.480 ball/Getz .50 cal

[varsity07840]

Iwas at Dixon's the other day and overheard Chuck running through some basics with a genleman who had recently bought a .50 cal Lyman rifle. Showing him where the correct size round balls were, he noted that the .480s were for Getz .50 cals. which he said were a bit undersize. Has anyone used that size in a Getz .50? .490s seem to work ok in mine.

Duane

[arcticap]

I don't know about the Getz .50 barrel, but .480 balls are good for easier loading in .50 smoothbore rifles.
I was looking at an English gunshop website and was surprised to see that nearly every Ardesa rifle model is also offered with a .50 smoothbore barrel.  The .50 smoothbores must be more popular in Europe since they're not usually available here.

[Harnic]

I've had 3 different 50 cal rifles (an Italian made, a Sharon, & now a GM) over the years & all 3 shot best with .495 balls & .018" denim patches.  Probably coincidence, but it's my firm belief a ball shouldn't be a lot more than .005" smaller than bore diameter for best accuracy.

[Roger Fisher]

Whatever works!

Try 'em all

[longcruise]

Might be just what the doctor ordered for a .49 cal Contract Rifle?

[don getz]

Wow, that's news to me.  I have shot a lot of .495 balls in a 50, but mostly in chunk gun shooting.   For hunting I always
liked a .490, much easier to push down with just that loading rod in the gun........Don

[California Kid]

I always used a .490 ball in a Getz barrel, shoots very well and easy loading.
Chunk guns are a different story.

[B Shipman]

In my rifle, a Getz .45,  a .490 with a very thick patch was the ticket. I could hit quarters at 50 yds. (When I could see quarters.)  Deep grooves, thick patch, shallow grooves,thin patch. Tight fit.  But as Roger says, whatever works.

[Evil Monkey]

In my rifle, a Getz .45,  a .490 with a very thick patch was the ticket..........Tight fit. 

Yeah..I'll say

[Evil Monkey]

Wow, that's news to me.  I have shot a lot of .495 balls in a 50, but mostly in chunk gun shooting.   For hunting I always
liked a .490, much easier to push down with just that loading rod in the gun........Don

Yeah...but were you useing a GETZ barrel? . I hate to assume anything ya know

[don getz]

Monkey.....you're chewin' on too much blubber.   I heard that is why eskimo's  rub noses....would you want to kiss one on'
the lips after they spent all day chewing on a piece of blubber...........Don

[Long John]

I don't shoot a 50 caliber rifle but I built one for a friend and he uses the .480 Hornady balls and an .020 patch with very good accuracy.  He has no need of a short starter.

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[Evil Monkey]

Monkey.....you're chewin' on too much blubber.   I heard that is why eskimo's  rub noses....would you want to kiss one on'
the lips after they spent all day chewing on a piece of blubber...........Don

Don, what are you "blubberin" about?

BTW we're freinds, you can call me Evil

[Leatherbelly]

In my rifle, a Getz .45,  a .490 with a very thick patch was the ticket..........Tight fit. 

Yeah..I'll say

   I see where Evil is coming from,Bill. That certainly would be a tight fit! .
Typo,no doubt! maybe a .440?, .445 maybe?

[Daryl]

Naww-  I'd say to use whatever was eesiest to shove down wit just your tumb. PC is the bes way go, 'specially for comptition shootin at Herfley Creek. Jurst a peece of tee shrit 's gude - maght hav ter wipe twixt shots, but that's whare them shoots good.

[Ohioan]

I tried some .480 and .02 patches in my Rice .50 and it shot like $#@*.  Some people swear by that combo.  My barrel didn't like it.

[Leatherbelly]

I tried some .480 and .02 patches in my Rice .50 and it shot like $#@*.  Some people swear by that combo.  My barrel didn't like it.

Can't imagine how this combo would work at all! Not tight enough! A .495 RB and a .020 patch would be better.
Zack,
 If I remember correctly,Rice barrels have .016 round bottom grooves and need a fairly thick patch to fill them. Sorry,I just can't see how a .480RB will give good accuracy with this ball,patch,bore combination. Even a .030 thou patch  gives .010 thou compression and that's only  five thou per side. Better to use a larger ball and a good patch/lube combo. JMHO tho.

[Roger Fisher]

In my rifle, a Getz .45,  a .490 with a very thick patch was the ticket. I could hit quarters at 50 yds. (When I could see quarters.)  Deep grooves, thick patch, shallow grooves,thin patch. Tight fit.  But as Roger says, whatever works.

Wot?

[Daryl]

Zach- we use .020" and heavier patches in our barrels with balls .05" smaller than the bore - just as LB indicated.  do the math - the ball diameter, plus two thicknesses of wet cloth must deliver a product larger than the groove diameter in order to seal the gas pressure behind.  .480 + .020 + .020 = .520"   The barrel is .500 + .016 + .016 = .532" on the grooves.  Our combinations usually give numbers that allow for up to .010" compresion in the grooves, not just meet the match's figures.  Thus an example of what LB's was talking about is  .495 + .020 + .020 = .535"  That barely comes to the bottom of the grooves and is a combination I use with rifling only .010" to .012" deep - this gives a beter seal yet, but is still easy to load. THAT is the kicker - these combinations are easy to load. If not, then your crown needs work.