Should I use a .44 caliber round ball in a .45 caliber muzzle loader?
Typically a round ball .440 inches is used, together with a
greased cloth patch about .015 inches in thickness. This results in
a "squeeze" fit of the ball to the barrel. If you have a modern
muzzle loader, we would urge you to contact the maker, and get the
owner's manual for YOUR rifle- most are free, and available on line
as a download. If you have an ORIGINAL muzzle loader, please do not
attempt to shoot anything in it until a competent gunsmith has
inspected it. And NEVER use anything but black powder (or a
legitimate black powder substitute, such as Pyrodex) in a
muzzleloader.