Zoli 12g

[mickwin]

Thanks for the reply enfield2band.
I will be using BP in the near future so will check it out, also for the link bud.

[TA6319]

try for info

http://www.black-powder.co.uk/bp.htm

http://www.black-powder.co.uk/swiss/...percussion.htm

[series2a]

I use a 40 grain measure of pyrodex in a .580 smoothbore PH Enfield. This is plenty for round patch ball. Use a felt 10 mm soft wad over powder then patch and ball. Works fine for me

http://www.aaronwheelergunsmith.co.u...io-co-shotgun/

[mickwin]

Thanks again guys, the shotgun in the link series2a is the one I found images for but mine is very different looking, but it feels and looks right for an original , I will try and post some images of it on the weekend.

[mickwin]

I had the bore measured on Sat. is .720 taken at three different spots down the barrel, would a .690 ball + .015 patch be ok or a .715 bare ball with a wad on top ( think I read somewhere not to use bare ball, or is that for rifled barrels ) or try both ?

Any help appreciated. Could only get treble 7 local so will be using that 15 = 20% less than BP load to start with sound about right to anyone ?
Couldn't get pictures on here sorry.
Cheers,
Mick.

[Jamie]

My bore is .580 and I'm shooting a .575 ball with 3 4mm felt wads and 100 grains of powder. Shoots well for me, I do run a bronze brush down the bore between shots tho, oh and use plenty lube!

Shot is 1oz over an equal volume of powder, 3 corregated card over powder wads and a card from a cereal box on top

[enfield2band]

I had the bore measured on Sat. is .720 taken at three different spots down the barrel, would a .690 ball + .015 patch be ok or a .715 bare ball with a wad on top ( think I read somewhere not to use bare ball, or is that for rifled barrels ) or try both ?

Any help appreciated. Could only get treble 7 local so will be using that 15 = 20% less than BP load to start with sound about right to anyone ?
Couldn't get pictures on here sorry.
Cheers,
Mick.

If you use a .690" ball and a .015" patch you will have a .015" gap between the ball/patch and the bore.The gasses will blow past it.

The ball and patch need to be a snug fit in the bore so there is an effective gas seal.
If you are using a .715" ball you should be able to load it with a .010" soft patch.Avoid hard material for patches they can make it hard to load,but make sure it is strong enough to be able to ram the ball down without tearing.
If the .010" patch works try a .012" patch and see if it loads easily. I once tried a .010" patch in smoothbore pistol and the accuracy was poor. With a .012" patch the accuracy was fairly good. With a .015" patch the accuracy fell off so I went back to using a .012" patch. You have to experiment to get the best out of your gun.
That is part of the fun of muzzleloading, even though it can test your patience at times!

A .715" bare ball will leave a .005" gap and the gas will blow past that as well. You will probably find there is absoluley no accuracy whatsoever using that method.The ball needs to be concentric with the bore so it,in theory, leaves the barrel on the same axis every time.

Atb

[mickwin]

thanks for the info guys,
I may not be understanding right enfield2band but as I see it a .690 + .015 + .015 ( patch covers circumference of ball so x 2 patch thicknesses ) = .720 ?
As to the bare ball I would put a nitro card over the powder then 11g 1/2" hard wad, ball and 12g lubed wad so you would have a gas seal behind the ball and in effect a lubed patch, but probably still have the problem of the ball not being concentric to the bore, I can see the sense in that.
Interesting about the patch thicknesses will definitely look into that !
I guess the thing to do is to try some loads and combinations of wads/patches and see how they perform. Will have to wait until the middle of July to get to the range again, will let you know how it goes.
Cheers,
Mick.