I'd be very interested also to hear form some of the DSSA smoothbore winners. If you are one, please weigh in on the subject. I've had some successful and some not so successful outings. I'd put more faith in a DSSA winner, as obtaining high enough scores in 25y and 50y smoothbore firing a total of 20 shots for score and doing it enough times to obtain the required 25 points is proof enough for me.
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As to the questions I offer my humble opinions.
First, unless someone can show me a round ball being shot through a glass barrel, I don't think anyone can say what that ball is doing. Some say it's riding on a cushion of air. I need proof. Now if you get up to near bore size, fouling becomes a problem. So one of the best questions is ball to bore size.
Second, the roughing of the ball simply allows more lube to adhere to the ball. But it also inlarges the ball. Back to ball to bore ratio. What do you start with and than inlarge to? I'm guessing as to the purpose of the foil is to make up any space between ball and bore. I once inquired to a professional mould making company if they could make me a round ball mould with the dimples like a golf ball. After a lengthy discussion, he said the dimples will not make the ball fly any straighter. It only works on golf balls because of the low speeds compared to bullets. It would be a waist of time and money.
Third, Alox? Your guess is as good as mine. I admit it works better than my musket/carbine lube but I also hate it because of the fouling. I can shoot my musket/carbine all day and tommorow without brushing or cleaning and no fouling. Smoothbore with Alox and I have to clean and not just brush after each event. Shooting 10 shots for score and 4-5 sighters and after about 8 it gets mighty tough getting the rest of them down the tube.
I will let everyone in on a little experiment I tried some time back. I took a .72 cal. round ball and put it through several different sizers for a .69 cal smoothbore. Effectively putting a band around the ball. (I don't think there's a rule in the rule book about sizing round balls.)
I tried all kinds of different powder, grains, weights, and lube. Benched the gun and never got a group much better than a dinner plate at 25y. Oh, and I did manage to get a round ball to key hole too.
SO. DSSA'rs. Weigh in.
When in doubt, mumble, when in trouble, delegate.
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