Matthew323
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2020
- Messages
- 1,428
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Lewis,
I love that you push the envelope with the round ball and distance.
You are correct in that I am POSITIVE that I WOULD NOT want to be hit in the chest over my heart by even a .40 caliber patched ball propelled by 50-60 grains by volume of Swiss black powder at 200 yards.
While on paper that 92.4 grain pure lead ball would show terrible BALLISTICS at 100 yards, much less 200 yards; I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE THE HUMAN STANDING STILL TO PROVE HOW INEFFICIENT A PATCHED BALL AT 200 YARDS IS.
That being said it is commonly accepted that unless one has exceptional eyesight, a patched ball rifle is basicly a 100 yard weapon. This is presuming that traditional 18th/19th Century sights set at 18th/19th Century distances are being used with those exceptional eyes.
If the hunter feels the need to hunt out to 150 yards, then to have adequate penetration on elk/moose sized game with a quartering shot; then the caliber must be increased, so that the ball's weight is increased, so that penetration may be increased.
This generally means at least .58 caliber, some say .62 caliber, others argue for .66 caliber. As caliber goes up to keep trajectory as flat as possible, so does recoil increase.
Balls are 0.005" under bore diameter
.58 caliber = 284.987 grains
.62 caliber = 348.696 grains
.66 caliber = 421.255 grains
To take advantage of a flat trajectory it is usually necessary to slow down the rate of twist in the rifling in order to not strip patches with heavy powder charges.
This is where the design of the English Sporting Rifle comes into play. It mitigates recoil better than any other traditional stock design. It is the basis from which ALL MODERN STOCK DESIGNS HAVE EVOLVED. Especially if one adds a modern recoil pad to the stock.
Patched balls kill exceptionally well, FAR BETTER than their paper ballistics would indicate. For the most part the ball is a under 75 yards projectile. Which is OK, because that is where the vast majority of American game is shot.
If you have got the eyes to see to shoot it, and the youth to tote a heavy patched ball rifle around; then by all means stretch it out to 150 yards if you feel your skills are up to ethically harvesting game at those distances.
I love that you push the envelope with the round ball and distance.
You are correct in that I am POSITIVE that I WOULD NOT want to be hit in the chest over my heart by even a .40 caliber patched ball propelled by 50-60 grains by volume of Swiss black powder at 200 yards.
While on paper that 92.4 grain pure lead ball would show terrible BALLISTICS at 100 yards, much less 200 yards; I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE THE HUMAN STANDING STILL TO PROVE HOW INEFFICIENT A PATCHED BALL AT 200 YARDS IS.
That being said it is commonly accepted that unless one has exceptional eyesight, a patched ball rifle is basicly a 100 yard weapon. This is presuming that traditional 18th/19th Century sights set at 18th/19th Century distances are being used with those exceptional eyes.
If the hunter feels the need to hunt out to 150 yards, then to have adequate penetration on elk/moose sized game with a quartering shot; then the caliber must be increased, so that the ball's weight is increased, so that penetration may be increased.
This generally means at least .58 caliber, some say .62 caliber, others argue for .66 caliber. As caliber goes up to keep trajectory as flat as possible, so does recoil increase.
Balls are 0.005" under bore diameter
.58 caliber = 284.987 grains
.62 caliber = 348.696 grains
.66 caliber = 421.255 grains
To take advantage of a flat trajectory it is usually necessary to slow down the rate of twist in the rifling in order to not strip patches with heavy powder charges.
This is where the design of the English Sporting Rifle comes into play. It mitigates recoil better than any other traditional stock design. It is the basis from which ALL MODERN STOCK DESIGNS HAVE EVOLVED. Especially if one adds a modern recoil pad to the stock.
Patched balls kill exceptionally well, FAR BETTER than their paper ballistics would indicate. For the most part the ball is a under 75 yards projectile. Which is OK, because that is where the vast majority of American game is shot.
If you have got the eyes to see to shoot it, and the youth to tote a heavy patched ball rifle around; then by all means stretch it out to 150 yards if you feel your skills are up to ethically harvesting game at those distances.