Black powder cannons and "hand load" testing

[twoforty]

G'day,

I don't know if this is a stupid question but it popped into my head so I'll ask for curiosity

For those who shoot black powder, specifically musket ball or cannon type stuff where it's just a round ball, is there load testing to be done at all?

If you're just shooting a ball of lead which has to match the barrel diameter I guess you have no choice of projectiles? Just the amount of powder used?

Would a black powder charge weight effect accuracy for a little BP cannon? Or am I thinking way to far into this...

[Hardcast]

Yes, load testing is a must. Black powder is very volatile, and very touchy to small changes, especially damp weather.

Starting with the cotton patch that's used around the ball to lube the bore. Some like it real tight and others like it loose.

Lube can effect things, although not so much, it's more a matter of keeping the residue inside the barrel soft, if it's allowed to remain hard, it is difficult to push the next load down the barrel. Powder charge will definately affect accuracy in some guns / rifles. But not always.

I've had a French style Fusil smooth bore that wasn't very fussy at all out to 75 yds. My Pedersoli 50 cal rifle was spot on at 50 yds with 45 grns, and then spot on again at 100 yds but with 60 grns. needed.

[jays]

Forgive my ignorance on this, Hardcast...

Are there different projectiles that work better/worse for black powder cannons?

It is just a regular "cannon ball" right? Not a range of bullets like you get for modern rifles?

[salate]

Is a cannon projectile always a "cannon ball" ?

Do they never do any projectiles that are shaped like a bullet?

[Berper]

I guess they can use lighter or denser balls? Solid balls or hollow ones?

Changing the projectile weight would affect the distance/accuracy etc.

Just making assumptions here though really... Not a BP cannon expert.

[Noisydad]

A round ball for a given calibre cant be altered much in weight though some rifles are fussy about the exact ball diameter and tuning this and the patch thickness matters. Apparently there is something to be said for dimpling round balls as per golf balls. In the past people have chewed them (not my idea of fun), tumbled them in cement mixers and rolled them between wood rasps. Something to have some fun experimenting with I think.

[RDobber]

Not much of a golfer, but the dimples reduce drag or something, right?

[ailar]

Not much of a golfer, but the dimples reduce drag or something, right?

They do something in combination with backspin to promote upward lift too.

Don't ask me why, I only know that from reading the back of a box of golf balls

[Norton]

You still shooting BP cannon's Hardcast?

Got some pics of your rig?