This was one of the main things I had in my head with this rifle project, and the reason I requested a 16 twist when I sent it out to JES. I had no idea if it would work out, but figured if it didn't I could still use it with regular bullets just fine with that 16 twist.
I have a round ball mold that if you let them unsized as they come out of the mold, they measure about .362-.363. Lubed up they measure .366-.367. Figured that would be a good tight fit with a lead ball in a 358 bore.
My idea if it worked, was to try and come up with a subsonic load running somewhere around a 1000 to 1050 or so. They weigh on average right on 70 grains. Basically would be running at the speed of a subsonic 22. But with that 358 ball at 70 grains should hit a TON harder on things like groundhogs at normal 22 ranges.
It has worked out phenonemally. There is zero case prep. Take a fired case just as it is, prime it, charge it, and seat the ball. Because the case is fired it's about the perfect neck size to seat that ball just the way it is.
I made a mark on the center line of the ball, then set my die to seat it to that line. That way the ball is seated on its widest point.
I had no idea where to start with charges. I had Unique powder and came up with 3.5 grains. Was reasonably confident it would not be over pressure in any way. But that first shot is always a butt clencher with the unkown. Never know for sure what odd things are gonna happen inside. On the other side of the coin is it going to be enough to push that tight ball out the bore? I shot it into dirt 20 ft in front of me, and thought based on the delay of hit, and the backed out primer on the case, I was way under pressure. So I started bumping up in charges and testing.
Just shot here at the house at 25 yards and I was tickled with how it was working from the get go. Wont bore you with all the targets but none of them were bad. But 4.7 grains was the ticket. Averaged right around 1060 which is right in the ball park of where I wanted to be.
I was 18 shots in by this point, so I cleaned the barrel. Suprisingly it was not lead fouled hardly at all. I suspect both because of the tight fit, and there is very little bearing surface with that round ball. Just the outermost edge on 4 sides would be touching the bore. However it was bad powder fouled........that Unique is horribly dirty at those low pressures. Didn't take long to clean up.
First shot on that clean bore was slightly off, then the next 4 were hammering in the same spot same as before. Shooting in the 2's at 25 yds. Working far better than I'd hoped. This is gonna be a lot of fun and very accurate. I can shoot these cheaper than a 22.
I have a round ball mold that if you let them unsized as they come out of the mold, they measure about .362-.363. Lubed up they measure .366-.367. Figured that would be a good tight fit with a lead ball in a 358 bore.
My idea if it worked, was to try and come up with a subsonic load running somewhere around a 1000 to 1050 or so. They weigh on average right on 70 grains. Basically would be running at the speed of a subsonic 22. But with that 358 ball at 70 grains should hit a TON harder on things like groundhogs at normal 22 ranges.
It has worked out phenonemally. There is zero case prep. Take a fired case just as it is, prime it, charge it, and seat the ball. Because the case is fired it's about the perfect neck size to seat that ball just the way it is.
I made a mark on the center line of the ball, then set my die to seat it to that line. That way the ball is seated on its widest point.
I had no idea where to start with charges. I had Unique powder and came up with 3.5 grains. Was reasonably confident it would not be over pressure in any way. But that first shot is always a butt clencher with the unkown. Never know for sure what odd things are gonna happen inside. On the other side of the coin is it going to be enough to push that tight ball out the bore? I shot it into dirt 20 ft in front of me, and thought based on the delay of hit, and the backed out primer on the case, I was way under pressure. So I started bumping up in charges and testing.
Just shot here at the house at 25 yards and I was tickled with how it was working from the get go. Wont bore you with all the targets but none of them were bad. But 4.7 grains was the ticket. Averaged right around 1060 which is right in the ball park of where I wanted to be.
I was 18 shots in by this point, so I cleaned the barrel. Suprisingly it was not lead fouled hardly at all. I suspect both because of the tight fit, and there is very little bearing surface with that round ball. Just the outermost edge on 4 sides would be touching the bore. However it was bad powder fouled........that Unique is horribly dirty at those low pressures. Didn't take long to clean up.
First shot on that clean bore was slightly off, then the next 4 were hammering in the same spot same as before. Shooting in the 2's at 25 yds. Working far better than I'd hoped. This is gonna be a lot of fun and very accurate. I can shoot these cheaper than a 22.
I'm still contemplating a Swarovski scope to put on that Sauer ever since you put the thought in my head. As of yet I can't make myself spend that kind of money on a scope, but I'll probably break down eventually. 
