Maven
07-24-2015, 07:24 PM
For background, you may wish to refer to this thread: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?281329-Good-article-about-roundball-loading-in-smoothbores
After having accumulated tow fiber (Susan Wallace/Silver Shuttle, Memphis, TN) and .610" RB's (.611" in fact), I tried to replicate Mike Beliveau's loading technique, and I hoped, his results. Like Mike, I used 100- and 110gr. charges of FFg (He used Goex; I used Diamondback) @ 50 yd. My results, over 2 days, weren't as good as Mike's. What I found was that tow fiber over powder and over shot "wads" + a bare .610" RB did -> enviable groups, it also -> huge flyers. Furthermore, the small groups were well to the right of my point of aim: 8" to the right in fact. Elevation was OK though. When I tested a smaller .597" RB with tow OP & OS wads, I saw the same pattern: a tight group 6" from point of aim, but an equal number of flyers. Btw, I used 90gr. FFg with the .597" RB.
Tow fiber is easy to work with and reusable if you don't mind picking it up down range. However, since it is used dry, i.e., without any lube whatsoever, it can (a) smolder and (b) foul the bore like you wouldn't believe. I had some of the worst crud rings I ever experienced after using it. A partial solution (no pun intended) is to damp swab the bore after each shot, which may not be ideal for those who hunt. In short, I'm not convinced it's the best thing since sliced bread in my trade gun.
As I still had some .597" RB's and 5/8" corrugated cardboard wads (liquor/wine boxes; boxes that are shipped to you) that I punched out 7 months ago for a woods walk, I decided to try them patched (.018" pillow ticking) @ 50 yd. too, using a proper front rest and rear bag. Although the group with 90gr. FFg was low, it was on the target and slightly to the right. My homemade wads worked much better than I expected and much more predictably than the tow wads. Btw, although felt wads, also homemade, work well at shorter ranges, today I found them not so reliable @ 50 yd. Overall, I'm pleased that a cardboard wad works so well since now I don't have to search for an expensive .610" mould, which I now realize I don't need.
After having accumulated tow fiber (Susan Wallace/Silver Shuttle, Memphis, TN) and .610" RB's (.611" in fact), I tried to replicate Mike Beliveau's loading technique, and I hoped, his results. Like Mike, I used 100- and 110gr. charges of FFg (He used Goex; I used Diamondback) @ 50 yd. My results, over 2 days, weren't as good as Mike's. What I found was that tow fiber over powder and over shot "wads" + a bare .610" RB did -> enviable groups, it also -> huge flyers. Furthermore, the small groups were well to the right of my point of aim: 8" to the right in fact. Elevation was OK though. When I tested a smaller .597" RB with tow OP & OS wads, I saw the same pattern: a tight group 6" from point of aim, but an equal number of flyers. Btw, I used 90gr. FFg with the .597" RB.
Tow fiber is easy to work with and reusable if you don't mind picking it up down range. However, since it is used dry, i.e., without any lube whatsoever, it can (a) smolder and (b) foul the bore like you wouldn't believe. I had some of the worst crud rings I ever experienced after using it. A partial solution (no pun intended) is to damp swab the bore after each shot, which may not be ideal for those who hunt. In short, I'm not convinced it's the best thing since sliced bread in my trade gun.
As I still had some .597" RB's and 5/8" corrugated cardboard wads (liquor/wine boxes; boxes that are shipped to you) that I punched out 7 months ago for a woods walk, I decided to try them patched (.018" pillow ticking) @ 50 yd. too, using a proper front rest and rear bag. Although the group with 90gr. FFg was low, it was on the target and slightly to the right. My homemade wads worked much better than I expected and much more predictably than the tow wads. Btw, although felt wads, also homemade, work well at shorter ranges, today I found them not so reliable @ 50 yd. Overall, I'm pleased that a cardboard wad works so well since now I don't have to search for an expensive .610" mould, which I now realize I don't need.