Conical bullets?

[Gooddaytoya!]

This forum is very interesting! Some of the statements conflict with what I've "learned" from others over the years. No big deal, it's bound to happen. One instance of that is the talk on this forum about using conicals or mini balls. I've read many times, including I think from October Country, that no one should load any boolit the rifle is not specifically designed for. Comments anyone?

 

[deermanok]

For an example, a slow twist barrel like a 1/66 is ideally suited for a patched round ball not a conical bullet.
Generally speaking, the faster twist barrels are designed to shoot conicals.

 

[mooman76]

Conicals can be loaded in all guns. It doesn't mean they will shoot well but some conicals are designed to shoot better in guns not designed for conicals.

 

[dave951]

For an example, a slow twist barrel like a 1/66 is ideally suited for a patched round ball not a conical bullet.
Generally speaking, the faster twist barrels are designed to shoot conicals.

Minies also like a slower twist.

In black powder you can shoot pretty much anything that will fit down the bore within reason but there's no guarantee of anything resembling accuracy. Some twist rate/rifling depth/# grooves, etc are better suited to one type of boolit over another. I've also seen two supposedly identical guns shoot completely different loads. Go figure. Welcome to the weirdness.

 

[bisleyjohn]

If no-one ever moved outside ‘design specifications’ or said “I wonder if……..” we would still be using clubs and pointed sticks.

 

[COTNTOP]

Was the Hornady PA Conical designed for the TC Penn Hunter which has a slow twist? Always heard they were.

 

[deermanok]

Was the Hornady PA Conical designed for the TC Penn Hunter which has a slow twist? Always heard they were.

It's possible. I always thought it was a kinda copy of the old Buffalo Bullet Company "ballette" conical.
At any rate, I have good luck with the PA conicals in a couple of my pistols.

 

[GANGGREEN]

The Hornady PA conical and the Buffalo ballet both shoot reasonably well out of some of my slow-twist rifles. At least in my case, they both shoot considerably better with a wad over the powder and shoot very nearly as well as patched round balls in some of my rifles.

 

[deermanok]

Too bad they don't make them for a 45 caliber.

 

[ML48]

If no-one ever moved outside ‘design specifications’ or said “I wonder if……..” we would still be using clubs and pointed sticks.

Now that is the wisdom of truth...well said john

 

[jaegerstutzen]

Now that is the wisdom of truth...well said john

The US m1855,61 and 63 rifle muskets had 1 turn in 72. Original bullet 510 gr minie. I believe shallow groove rifleing shoots minies better. Jaeger.

 

[tom_in_vt]

Don’t forget to throw “ballets” in the mix