I have a T/C .56 cal smoothbore muzzleloader. Its in mint condition. What type of accuracy can I expect if I master the loading/conditioning techinques. Presently I can only get a grouping of about 14in at 100 yds while bench rested. Is this typical. Thanks.

Have shot a fair number of smoothbores from 20g. up, including a few trade guns and brown bess (flintlocks) Have also competed with 12g. CVA shotgun at 25 yds and done respectivly well, and won a couple of 2nd. and 3rd. places in matches against some higher quality smoothbores. That said, I know "A FEW", people who are very experianced with various smoothbores who are capable of holding 6" and sometimes a bit less at 50 yds. Anything beyond that is stretching a whole lot of things including reality. I would suggest that if you want to hunt with a smooth bore, that you spend considerable time shooting it. I recommend a tight patch on a proper fitting ball, and would probably recommend well washed pillow ticking to insure that all of the sizing has been washed out. Would also recommend a lube that was fairly dry with some wax in it to minimize dampening powder if you hunt it. Some that I know that hunt smooth bores use backer patches to minimize dampening powder directly under the ball. Last, forget benching it. Practice on your two hind legs, start at 25 yds. and when you can keep 5 in a row in a 6" paper plate, then start backing up 5 yss or so at a time. When you reach the distance where you can no longer keep them in a 6" plate, back off to the last distance where you can maintain that 6" group and use that distance as the max that you will shoot. Smoothbores can be fun, but you have to work with them.

Good Luck, Paul

Paul gives good advice...your 14" at 100yards is about that can be expected when you do things right, so there isn't anything below standard about your loading ability. IF you are not using swaged round ball, then do so...the rounder the better. Not much else to play with but powder charge and patching thickness/material. Lubes have more of an effect on fouling that on accuracy for the first few shots.

As for the backing patch, I started using a "patch" (becasue it cut to about the same size) of waxed paper...ram that down onto the powder charge, and then seat the patched ball.

Spent the end of last hunting season figuring out which of the SXS 10ga. barrels toosed a round ball better. Not much difference in group size, but the left barrel comes closest to the point of aim, so it gets the patched ball. For this one (as it is a shotgun) build the load more or less like a shot load...card wad, fiber wad, patched ball. BUT, that fiber wad does raise pressure, and I do cut back on the powder charge.

For muskets (rifle type smooth bores), load them as you would a rifled barrel...those under-patches or wads do raise pressure.

I shoot a 20 bore fowler, and do shoot roundball from time to time. If I can get 4 to 5 inches at 50 yards, I am pretty happy. If you can't find swaged ball, you can tumble cast balls to remove any bits of sprue or other projections. I don't use a backer patch, I prelube my patches instead. Never had any problems with lube damping the powder.

Thanks for the replies. I shot yesterday at 50yds from REST and managed a 2.5in group with 4 balls!! I found .56 ball ammo that didn't have the casting dimple and it seemed to help.How do I patch or buffer before my patched ball? Still at 100yds the group opened to 13in. A little more tinkering might tighten this 13 in Group? I am presently using 90grs of "select" with 1 snug patched ball.

Thanks for the replies. I shot yesterday at 50yds from REST and managed a 2.5in group with 4 balls!! I found .56 ball ammo that didn't have the casting dimple and it seemed to help.How do I patch or buffer before my patched ball? Still at 100yds the group opened to 13in. A little more tinkering might tighten this 13 in Group? I am presently using 90grs of "select" with 1 snug patched ball.

Don't think I'd change a thing about that load, it's better tahn smoothbores are supose to shoot. As you discovered, without spin, groups open WAY disproportionally with range. The smaller the ball, the earlier the fall off of grouping.

Only bothre with a buffer (or a waxed paper wad) when hunting...am likely tow ander arround with a loaded rifle for hours, and the patch lube can contaminate some of the powder charge...this isn't a problem at the range, as you generally will load it and shoot it long before the lube has a chance to migrate.

When I read Sir Samuel Baker's comments about shooting smoothbores, he mentioned using silk patches with tight fitting balls for best accuracy. Without patches, the balls would drop cleanly down the barrel but were a very close fit.

He also described the "Sportsmen" in Ceylon using 16bore and 14bore "fowling pieces" with hardened lead balls were loading double charges for elephants and killing dozens in a day of hunting. All their shots were at fairly close range - certainly not more than 50 yards.

I posted links to download his books on the Books & Magazines forum on this Shootersforum Website.

GOOD LUCK! ;)