More Documentation on the use of Wads or Wadding with Round ball in Smoothbores.

Round Ball & Wads or Wadding.

“ I slipped a boullet upon the shot and beate the paper into my gunne."

Voyages of Peter Esprit Radisson 1636-1710.  Being an account of his travels and experiences among the North American Indians, from 1652 to 1684.

Foard’’s findings are supported by Rogers (1968) who found that various unusual and unauthorised methods of loading were used by soldiers to speed up the time between firings since the time of Charles I. Powder was poured into the end of the barrel, the musket ball dropped on top without wadding. The charge was then rammed home by banging the butt of the musket on the ground. This led to the range and penetration ability of the musket ball to suffer.

file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/David%20Miller%20PhD.pdf

Muzzle-Loader Choices. Rifle or Smoothbore. VIDEOS.

Dangerous Information!

Webster's Online Dictionary

http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/gunpowder

"In the USA, standard grades of black powder run from the coarse Fg grade used in large bore rifles and small cannon though FFg (medium and smallbore rifles), FFFg (pistols), and FFFFg (smallbore, short pistols and priming flintlocks). "

The above information is not correct.  Accepted grades for calibres are: Up to .45 calibre 3FG. .50 calibre & larger 2FG. Same for pistols. 3FG can be used in larger calibres providing the recommended powder load is adjusted to lower the pressure. 4FG should NEVER be used as a main load, NOT in any ammount. This 4FG is a very fine powder & a modern invention to be used to prime the PAN on flintlock guns (priming horns & special priming powder was not used in the 18th century). If you were to load a gun with 4FG/ffffG, it will likely explode the barrel causing death or injury to anyone standing in the close vicinity.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no contact address on the above site, so I am unable to contact them & correct this error.