"The question, as I believe you are bringing up, is - Does RM have a oval bore "bore rifle" or an oval bore "Ball & Shot gun". RM indicated a weight of 8.5 lbs, too heavy for a normal Paradox type and maybe a little light for a bore rifle. I am interested in the maker and date of completion. This may shed more light on how to approach the loading process."

Considering 9 or 9 1/2 pounds was a normal weight for a 14 bore round ball muzzleloading DR of the 1860 period, 8 1/2 sounds light in comparrison, however there were light, moderate and heavy charges used in the round ball ctgs. of the 1880's through 1890's, something like 110gr.(4 drams), 150gr.(5 1/2 drams) and 191gr. (7 drams) in the shorter cases.

I do not know if there were smokeless equivalents for these loads.