How I make a ball board

[Dale Halterman]

I can't be the only person on the planet that has trouble lining up the holes in a ball board with the muzzle of your rifle. So I added pegs to mine as shown in the picture.

To use it, simply place the pegs against the flats of the barrel and the ball will be lined up with the bore of the rifle.



The pegs and holes must be carefully laid out and of, course, will be specific to a barrel size and caliber. The ball board can also be used with round barreled guns just as well.

If anyone is interested, I can walk you through how to lay out the pegs and holes. It is easier than you might think.

Dale H

[Hungry Horse]

I just start with a little thicker board, and start my holes with a spade bit that corresponds with the barrel O/D, then bore the bullet hole using the spade bits pilot hole as my center.

  Hungry Horse

[Dale Halterman]

I made one that way too, but the board has to be bigger unless you overlap the counterbores.

Dale H

[smylee grouch]

Looks like a good idea. I have had some luck pushing the ball through the board with an oversized patch so it protudes (sp) through the bottom of the board and then using the ball/patch unit to help align it for my short starter.

[Gun_Nut_73]

I found that a 7/8" spade bit is just the right size setback to fit my 13/16" barrel.  After shallow drilling using the spade bit, I complete the through drill with the proper size to fit the bore.

[Levy]

Me too for what Smylee said.  I just let the bullet and patch stick out the bottom of the board a little bit.  I find that easy enough to center up on the bore.  James Levy

[Black Hand]

I can't be the only person on the planet that has trouble lining up the holes in a ball board with the muzzle of your rifle.

Just make your board thinner than the diameter of the ball - the patched ball protrudes enough that it is self-centering....