does it's work................oldwood..............Be glad to help w/other stuff.

 

[Tankerchief]

That's a loaded question , however , I prefer about 3/8 " to 5/16 " thick wood , so the patched ball can protrude below the wood slightly. This allows the protruding patched ball to center itself , in the bore , before the short starter does it's work................oldwood..............Be glad to help w/other stuff.

That's exactly the information I was looking for. And, I actually have a piece of wood that is 3/8's. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Thanks!

 

[tenngun]

And a 9/16 hole. Loose for a .50 but the greased patch will hold it in

 

[Togo]

This is helpful too

 

[Sudsy]

Here's what I did. A shooting board that clamps onto the bench at the range. Holds the gun, range rod and starter. Has a little indentation to hold primers and 30 premeasured powder loads.

Two different style block sets that holds 30 prelubed .50 cal Maxi-Balls. They fit on the left side of the board.
You can adjust the size of the hole to fit your patched ball by using a bigger or smaller drill bit.

The key to this is a drill press and a jig to space the holes evenly

 

[ord sgt]

Half inch drill for .50 calibre. I just measured a bullet board that a friend made for me. .495 roundball and .010 thick patch fits right nice.

 

[Tankerchief]

Here's what I did. A shooting board that clamps onto the bench at the range. Holds the gun, range rod and starter. Has a little indentation to hold primers and 30 premeasured powder loads.

Two different style block sets that holds 30 prelubed .50 cal Maxi-Balls. They fit on the left side of the board.
You can adjust the size of the hole to fit your patched ball by using a bigger or smaller drill bit.

The key to this is a drill press and a jig to space the holes evenly

Love the work you put into everything. You are right about the drill press and jig. I've attempted 3 boards using my hand held drill. They are functioning but ugly; not matter how hard I tried to keep the holes in a straight line

 

[Sudsy]

You are right about the drill press and jig. I've attempted 3 boards using my hand held drill. They are functioning but ugly; not matter how hard I tried to keep the holes in a straight line

Keep your eyes open for one of those presses that uses your hand drill, They pop up on craigslist, FB marketplace and at flea markets all the time, generally for $5 or so - because they suck and no one wants them.
However for something as simple as this it will get the job done.

 

[GregK]

I took the lazy man way: Loading Blocks for patched round balls - Track of the Wolf

 

[Timber Wolf]

I figure board thickness to be about hole size. That way the board ends up not too thick or too thin but just right.

 

[Pietro]

A couple of ideas

 

[Sudsy]

A couple of ideas

What am I looking at here ???

 

[BackDraft]

A couple of ideas

I like your triple speed loader.

 

[Flintandsteel]

Sudsy,
just how in Hades, do you get all that manure in a possibles bag?

 

[TDM]

Fits fine in my bag.

 

[longcruise]

I like the board to be a little thicker than the diameter of the ball so as it bounces around during the season the patch doesn't rub on anything.

Now I know that's sort of anal and probably of no purpose whatsoever but I do it anyway.

 

[Sudsy]

Sudsy,
just how in Hades, do you get all that manure in a possibles bag?

LOL, I live in NJ where the only place to shoot is at the range. I don't even own a possibles bag (which kinda sucks)
Straight from the back of the truck to the bench.

 

[TDM]

I have to walk almost 100 yards to mine.

 

[oldwood]

I don't use my shot pouch at the range , but do use my powder horn. Have an old 8" by 10" green Army tool box with sight drift , extra patching , lube container , and a ball peen hammer. Extra ear plugs for watchers , and rags to wipe hands. Pliers , and screw driver. Extra flints , too. Oh yes , my wife's tooth brush , to clean the lock pan between shots. Works for me.