O/U .50 Caliber

[drhall762]

I know that somewhere around here we have discussed the approach to loading double barrel rifles and the potential problems of bullet shift off the powder charge due to recoil if a PRB wasn't used. That being said, I suppose the first barrel could be loaded with just about anything as long as the second was a tight PRB and they were fired in order.

If this holds for a PRB, why then is there a potential problem if a tight fitting (groove sized) bullet is used in the second barrel?

Not trying to break with convention, just trying to understand the physics.

[mooman76]

Just an educated guess but when you load a conical it engraves to the rifling and when you start it it's a little hard to start but once it gets started it goes down almost effortlessly so it isn't very tight and the minies usually go in very easy if it's a proper fit. The PRB fits tight and goes down fairly tight. The patch acts as a springy cusion which keeps it tighter.