Lee,

Thanks for the advice. I'm not certain what diameter ball I'm using right now. They are not my own castings. I did notice that they were tighter to load with the pillow ticking than with the patches I've used in the past. They load tight at first and then consistent until about 5 inches from seating where the force required to push them falls off noticeably.

The pitting in my bore is not very deep but spread throughout the barrel. I was shooting around 1.5" to 2" pattern at 40 yards.

The Spermoil, is that oil from the Sperm Whale? As far as me being an old timer, i did happen to wake this morning with what I had been warned some 15 years ago would be "aging pains" but I don't think Ihave earned the title of of old-timer . But that day is coming, I hope, because the alternative is not acceptable. Phil