I have shot .715 round balls in my double barrel twelve gauge cyl cyl bore shotgun at 50 yards (yes) I got grapefruit accuracy which is not that bad. Handload. Fiochi hulls, I will have to look up the powder but it was about 36-38 grains. I simply cut the legs off a spent shot cup and put in in upside down so it "held" the ball and it follows it, keeping it centered as it shoots up the barrel. So, from the bottom the arrangement was--- primer, powder, reversed shot cup, punkin ball and plastic overshot card.
Since then I took the advice of a round ball shooter from canada and had a high quality round ball mold made up for me from a guy named Tanner. (England) .724 to match my cyl cyl measurements. He said get a quality round punkin ball MOLD made up to match your bores and you will get an accurate and extremely deadly load. He said wheel weights are better than pure lead... I think he has a good point. I would want them a bit harder than soft lead for better penetration.
I haven't shot any yet but intend to get even better accuracy from these .724 compared to the .715's... and yes with experimenting I am told and I believe I will get great groups with punkin balls from my double barrel smooth bore 12 gauge shotgun...(afterall the .715's weren't bad)
Punkin Balls can be very deadly accurate even at 50-60 yards with iron sites out of a smoothie.
