Hi guys,
got invited to a muzzleloading shoot last weekend, I'm hooked. For the next go around, I want to have some purpose-specific equipment to make the shoot as much fun but also help me keep track of # of shots fired. Simplify loading at the line, etc. For example, one idea is to find cheap vials (if I can), get 25, pre-measure powder and keep the vials in a 25 round 12ga MTM box. Things like that.
For this thread, I wanna talk about PRB management. Right now I have a ball bag (that my awesome wife made me) that I pull balls from and cut patches right at the muzzle.
I saw two different ideas used at the shoot to change this. One was the loading blocks with precut patches, the other was a square tray that held 5 rows of 5 balls per row. I like the tray idea. Once the row is empty, I have 5 shots down range. I'd still be short starting then cutting the patch right at the muzzle. The loading block could be even more convenient, but I worry that the patch will become misaligned during the transition from block to barrel. Or does it?
Finally, if I do go the loading block route, what size am I supposed to drill the holes? besides my forstner set my drills stop at .5" so I'll need to get a bit specifically to drill holes.
Or do you think a ball tray is the better way to go?