Checking the twist rate on my Cabelas 50 cal Hawkins

[8W8]

I built two Cabelas .50 Hawkins back in 1995, one in percussion, for my 9 year old son, and one flintlock for myself. I started shooting both rifles again now that I am retired and started wondering what the twist rate was on both guns. I assume they have the same twist rate and have seen both 1 in 48” and 1 in 24” values published on the Cabelas site but I do not remember what it was on my two rifles. Can a person tell by using the rotation of the ramrod with a jag and tight fitting patch?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Sure, but I think those are made by Investarms and are 1:48, but it's also a good thing to learn how to do when you get a phantom barrel which might have one or another twist rate. Simply get a tight fitting patch on a jag so that the rod naturally turns as you push it down the barrel. (A lot of folks use a modern rod so as not to run any risk that you might get with a wooden rod.) So shove it to the breech..., mark the rod first at the muzzle and also with a parallel line..., slowly remove the rod, allowing it to rotate as you remove it. You can stop when the parallel line has rotated 180° as you pull. Measure from the muzzle to the muzzle mark on the rod, and multiply the inches by two. You'll probably be near the muzzle when the rod has turned 180°, as a 1:48 twist will have rotated 180° degrees at 24 inches...about 4" from the end of that 28" muzzle. Repeat a couple of times to check your work for a consistent and accurate result.

LD

 

[8W8]

Thanks Dave, I thought I roughly knew how to approach this but I would not have thought to use a modern cleaning rod instead of the hickory ram rod. You probably saved me from having to post a question to the forum about removing a stuck ramrod or jag.

 

[Cowboy]

I also have a Cabela’s Hawken in .50 Cal. Yes, made by investarms, and yes, 1:48 twist. It’s a nice muzzleloader for the money. Really have nothing negative to say about it ?

Enjoy your retirement my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[cositrike]

HAWKEN!

 

[johnfrommd]

Investarms also made a short barreled Hawken with a 1 in 22 or so twist and a chromed bore. Try as I may, I never got that to shoot any kind of conical better than 3 inches at 50 yards from the bench.

 

[Stubert]

I had a 58 cal. Cabellas with a chrome bore and 1-48 twist. Nothing I ever shot was accurate, from minnies to round balls, couldn't ever get it to group good. I sold the barrel and put on a Green Mtn. slow twist .54