Ball size?

[WildWill]

Grow up you creetons. @BrentD I was at the local gunshop today and they had some precut lubed .015 patches. I picked them up to try some round balls in the Hawkins. What would be best with those patches 490. or 495. balls?

 

[shb]

That's not how it works.

Get an average patch like your .015's there.

Then try the different sized round balls.

Your rifling/twist/groove style will like one more than the others.

Then try different patch thickness.

Then try different powder amounts.



TC rifles seem to need a 490

Lyman Great Plains do best with .495


Hawken, not hawkins.

 

[mevertsen]

I would start with .490 and around 70 grains volume 2f or Pyrodex RS.

I imagine you should find an acceptable load before 100 grains.

 

[choc dogs]

Yuge

 

[Potsie]

Yuge

2lb brass clackers.

 

[Hammsolo]

Yuge

That’s exactly what I was going to say. Great minds think alike.

 

[David58]

The T/C rifles (Hawken, Renegade, etc) with the 1:48 twist seem to like .490 or .495, and a max of about 85 grains of 3F in a .50. 490 loads easier. I have gone to looser loads (smaller round ball size) in all of my MLs, because I don't like the bruised palm from short starting.

My approach would be to start with .490 ball, 70 gr 3f, and experiment with patch thickness and lube. I used to grease with vaseline for the loads in the loading block, since the spit patches for target shooting dry out. Now I might use crisco/bear grease, bore butter, don't seem to matter too much as long as I can load.

All in all, it is experimentation. Seems MLs are somewhat variable in what they digest the best, so have fun at the range!

David
NM