Author Topic: Ball-ets and slow twists? (Read 1027 times)

Bowhunter57 · « **on:** January 12, 2005, 03:24:55 PM »

Will a 1:66 or 1:72 rate of twist be enough for good accuracy out to 100 yards....using ball-ets?

Your opinions and experiences are appreciated.
Good hunting, Bowhunter57

Shorty · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2005, 01:33:06 PM »

Bowhunter57,
As a rule, the bigger the ball the slower the twist. It doen't take much spin to stabilize a round ball. A 1:66 is standard for a .50 cal. A 1:72 would be unusual, but would be OK for .69-.75 as the bigger balls have a lot of mass to start spinning.

lostid · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2005, 03:13:32 PM »

yes.
a proper prb may be of better use. the issues with factory ball-etts is lube and bore condition from shot to shot.

Bowhunter57 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2005, 01:15:38 AM »

Thank you for the replies, gentlemen! :grin:

What I'm attempting is getting away from patches, but with the slower twist of 1:66 conicals are out of the question. So, the Ball-ets are the next best thing.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

lostid · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2005, 02:39:49 PM »

Ok,,just a hint here though. If'n yer gunna try them buffalo ballets yer gunna have trouble with their factory lube, the stuff is auwfull tacking and fouls sumpthin fearce. Best results I've hand was ta use and over-powder wad like an ox-yoke pad or a good healthy pinch of wasp/bees nest or any other thing ya have ta hand to assist the expansion of the heavy lead skirt. The "knurled" sides don't help much if the "lube" fouls the rifling after the first shot.
No matter what the projectile is, it still needs to spin some-what for 100yrd accuracy.

Lefty38-55 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2005, 03:16:55 PM »

FWIW this group was fired out of 1-in66" twist 32" Mowrey 50cal Plains Rifle.

It tightened up some with more powder but I didn't get a photo of those targes.

Naphtali · « **Reply #6 on:** January 18, 2005, 08:03:47 PM »

Bowhunter57:

Do a search of this forum's archives for Greenhill's Formula. I've posted it a couple of times.

Rather than guess about correct rates of twist, you can solve for twist, maximum bullet length for a specific twist, and so on.

If you cannot find it, let me know. I'll send it to you.

drummerboy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2005, 11:47:49 AM »

I have a Lyman Great Plains with the 1/66 .50 cal. I shoot patched round ball most of the time but the 230 gn Ball-et gave me a 3/4 inch group at 100 yds! Only one time did this happen, mostly 1-1/2 to 2" at 100yds but it did happen. I used 110gr FFF. Clean the barrel after second shot. I was deer hunting and shot two in the morning. The second one I wasn't sure about the shot so I tried loading for a third time, snapped my rod! Switched to a synthetic one after that. The lube on those things is BRUTAL!!! Good luck man!!

KING · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2005, 03:40:25 PM »

:grin: Hey!.................Mowrey 50................ Good group,I like it. Shows what that twist will do with a ball-et. stay safe.....King

papellet · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2005, 12:34:52 AM »

The Ball-ets shoot great out of my Lymans. As others have said, the factory crud is nasty. I soak the bullets in mineral spirits to take off the factory crud and then relube with a local gun store product. The PA conicals by Hornady are also a good bullet in the slow twists.