Round Ball roll around box.

roud ball sprues

well unless competition shooting where you want every edge, I wouldn't worry about the sprue.
However, when you load the ball, you can take care and place the sprue sidewise.
During seating it will get cutoff.
And contrary to popular thinking after seating the ball and then firing it, It isn't truly round when it leaves the chamber anyway. It is elongated somewhat.
Have fun shooting!!
 
I shoot N-SSA competition.

If you are shooting for competition accuracy out of smoothbore muskets, many of the shooters are very particular about their ammunition preparation. They will take their .69 round balls and roll them between two plates of marble to get them perfectly round. Then they will roll the balls between some files to put some "tooth" on them, and then coat them with Lee Alox lube.

I don't have a smoothie, but one of my team mates has let me borrow his, and it is amazing to shoot. When you "ram" the ball down on the charge, it feels like an air piston the ball fit is so precise. The ramrod literally "bounces" on the air compressed under the ball.

For revolvers, I find the Lee mold makes small sprues. The sprue is less of a deformation than what the ram on my '58 does to the nose of the bullet during loading anyway. I suppose if you were really particular you could machine or put some JB Weld on the nose of the ram and set a round ball in it to set up so that when the ram drove the ball home it would make a perfect spherical impression onto the ball, obliterating any sprue remnants.

But I have read before that the bulk of your aerodynamic impact of your bullets comes not from the front of the bullet but the rear.

Steve
 
Sprue up and go for it !!!

For my own use I’ve always placed the spruces up or down.
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It's much easier to center the sprue up then down. Also keep in mind that when you ram the ball home, you rod tip, will round off some of the edges. Lead is very soft and a shooting buddy of mine, use to take a spoon and lightly hammer the sprue edges. Again, it made little difference but he felt better. .. ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
Put a 1/2 dozen balls in your pocket every day. Get the same action as SWMBO's car but quicker. Although you may get some looks being caught occasionally fondling your balls. Its just human nature to check and feel if the sprue stub is still there. Glad I could help y'all out Deerslayer 303.:rolleyes:
 
^^^ Oh my gosh LOL! Thanks for the help :D I don't think I'll play pocket pool but thanks for the suggestion. And if I'm up in Minn anytime and I see a guy standing on the corner rolling his balls in his pocket, I'll know thats you and I'll come over and say HI!! :D
 
A meet & greet hand shake perhaps possible.
Oh that I would look forward too. You just feel free to roll up to me anytime and stick out that mitt of yours and I'd gladly pull mine out of my pocket and accommodate y'all. Speaking about balls. Have you given any thought of buying store bought Swaged ones._:)
 
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Have you given any thought of buying store bought Swaged ones._
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:eek: Oh no you did not ask me to think about "buying" balls!! LOL Thats again the rules of true Muzzleloading etiquette isn't it?? I already go again the grain by showing up in modern clothing, no possibles bag, no powder horn, no roll of ticking, and no patch knife. I DO NOT need to anger my ancestors ANY further by going to the store or ordering factory made swaged balls! :p
 
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