average .50 cal ball size

[axelp]

What is the most commonly used roundball size for .50 cal?

thnks

Ken

[pulaski]

Ken , I have allways used a .490 . Adjusted the patch to optimise accuracy .
Thanks , Steve

[BrownBear]

I've got molds for both .490 and .495.  In my guns the .495's force me to use thinner patches than I like.  The .490's let me use pillow ticking, which is readily available and cheap.  As a result, that .495 mold is pretty dusty now.

[roundball]

Also use .490's

[Acorn Mush]

I used .490s in my original Lyman Great Plains barrel. It has been since replaced with a Green Mountain barrel in which I use .495s.

[Daryl]

Taylor started out using .490's in his Virginia, but switched to .495's when we targeted both .490" and .495". The .495's were measureably more accurate.  When I shot .50's I also used nothing but .495's right form the TC in 1973, through several 'custom' barrels since then.

[Maven]

I have 3 .50cal. rifles: A Mowrey, which takes a .495" RB; a Dixie (Miroku) flinter, which takes a .490" RB; and a Lyman (Investarms) Great Plains, which also takes a .490" RB.  The Mowrey is so accurate with the [factory recommended] .495" RB + .018" patch that I've not bothered experimenting with the smaller ball.  The other 2, however are more interesting.  While the Dixie can use a .495" RB, albeit with slightly thinner patches (.015"), it is a tight fit.  The payoff is in slightly better accuracy than with the .490" ball + .018" patch (much easier to start and seat though).  The Lyman, on the other hand, does equally well with the larger ball, but thinner patch as it does with the reverse.  Btw, I cast and weigh my own RB's and find the diameters of molds of a nominal size, even by the same manufacturer, vary enough to segregate them.  Right now my "go to" .495" mold is a Lee 2 cavity; the .490" mold is a T/C (their markings; don't really know who made it for them).   

[J.E.Helm]

I have used both .490s and .495s in a fine shooting rifle with a green mountain barrel. The rifle doesn't seem to have a preference for either, but I only have .495 rb mold so thats the one I use.
Jeff