what ball in .45 caliber rifle

[Mark Daiute]

what size ball are you using in a .45 caliber rifle?

Thanks.

Mark

[aspangler]

.440 and pillow ticking patch.

[Mark Daiute]

.440 and pillow ticking patch.

thanks! mold ordered.

[bubba.50]

the two most common are the .440 mentioned & some guns prefer a .445 ball.

[fouronesix]

What size? One that fits. Sounds odd but that's the truth. I have no idea of the bore diameter of any certain 45 cal muzzleloader, let alone the land config and groove depth.

So, experiment a little at the muzzle with fit. Using different ball sizes and different thicknesses and types of cotton weave. Push in a little with a lubed or wetted section of patch material to see how tight then pull back out with the patch. For target or the best possible accuracy I like a tight fit. That requires either thicker patch or larger ball dia. or both. That may also require swabbing between shots. For shooting more than once without swabbing between shots, I use a looser fit with either thinner patch or smaller dia ball or both.

Now the short answer that everyone seems to like without any thinking or individual trial and error or self education or work to find out or whatever. All around, I've found that a .440 dia ball usually works best in the 45 cal rifle. Whether or not that works to anyone's else's desires or fits best in any particular rifle bore??? I have no idea. :)

[Thundermaker]

I used to use a .440 mold. I was casting from wheel weight alloy, so they came out at .443 or something like that. I used some 100% cotton muslin fabric for patch, since that was what fit in the bore. I shot 56 grains (2 .357 cases full) of 3f powder. The smaller bores seem to like 3f better. Crisco for patch lube. I cut my patches at the muzzle. That way, your patch is always centered. Make sure your patching is 100% cotton.

[johnson1942]

cutting your patches at the muzzle is the perfect way to do it. if done right will make one shot hit just like the last one. i have several straight razors i cut the patches off with at the muzzle. i bought all of them at flee markets for 10 to 12 dollars each. all were 100 or more years old and did the job fine.

[Mark Daiute]

Thanks, all for the great and thoughtful replies.

I am a musket shooter, way too lazy for rifles.

I'm researching this for A friend that bought a nice, hand-built rifle with a Siler flintlock for 6 bills. I figure it's worth $1200.00 easily. It will be shot casually, at most I'm sure, so I've ordered a Lee .440 mold. I'll put together a few of the things my friend will need to shot this, teach him how to shoot it and clean it.

Back to the rifle: 7/8" barrel, 44 inches long, not swamped. Some nice engraving on the sideplate and on the entry thimble.

Again, thanks for all the good input.

Mark

[mooman76]

Sometimes .445 works better but if you don't know, go with the .440. Slightly small can just use a thicker patch but if the ball is too big you can only go so thin on the patch and .440 is the most popular size.

[Outpost75]

In my Thompson-Center Cherokee I don't patch at all, but thumb an Ox Yoke Originals wad into the muzzle, then smack a .450 ball cast 1:40 flush with a rawhide mallet, smear over with Crisco, then use a short starter to get it moving and just ram it down. Accuracy is great and no blown patches!

[quilbilly]

You have lots of choices here. I also have a Cherokee 45 and it likes a 440 ball with an .010 patch. Every barrel has its own personality and you are embarking on a voyage of discovery. Enjoy!

[rfd]

.440 with a .010 patch strip for one of my .45's, the other likes a .440 with a .012 patch strip. neither require a ball starter. :)

i would always start small for both patch and ball.

[OverMax]

Lately been thinking of using the smaller .440 ball instead of what I have been using for many years> .445.
440 ball its shooter has a few additional patching options I do believe.

[Hanshi]

A .440" ball - I cast everything I shoot - has been my standard for nearly 50 years. I also have a .445" mold and have found virtually no difference between them as far as performance is concerned. Whatever ball/patch you use, you will get best results with the tightest load you can still safely seat with the wood ramrod. A snug load reduces fouling and leaves the bore a little cleaner.

[rfd]

+1 hanshi!

a finer and better powder will also help with fouling control. which is why i'm sold on swiss for both muzzle loaders and bpcr.

[Toymaker]

I started with a .440 and shot that for a couple of years. Then I noticed my groups were opening up some so I got a .445 mold and used that for a couple of years. Again I saw that my groups were opening up and I got a .450 mold. Been shooting that for some time now and everything's just fine. Guess I could have used a thicker patch, but I wanted the tightness in the ball not the patch. Works fine and I take home my share of the bacon.