Except for a Rugers 10-22 all my rifles are muzzle loaders, either 45 caliber slug guns or 50 caliber patched round ball. The ball size, lead, patch and powder loads are all adjusted and are just fine! A couple years ago I built a 45 caliber single shot pistol from a barrel, single set trigger, lock, sights and such from Track of the Wolf. I use 28 grains of Swiss and a shot gun primer for ignition (not enough hammer throw for a #11 cap). I started with commercial made round balls and they shoot fine. So this past Friday I did some experimenting with a 0.005 larger ball, 0.010 and 0.015 patches, 28 grains Swiss also 30 grains, 32 grains and 36 grains (same powder). I also used the commercial round balls, ones cast by me with ripples in them and several made from lead from a print shop. Each one was lighter so I figured there would be NO pattern or grouping but I was VERY surprised!
I used a rest to lock the pistol to remove me from the equation and was surprised as can be as to how all the variables affected the grouping except for the powder loads which climbed about 1 inch for each new load. The balls and patches had absolutely NO affect on grouping at 50 yards and that shocked me! I read all the time about what lead alloy to use, what patch thickness, ETC but with this pistol the groups were about 1 inch at 50 yards and most everything acted the same!
Very intersting I thought.
John