Source for .280 Round Ball?

[bocash3]

Howdy


It has been a long time since I shot a black powder pistol and rifle, both of mine being in .45 caliber and gathering dust. My rifle is flintlock and the pistol is caplock.

I found a good excuse to get them back out.

Two days ago, I could came about a really nice custom built flintlock replica of a Lehigh Valley PA squirrel rifle. It is,     gulp,   .28 caliber!

I do mold my own for various cartridges on occasions.

Research turned up NO .28 caliber round ball molds.

The closest thing to a factory ball that will fit is a # 2 Buckshot, which is .27. I "could" make do with these but they also seem to be impossible to find.

Is there a source for .28 round ball -- OR -- a mold without having to have a custom mold made?

Would appreciate any and all suggestions.

PS: the actual bore on this one is .290 if that helps. I was thinking patch and .28 ball combination would be perfect. # 2 Buckshot could work with thick patch IF I could find any.

THANKS and y'all be good. Bo in western NC

[smokinbuck]

I also have a .290 rifle. I found a .285 Lee mold at Friendship a number of years ago. Mike Eder had them. Can't think of his company name but he's located in the first booth when you come through the gate. NMLRA office can probably get you in touch.
Mark

[Mike Brooks]

One of the buckshot sizes works for that caliber. I think it's 0000. If I'm off I'm sure someone will straighten me out.

[codger]

 Try this for; Mike Eder's contact information..Flintlocks LLC  6929 Beechtree Rd. Nineveh Indiana 46164 9308
Ph.1-317-933-3441  E-mail : flintlocks@skyenet.net

Don

[smokinbuck]

Thanks for the help Don.
Mark

[TN Longhunter]

Located in England but fast shipping.  Will cut a mold for around $70 in any size you could need.  Lot of people swear by them.

jeff.ballmoulds@gmail.com

[Levy]

I buy all of my buckshot, including #2 (.27 cal.) at Ballistic Products Inc. 888-273-5623.
James Levy

[WadePatton]

Does Eddie May mould these? The guy in GA. 

Does it matter that all the shot I can find is hardened?  I don't really care to cast this size morsel, but do have a .30 bore to work with-eventually.  thanks (sorry for the hi-jack).

And yes I do have Jeff Tanner mould for 530 and love it.  They are brass and without sprue cutter, but ANY size no extry charge.

[Mike Brooks]

I buy all of my buckshot, including #2 (.27 cal.) at Ballistic Products Inc. 888-273-5623.
James Levy

Hmmmm, maybe my 0000 was steel wool. I'm easily confused these days. I think I need to delete some old files or something.

[bocash3]

Try this for; Mike Eder's contact information..Flintlocks LLC  6929 Beechtree Rd. Nineveh Indiana 46164 9308
Ph.1-317-933-3441  E-mail : flintlocks@skyenet.net

Don

THANKS, Fellers!

The email I sent to "Mike" above bounced.    I did check out Ballistic ?? Inc.  and found the  #2 Buckshot.

A few minutes ago, I ordered a used Lyman 2-cav.  mold  in .270  off of Ebay.  No handles.
Got it for $41 total.

I think my patch material may be  .010.  --have not looked at it in years.    Since the bore of this .28 caliber is actually  .290,  I may need to  find thick patches to accommodate a .270 ball, but not certain what thickness to search for. 

Am guessing  the .270 with thick patch will work, but will not expect the accuracy of using a larger ball?   

I can't wait to touch off this little rifle, but there are so many variables and difficulties here in getting proper lead  balls for the thing.   Would love to have decent "squirrel accuracy" at 30-40 yards if possible.

THANKs to all..............

Y'all be safe,   Bo in NC

[Maven]

The .270" RB with a thick patch may work very well, but you can also shim the inner side (or sides) of the mold with HVAC adhesive-backed tape to increase RB diameter.  This is known as "beagling" after the screen name of John Goins, its inventor, on the Cast Boolits site.  There is a tutorial ("sticky") on it in the Molds subform.  Be aware that this is strictly a cut and try proposition as you may need to shim 1 or both halves of that mold to get the diameter you are seeking.

Here is a link:  http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-117331.html

[WesTex]

TOTW offers .283" cast balls. A bag full may tell you whether that's close enough for good results before investing in a mold.

[bocash3]

THANKS TO ALL !!

Westex:  just ordered the  .283 ball from Track of the Wolf.

Also received  .27 ball from a kind member on the Cast Boolits Forum.

AND............got a used Lyman 2-cav. mold in .27 from Ebay.

So I got great options.

Ordered  .020 patches for the  .27 balls.

Ordered  .010 patches for the  .283 balls.  Do you think they will be too tight?  (bore is supposed to  be .290)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!               Bo in western NC

[OldMtnMan]

THANKS TO ALL !!

Westex:  just ordered the  .283 ball from Track of the Wolf.

Also received  .27 ball from a kind member on the Cast Boolits Forum.

AND............got a used Lyman 2-cav. mold in .27 from Ebay.

So I got great options.

Ordered  .020 patches for the  .27 balls.

