Switching to round balls

[Yeehaw92]

Hopefully I posted this in the right area, but I’m looking at switching to patch and round ball. Currently I’m shooting 275 grain T/C maxi hunters (.50 cal. Rifle: CVA Plainsman, 65 grains 2FF, RMC Felt wad), my question is if the balls are .490, do I need to use a .010 patch? I’m new to patch and round ball and haven’t used them before. Any help or advice is appreciated. (Hopefully my current load helps). Thank you.

 

[Robert Losekamp]

Try several sizes, you'll probably want .015 - .020 for better engagement with the rifling and a better gas seal.

 

[longcruise]

Go straight to JoAnne fabrics #40 drill at about .017 to .018. It's good stuff and fits many rifles quite well. If it's not tight enough go to .495 ball. This has a very high probability of working and if it does it will save you a massive turd hunt.

 

[Robert Losekamp]

Go straight to JoAnne fabrics #40 drill at about .017 to .018. It's good stuff and fits many rifles quite well. If it's not tight enough go to .495 ball. This has a very high probability of working and if it does it will save you a massive turd hunt.

I use this in my .50 traditions with a .490. Excellent accuracy and not so tight that I hate using it.

 

[Dismount]

Hopefully I posted this in the right area, but I’m looking at switching to patch and round ball. Currently I’m shooting 275 grain T/C maxi hunters (.50 cal. Rifle: CVA Plainsman, 65 grains 2FF, RMC Felt wad), my question is if the balls are .490, do I need to use a .010 patch? I’m new to patch and round ball and haven’t used them before. Any help or advice is appreciated. (Hopefully my current load helps). Thank you.

Use Walmart standard pillow ticking with .490 perfect fit

 

[Winterhawk]

It depends on how accurate you want to be. Most folks use pillow ticking or drill cloth, but I've seen people use T-shirt material or denim. If you just want something that will shoot well in your rifle, pillow ticking works very well. If you want maximum accuracy, get a little of each type and go shoot to see which one will give the smallest group. Don't change anything else (powder charge, cap maker, etc.). Wipe the bore between shots to keep it as much the same as possible.
After you determine the best patch material you can vary the powder charge, again to get the best group. Once you have found that, it's time to try different patch material again to see if there is any difference; probably won't be.

Or, you can be like me and just use pillow ticking and 50 grains of FFFg and call it good....

 

[Grenadier1758]

Use Walmart standard pillow ticking with .490 perfect fit

Standard Walmart pillow ticking isn't very standard. Thickness and tightness of weave cam vary quite a bit from 0.012 to 0.018 and the can be either tight or open. That ticking must be measured to determine the thickness. Much better to go to JoAnn's Fabrics to get the #40 cotton drill in the utility section. This cloth has always consistently measured at 0.017" and has a tight weave. They also have a good selection of pillow ticking and mattress ticking. Take calipers or a micrometer to measure at the store. Wash and dry hot to remove the sizing from the fabric. Removing the sizing make the fabric softer to hold the lubricant better and compress better into the grooves.

 

[Eric Krewson]

I used ticking for years; I measured each yard that I bought with calipers but it did vary from lot to lot. I switched to #40 drill cloth this year and find it as tough as nails and very consistently sized. No more ticking for me.

 

[Winterhawk]

I tried to get some drill cloth a while back at the local JoAnn's. I asked for help finding it and the people there had not clue what I was looking for....

 

[Grenadier1758]

I tried to get some drill cloth a while back at the local JoAnn's. I asked for help finding it and the people there had not clue what I was looking for....

It should be in the utility cloth section with the muslins and osnaburgs.

Unbleached Drill Fabric 40''​

Item # 683532

Here's a link to the fabric if you want to get it on line. Also use their coupons. There's always a discount sometimes 40% to 50%.

https://www.joann.com/jo-ann-stores-unbleached-drill-fabric/683532.html

 

[Winterhawk]

Thank you for the information. I'll give that to them the next time I get out that way.
~Kees~