Random fliers...

[Mark Herman]

Brit,
Neither of the loads I mentioned have to be hammered down the bore if they are lined properly. In my humble opinion "historically correct" has little to do with accurate shooting. We are not fighting Indians and need to load loose or bare balls.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Brit,
Neither of the loads I mentioned have to be hammered down the bore if they are lined properly. In my humble opinion "historically correct" has little to do with accurate shooting. We are not fighting Indians and need to load loose or bare balls.

I dont believe it is necessary for accurate shooting to have to hammer a ball even with a short starter. I never found it necessary with a rifle or smoothbore.
Another one is folks bouncing the rammer off a seated ball, why .
I also dont get this large grained powder and just use a little of it.
My 45 worked best when 70gn of 3f was exploded behind a soft lead ball. Recovered balls had obviously obturated against and into the patch and rifling. No need to struggle, let the powder and rifle do the work for you.