Ordered  .010 patches for the  .283 balls.  Do you think they will be too tight?  (bore is supposed to  be .290)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!               Bo in western NC

A .283 ball and .010 patch is only .003 over bore size. If anything it will be loose. As an example I use a .530 ball and an .018 patch for a .540 bore and it's just right. Some even use a thicker patch than I do. You might be able to use a .015 patch with that .283 ball.

[Daryl]

I buy all of my buckshot, including #2 (.27 cal.) at Ballistic Products Inc. 888-273-5623.
James Levy

Hmmmm, maybe my 0000 was steel wool. I'm easily confused these days. I think I need to delete some old files or something.

LOL, you break me up, Mikey - the more 0's in buckshot, the larger the shot.  000 used to be .360", however Hornady's 000 is .350.  #3 buck, might be .280". 

[WesTex]

#3 buckshot is listed at .250"...looks like .280" is betwixt & between!

[WesTex]

Ordered  .010 patches for the  .283 balls.  Do you think they will be too tight?  (bore is supposed to  be .290)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!               Bo in western NC

Not sure. Would actually depend on true bore diameter.  If the commercial patching is too thin you can order thicker or pick up ticking from any local fabric shop.

[bocash3]

A .283 ball and .010 patch is only .003 over bore size. If anything it will be loose. As an example I use a .530 ball and an .018 patch for a .540 bore and it's just right. Some even use a thicker patch than I do. You might be able to use a .015 patch with that .283 ball.

OldMtnMan and all:

What was  not  shared was I actually ordered patches in .010, .015, .018,  and  .020.  Half are lubed and half are dry with intentions of lubing the latter myself.   Am trying all options to find what works best.
This should cover any and all bases where  .270  and .283 balls  being used in a .290 bore is concerned.    I hope to actually try all options sometime in January or February to see what combination works best.  I have my own 100-yard  shooting range with covered benches but it is  58 miles away at a remote cabin.  It will be a while before I can get there.   

If my feeble mind does not totally fail, I hope to have a report to help others that might end up with such a small caliber in the future.

Thanks again, Merry Christmas night, and y'all are the best.    Bo

[Daryl]

#3 buckshot is listed at .250"...looks like .280" is betwixt & between!

There you go - I've never heard #2 buck, and #1 is .30, I think, with 0 (Hornady) buck .32" & about 2 or 3% antimony. Pure lead .320" were easy to load in my .32, but 0 buck Hornady almost impossible as it was too hard.

[Billy Mike]

Located in England but fast shipping.  Will cut a mold for around $70 in any size you could need.  Lot of people swear by them.

jeff.ballmoulds@gmail.com

This guy is good. I bought molds for a .45.

[smylee grouch]

When you buy patching listed as 20 thousands I would actually measure it with a caliper as most of the commercial stuff is listed thicker than it really is. That's been my experience anyway.

[Daryl]

THANKS TO ALL !!

Westex:  just ordered the  .283 ball from Track of the Wolf.

Also received  .27 ball from a kind member on the Cast Boolits Forum.

AND............got a used Lyman 2-cav. mold in .27 from Ebay.

So I got great options.

Ordered  .020 patches for the  .27 balls.

Ordered  .010 patches for the  .283 balls.  Do you think they will be too tight?  (bore is supposed to  be .290)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!!               Bo in western NC

That .283" ball is .007" smaller than than the bore.  We, all of us , the men, use .005" than the bore balls, with .022" to .023" patches.
Some of our womens use the same, while other us .010" smaller balls, with the same .022" to .023" patches.
We have trouble understanding why some guys think these are too tight. Some guys here think those guys have pitted their barrels and thus they are rough & foul excessively - that would do it.
Meanwhile, we continue to shove these combinations down with a simple index finger and thumb on the rod.

[bocash3]

We have trouble understanding why some guys think these are too tight.

Howdy.   At this point, not having tried this particular rifle, I have no idea which patch/ball combination is going to work best for me.  This is why I ordered  all available patch options.  My only previous flintlock experience is with my Hawken  .45, which I  have not fired since 1985.

Therefore, I have no idea whether certain patches/ball combinations will be too tight or too loose until I try them.   I am a retired science educator with plenty of ballistics and mechanical background and am pretty good at figuring things out after getting started.

Getting help from experienced people is a gift................
Trial and Error is Golden.........
Seeing successful  results is the icing on the cake...............

Happy New Year,   Bo

[OldMtnMan]

  Go ahead and keep shoving them down the bore Daryl. Trying to convince some of us that you're loaded a ball/patch combo that's .018 over bore size with two fingers isn't going to convince us to try it. The crown doesn't have anything to do with it either. Once the PRB is started the crown is not a factor. That oversize combo has to be pushed down.

Then on top of it, you don't swab between shots forever while used Mink Oil for lube.

Sorry, but i'm not buying it until I see it in person. I know what it feels like to push down a PRB that's only .005-.008 over bore size on a clean bore. I'm also bigger and stronger than you, so that should make it easier.

I don't know why you push how you load so much? We know how to load. Most of us have been doing it for decades. Let it go. Not likely, but you should.

[Daryl]

Really do not care whether you buy it or not - there is only room for 3 in the winer's circle. Glad you enjoy watching.
Bigger and stronger ? That make a difference? Our wives load the same combinations we do.  LOL - you're funny.