Ball not seated when fired

I had a stuff up I never thought would happen to me. 

Went out to sight in a gun and always go by myself, I enjoy the quiet and I can focus. Anyway today I invited my brother as he's not real flash at the moment going through a bust up. I got distracted talking about everything and accidentally fired a ball I'd short started but not seated. I'm normally very astute and other than a couple if dry balls have never made a mistake like this.

Anyway, the gun is shooting still, albeit it crazy low even with large charges, but I can't really notice any visible damage in the bore. Is it possible to do this and not cause damage?

Bushfire,  When you run a tight Patched Jag down the bore can you feel an odd Spot where that Ball was? It’s called “Ringing” the barrel, This can happen in cases like this, especially so with a Tight Short started Ball. I would bet on this being what happened

I cleaned it last night and didn't notice Anything, but say it is there, is the gun still going to shoot or is this going to be curtains for accuracy?

Bushfire wrote:I cleaned it last night and didn't notice Anything, but say it is there, is the gun still going to shoot or is this going to be curtains for accuracy?

This is one i have no hands on experience with? I have only read about guy’s doing this over the years, the ones i read about had Ruined barrels

I wish i could be of more help here Bushfire. If you can’t see, or Feel a Bulge of any kind? Then hopefully you got lucky! I would shoot it and see how it Does? Go from there, Keep me posted on it

If it wasn't a tight fitting load, you most likely averted a bulged barrel.

Well with your rifle shooting crazy low as you say it appears that you do have a disruption inside the bore. Without the proper tools to measure the internal diameter or concentricity of the area in question there is another solution.
Being that you fired a short started ball you can always lop of the end of the barrel beyond that point and recrown and put in a new dovetail for the front sight. You'll be basically turning your rifle into a carbine.  
This might help. I've done it myself.  https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/black-powder-reference-forum/369363-cutting-barrel-shorter.html

Gun was shooting low prior to the incident, separate but irritating issue.

Bushfire wrote:Gun was shooting low prior to the incident, separate but irritating issue.

It is shooting low, but, what kind of groups are you getting? It may just be a matter of a bad front site.

I misread your post. I thought it was shooting low after the incident. Shooting low is an easy fix. Just find what load shoots best then file down the front sight a little at a time until it hits point of aim.

Bronko22000 wrote:I misread your post. I thought it was shooting low after the incident.  Shooting low is an easy fix.  Just find what load shoots best then file down the front sight a little at a time until it hits point of aim.

It's a beaded sight, I have thought about just cutting the bead off but not sure whether I'll keep it het and if not I don't want to be defacing it.

Well you can tap that sight out and install a lower front sight. That way you don't have to worry about ruining it. Two things to remember. Measure overall sight height from top of bead to bottom of dovetail base.
And if the new sight doesn't fit you file the bottom of the new sight and keep checking until it starts into the dove tail. May still need more filing to get it fully into the dovetail.