coning a barrel?

[rusticbob]

I have been considering coning the barrel on my .40 cal percussion rifle. I shoot round ball only, and was wondering if readers think it is worth doing?
I saw Mike Belliviews videos, and like the consept of not needing a short starter.
thanks,

[Cherrybow1]

I'm a bit curious about that myself

[Hanshi]

I'm pretty sure most of us would like to know more about this process.  While I've never had any interest in coning any of my barrels, I have done something to mine that allows me to seat and shoot tight prb combos.  It has also allowed me to shoot as long as I want without swabbing the bore and with no change in accuracy.  Using the thumb and sandpaper, one can "polish" and "round" the barrel crown so there's no longer any sharp ends of the lands at the muzzle.  It rarely takes over half an hour and stops patches from being torn when started into the muzzle.  Best of all only about 1/8" of the muzzle end is relieved.

Tight loads are usually the most accurate.  In my .36, for example, I load a .35" and a .024" canvas patch.  Each time the load is seated it wipes the previous shots fouling down to the breech; every single time.  Bore diameter is .36 + .012" + .012" = .3840".  Ball is .350 + .024" + .024" = .3980 for the prb.  So .3980" minus .3840" = .014" patch compression in the grooves.  It still takes a short starter for me but then I have ra in my hands.  Once started the prb goes down easily enough to use the wood ramrod; no need for a "range rod".  If there's any interest I'll post the process.

[beowulf]

been shooting round ball in every caliber from .36 to .69 , and quit using a ball starter a very long time ago !

[Dogshirt]

I have HEARD that it doesn't effect accuracy. But I have HEARD many things, most of which is  . That being said, I would NEVER consider it. YMMV