[freefall]

I reiterate. Go for it Buckwheat! Show us old farts how it should be done. One question, if you're going to patch your bearing, why tin it?

[robocop10mm]

If it is loose enough (even with a patch) to be pushed down the barrel, the accuracy will suffer. A tight fit is essential for complete burn of the powder and an accurate shot. Traditionally the smooth bore is used unpatched. The fit is loose enough to ram with relative ease allowing for fouling build up in subsequent shots. The ball obturates when fired to fill the bore.

[patret]

I don`t know where you would find a Zinc ball and you can`t cast Zinc that I know of. Zinc would be a hard metal and would not expand in the barrel to engage the lands and groves. A patched ball will expand to a degree when the round is fired.

patret

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by robocop10mm

If it is loose enough (even with a patch) to be pushed down the barrel, the accuracy will suffer.

Not so. A short starter is a relatively new invention.

Originally Posted by robocop10mm

Traditionally the smooth bore is used unpatched.

Since when?

[freefall]

Once again I reiterate. You guys have all the answers, go try it and post a range report. We pant with anticipation.

[AndyF]

Originally Posted by robocop10mm

If it is loose enough (even with a patch) to be pushed down the barrel, the accuracy will suffer. A tight fit is essential for complete burn of the powder and an accurate shot. Traditionally the smooth bore is used unpatched. The fit is loose enough to ram with relative ease allowing for fouling build up in subsequent shots. The ball obturates when fired to fill the bore.

Ok, thanks.

http://arc.id.au/cannonballs.html

Of interest, windage was a given for cannon and ball fit in the British system. There seems to have been a consistency of 1/4in difference in sizes for the range of cannon 3.75lb Minion up to 36lb Demi Cannon. This was because it was never known if the casting didn't produce flaws in the barrel.

This factor must have produced unpredictable results in accuracy.

Andy