What to do with the sprue?

[OverMax]

Point them toward the muzzle when loading?

Good idea.

Should I expect less accuracy?

Nope.

[waksupi]

Always point them up. Even if they are cocked a bit off center, they will shoot well. You want that round surface down, as that is the base of the projectile, and like an elongated bullet, the base is more important to accuracy than the nose.

[OverMax]

Its {preferred relaoding} that the sprue be facing up. No doubt about that.
Although in the heat of the moment _ sprue up or down or worse {dry ball charging} has been known to happen as {not all} shooters caught up in such hurried situations are multi task'ers. Thus end results count. Although a shooters P/b reloading effort {correct or not} if that ball happens to hit precisely or close too the point of aim "no doubt that resolve will make his/her day."

I personally think there are two types of accuracy in shooting skill. One is stationary target. The other is non-supported moving target accuracy. Don't know about you others. As far as myself? Seldom am I competent to excel at both.

[Tom_in_AZ]

As others have said, point the sprue towards the muzzle.


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[triggerhappy243]

you could always knock it off with a file....................... oh dang, i just spoiled the argument.

[Hickory]

you could always knock it off with a file....................... oh dang, i just spoiled the argument.

Or whittle it off with a knife.

[Good Cheer]

When there's a shrink hole in the center save those for hollow points.

[59sharps]

I don't use crisco, use veg. or olive oil.

[waksupi]

Or whittle it off with a knife.

And invest in Band Aids! ;o)

[FrontierMuzzleloading]

WHy go through the trouble? If you use a concave seating jag, that little nub normally gets squished down as you seat the ball.

[AllanD]

I currently only use .451 round balls in a Cap & Ball revolver and .440 patched balls in a pair of box lock single shots
I load the ball in the cylinder sprue up and it usually disappears
when the ball is rammed down.

I load the slightly smaller .440 patched balls in my single shot "Box lock" pistols the same way and the concave tip on my ball starter does a good job of erasing the sprue mark. The Barrels are only 4" on those, so the 8" starter does the entire job


I've never noticed a difference in accuracy loading the ball sprue up or sprue down
but then again the sights on my revolver are of dubious utility and the Box Lock single
shots don't have sights, so.... There is really no way I would know...