While not necessarily historically accurate, loading blocks are a great way to keep the fun going during a muzzleloading shoot, afternoon on the range, or woods walk.

Loading blocks are commonly made from wood, but can also be made from antler or bone depending on the maker’s decisions. Holes are drilled in the “block” in a variety of patterns to make the most use of the surface area of the block, storing as many patched roundball sets as possible for easy reloading. Use the chart below to find the right drill bit size for your muzzleloader caliber.

No matter how close you think your drill bit is to your patch/roundball combo, it’s best to drill undersized and file or rasp each hole to fit. This helps you make sure that your patch/roundball combo will fit. Something else to consider is whether or not you oil your patches before you set them into your loading block. A patch full of oil will be slightly thicker than a dry patch.

If you are using wood for your block, it may be a good idea to stain the woodblock and apply a coat of polyurethane to preserve your block for a longer period of time.

Here are the calibers and the corresponding drill bit sizes

.32=21/64
.36=3/8
.40=27/64
.45=29/84
.50=1/2
.54=35/64
.58=19/32
.62=5/8
.69=11/16
.75=3/4

Check out this thread on the American Longrifles Forum for some great inspiration on how to make your loading block personal to you.