• This community needs YOUR help today. We rely 100% on Supporting Memberships to fund our efforts. With the ever increasing fees of everything, we need help. We need more Supporting Members, today. Please invest back into this community. I will ship a few decals too in addition to all the account perks you get.



    Sign up here: https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/account/upgrades

Making a bullet board

Muzzleloading Forum

Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Tankerchief

32 Cal
Joined
Sep 27, 2022
Messages
44
Reaction score
74
Location
New Jersey
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
 
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 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!
 
This is helpful too
 

Attachments

  • FB_IMG_1670196947182.jpg
    FB_IMG_1670196947182.jpg
    19.6 KB · Views: 0
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
 

Attachments

  • Shooting board.jpg
    Shooting board.jpg
    356.4 KB · Views: 0
  • 20200917_024421.jpg
    20200917_024421.jpg
    2.6 MB · Views: 0
  • 20200917_024430.jpg
    20200917_024430.jpg
    3 MB · Views: 0
  • 20210810_152142.jpg
    20210810_152142.jpg
    3.7 MB · Views: 0
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 :(
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Back
Top