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Unpatched Ball
mackcrane
Member Posts: 1,869 ✭✭✭✭✭
Can you shoot an unpatched ball in a rifle, they aren't patched in a revolver? Also could use an over powder wad in a revolver? Thanks.
Comments
Yes, you could shoot the ball with no patch. But, why would you want to?
The wad, you need to be more specific with the question.
I have a bag of them and do use them sometimes.
I have them well lubed up and they do help keep the fouling soft.
As bambam has said the patch does several good things in the rifle.
You can shoot the rifle pretty well without a patch and the pioneers were known to shoot an unpatched ball if they were in a jam, fighting the Redskins and they needed a fast second or third shot.
After a few shots your barrel will gum up if you are not using the patch and of course accuracy and power suffer.
I can't remember the movie but a guy was reloading his flintlock and an indian was charging him. All he had time for was to load powder, ball and he still had the rod in the barrel when he shot the indian. Of course this was a movie and doubt if a rifle would withstand the pressure from a shot like this.
In my experience, every barrel bore is slightly different, thus you will hear, "My rifle likes this or that...."
With each rifle that I've ever worked with, first it must have a highly polished before developing the load combination that produces the most consistent accuracy. Even after polishing to achieve the exact same bore condition, each rifle was still different.
For what its worth, I've worked on a variety of used rifles that never achieved consistent accuracy. Fact: a rifle with pitted bore is an exercise doomed to fail, sure it will fire but so what.
At present, the most accurate load for a patched ball in my rifle is 70gr Triple7, .535RB, .015 lubed pillow ticking patch and 11 CCI Mag cap.
O'yes, you will hear that your rifle can handle up to 150gr of powder, but it won't be consistently accuracte. For the normal .54 T/C barrel length it is impossible to burn more than 70grs, but then some folks just like more flame and smoke.
Hope this helps
I sometimes will put the powder in, ram the patch & ball with a jag/patch combo. When you pull the rod out the patch on your jag gets the big stuff out before your next shot, but your barrel is still fouled to maintain accuacy.
quote:Originally posted by dandak1
Regarding your original question I too had wondered what might happen without a patch, but all I had heard was people just repeating what they have heard, so I decided to actually find out for myself and did some tests about 3 years ago with my 50 cal Hawken. Usually I use a .495 ball with a 0.010" patch on top of various charges of Pyrodex RS. For grins and giggles I tried several groups at 50 yards using just the ball rammed down on top of the powder WITHOUT a patch. I was VERY careful to make sure the ball did not roll forward after seating (airspace in a bp gun is a big no-no). Usual accuracy with a patched ball and the load I was using averaged 1 1/2" at 50 yards. Without a patch I was getting groups around 4 1/2" or so. Not bad really, considering what i expected and had heard. One thing, the bore got VERY dirty. I guess w/o the pressure building as it does with a patch the powder does not burn as clean. I use overpowder wads in a 3rd gen Colt 1851 navy all the time.
That's why some old revolvers shoot well.
I have a 45 cal percussion German Dueler that takes a 45-185 gr SWC soft lead bullet loosely down the bore.
It's very accurate.