Buffalo Creek Law Dog Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 I just purchased a Pedersoli Kentucky percussion rifle in .50 cal. My problem is, when I try to put the patch and the .49 round ball in the muzzle, I have to Hammer it in rather than pushing on the ball starter. It will not enter the muzzle no matter how hard i push on the ball starter. Once I get it started after hammering it in, it is a hard push to seat the patched bullet with the ramrod. On the second shot I have to Hammer on the end of the metal ramrod as I cannot push it down by hand. My Hawken in .45 cal work great and loads a heck of a lot easier. The lubed patch is thinner than the one I use on the Hawken. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote
Tom Bullweed Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Ball plus two times the patch thickness should not be greater than the lands diameter. Ex: a .490 ball and a .005" patch will be tight in a .500" bore. Quote
guitar_slinger Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 May be a really couple really stupid questions: 1) are you sure it's not a 45? 2) have you miked your roundballs to be sure they are really .490? In a 50cal rifle, a 490 round ball and .015 patching should be a tight fit but you shouldn't need a hammer to beat it down the bore. Guitar Slinger Quote
Three Foot Johnson Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Thinner patch or smaller ball. Hornady carries, or used to carry anyway, .480" and .485" balls. Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Is it a brand new gun or a used one? If used, the bore may not have been cleaned properly and some crud may still be in there. Quote
Foothills Drifter Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Your balls are too big. Vern / Foothills Drifter... Quote
Buffalo Creek Law Dog Posted June 28, 2014 Author Posted June 28, 2014 Is it a brand new gun or a used one? If used, the bore may not have been cleaned properly and some crud may still be in there. It is brand new and was cleaned out prior to loading. The patches are .15 cotton factory lubed. The ball rolls in and out loose but as soon as I put the patch in place it becomes tighter than all get out. Quote
Elk Creek LeMieux Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Trying to remember, it's been a while. I don't think I use a .15 patch though. Seems like it's thinner than that. Did you try adding any lube or is the patch sufficiently wet? Quote
Cliff Hanger #3720LR Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Your patch it way too thick. Patches available from .005" to .020"...lubed and unlubed. Patches Quote
J-BAR #18287 Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 I like to use PAM cooking spray on my patches, effective, convenient. Quote
Fingers McGee Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 a .490 rb and .010 lubed patch (Possibles Shop Lubed Patch, .010 in. Thick, .50 to .59 Caliber, Item #33-5105, $5.05/100) should solve your loading problems. Your .015 patches are a little too tight for a new barrel. I shot my .50 Hawken for more than 3 years (IIRC) before I went to a .015 patch Fingers (Show Me MO smoke) McGee Quote
Buffalo Creek Law Dog Posted June 28, 2014 Author Posted June 28, 2014 Thanks for all the info folks, I'm going to try a thinner patch. Wasn't looking forward to carrying a hammer around when shooting. Quote
Lead Ringer Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Your patch it way too thick. Patches available from .005" to .020"...lubed and unlubed. Patches +1 Quote
White Buffalo Posted June 28, 2014 Posted June 28, 2014 Your patch it way too thick. Patches available from .005" to .020"...lubed and unlubed. Patches Your patch is problem is probably a large patch. I use to use the T/C patches. They are thin and slid down the Barrel nice and slick Quote
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