round ball

[bluecow]

dose anyone use this anymore?  how it do?

[Catfish]

I was never able to get the accuracy from the round ball that I could get with the Foster slugs, but I didn`t play with them alot.

[Rustyinfla]

 I've been thinking of working up some loads for this myself. I know shooting a RB from a smoothbore ML can result in some pretty amazing accuracy. A lot  better than most folks would think.

[Couger]

Round balls or pumpkin balls are what was once used in a shotgun before Foster then saboted slugs.

Plus as late as 1863-64 both the North and South still used muskets in some units, and a "buck and ball" combination load could be especially deadly to 75yds or more.

Besides pumpkin balls, if you need devastating stopping power in a 12 or 20 gauge, you might want to learn about the "buck and ball" and how to make some.

[FLNT4EVR]

Sportsmans guide has factory made buck and ball loads,in 12 ga.I think they are of italian manufacture and sell for about $1 per round.

[Rustyinfla]

  Actually most all the troops in Mr. Lincoln's dirty little war used muskets. Even the Enfields were considered muskets even though they were rifled, they were refereed to as rifled muskets. some units did use smooth bore muskets, while others such as Berdan's Sharpshooters had full blown rifles capable of amazing accuracy even by today's standards.

  In the fur trade era most of the mountain men used a smooth bore trade gun. The copies of which are becoming more and more popular. Even a trade gun with it's smooth bore and bead front sight can rival a rifle at 50 yards and less.

  That's all the accuracy I need here in Florida with our hardwood swamps. Around here 75 yards is a long shot unless you set yourself up along a clear cut.

[Oldtimer]

I must not have had enough to do once and worked up some round ball loads for a .410.  I used .444 Marlin cases, large pistol primers, a case full of Pyrodex CTG (50 grains) and a patched .395 round ball.  It was surprisingly accurate, but the fouling kept the shotgun (a Brazilian singlebarrel) from locking up after the fifth shot.  The cases were not obdurating at the pressures I was getting.  It was an interesting experiment, but I never tried it on game, as I sold the shotgun shortly afterward.

[RMc]

From my 12 bore New Englander:

.690 round ball (500 grains) with pillow ticking patch lubed with Slip 2000
3/8th inch fibre cushion wad and 1/4th inch over powder card
100 grains Goex FFg
CCI Magnum #11 percussion cap.

Groups 3 shots into 4 inches at 40 yards to point of aim with the factory bead sight.

RMc

[RMc]

Does big buckshot count?

From my 870 Express, 26'' vent rib, bead sight, Briley extended full choke:

Dixie Tri-Ball Buckshot shoots to the point of aim putting the three .60 caliber, 3/4th ounce balls into a  4" pattern at 40 yards.