Smoothbore accuracy in heat and humidity

[Leadball loader]

We are in hot high humidity weather pattern that I think may have wised me up as to why my groups vanished as a shooting session progressed.
I remember reading a post that said a smoothbore should not be pinned tight or you would not be able to get accuracy. I never connected the dots enough to check my Indian made FDC until yesterday in a shooting session when at 85 degrees and with a barrel very hot my rounds began going off target by feet at shot yardage. Needless to say it got my attention and I stopped shooting and on cleaning took the barrel, which was pinned tight, off the gun.
Today I needle filed the pin holes in the lugs so the pins now have lateral movement and cleaned up the lug mortice slots so there was some space for them to move. Got the gun reassembled but did not have time to go shoot it.
Temperatures will be in the 90 degree range for the next several days and I am not going to try shooting again till we get back down into the mid to low 80 degree range. Heat and high humidity are hard on my system and I have 200 bales to put in tomorrow in 90 degree heat.
Hoping I have addressed my problem LBL.

 

[Leadball loader]

Shot the FDC yesterday and groups nicely with temp at 85+ and a hot barrel. I should have remembered to check this much sooner!
LBL

 

[Britsmoothy]

Good work

 

[Leadball loader]

I am pleased I finally did the job but I failed to do what was needed way longer than was rational. I just needed to remember what I had read some time in the past.
LBL