Daryl:
I should be mad at you, 'cause you cost me a great deal of time at the reloading bench and the range a couple of years ago, trying to get lead sperical ball to shoot in my smooth-bore double!

Nothing I tried would hold better than about 3 1/2 inches at 25 yds, and most loads were worse (some much worse!).

I even shot polished steel automotive CV-joint ball-bearings in the quest for consistency.

..and yes, I tried the inverted over-powder cup under the round-ball, several different types in fact. I simply cannot duplicate the fine accuracy you regularly post here with spherical ball in your smooth-bores.

I should be mad at you, but I'm not of course, 'cause its all a heap of fun and a wonderful learning experience.

The one thing I have learned from all this, though, is that I can get slugs to shoot far more accurately than sphericals.

I can only apologize for my obvious short-comings.

Sorry......

BTW Daryl I have saved your excellent summary above, and will probably have another go at this one day. Don't like to admit defeat!