.600 Round Ball

[SRL]

I am new to flintlocks. I recently got a smoothbore english trade gun. I purchased a mold for .600 round balls. I was expecting the round ball to roll down the barrel.  But they don't. Anyone experienced this? Should I get a mold for a smaller ball. Thanks for the help!! I sure appreciate it.

[smylee grouch]

?? Are you casting with pure lead? Can you measure the cast balls to find the true size? Do the cast balls have an spru above the surface or is it cut off flush with the surface?

[Hungry Horse]

 Where did you get the gun? Guns made some years ago in Belgium, India, and even here in the states could be close to gauge but not quite right on the money. Some of the early North Star guns old Curly put out were a little unusual in gauge as I recall.

Hungry Horse

[SRL]

I went the cheap way since I didn't know if I would really like flintlocks. So I ordered a gun from Veteran arms.
So far it shoots great only have used lead shot so far.

[smylee grouch]

So you measured the bore ? If so what is it ? Do you use 20 bore wads when shooting shot, like .610dia.?

[SRL]

I ordered and used some over powder wads for a 20 ga. .024 & 1.25 TH

[Mike_StL]

You really need to have a digital Vernier caliper.    Calipers of acceptable accuracy are available for about $25,  then you will know  bore diameter, ball diameter and all sorts of precise measurements.

[Hungry Horse]

SRL, I have no idea who Veteran Arms is. But, it’s likely either a seller of India made arms, or is a direct seller of guns imported from India. Either way you will get a lot of practice repairing parts that were’t hardened enough to take long term ware. I would also suggest a good set of Vernier Calipers to check the bore that is not a true 20 gauge.

Hungry Horse

[Daryl]

I didn't see gauge mentioned (other than some wads the OP used) just that a .600" ball would not fall down the tube.

[Clark Badgett]

I went the cheap way since I didn't know if I would really like flintlocks. So I ordered a gun from Veteran arms.
So far it shoots great only have used lead shot so far.

Well you get what you pay for. Sometimes in spades.

[Bigmon]

Once you determine the size you actually need, you should be fine.  But the size is all important.  I always patch my round balls in my smoothbores.

[Hungry Horse]

 If a .600 won’t go down the bore, and a 20 gauge is .620, maybe it’s a .24 gauge, which would be somewhere in the neighborhood of .580.

Hungry Horse

[Daryl]

20 bore wads would likely be .620", as 20 bore actually is .615". He was using the wads, so can't be much under .600", maybe .590".