fast twist 54's

[parrett]

Hello,
Anyone use fast twist 54's and conical bullets? I'm wondering if I should get a 50 or 54 for hunting up here in Alaska. I'm going to build a 54 Hawken ball shooter this winter, but I want a conical Hawken style rifle as well. There's something comforting about shooting a very heavy chunk of lead at a moose.

Dan

 

[gmww]

I'm shooting with a .54 cal. 1:27" twist. I'm getting pretty good result with a minie ball variant.

The conical is 390 grains.

I took this doe a couple of days ago.

 

[BrownBear]

My hunting pard favors conicals and got the 54 cal Hunter barrel for his GPR. I prefer RBs, so I stuck with the 54 cal RB barrel on my GPR. Both are really accurate. It depends on which you prefer, round or conical, but with responsible shooting I doubt there's any advantage or penalty for either. He's here on the forum sometimes, so maybe he'll pipe up if he has more to add.

BTW- With smaller charges his GPH is a really fine RB shooter. Tried mine with several short conicals, and the slow twist just wouldn't do it.

 

[smokehouseman]

I like my .54 with 425 grain conicals................I kind of like the idea of sending a little VW down range with a 100 grain charge and felt wad behind it. For a while it was handling the RB's very well with a 70 grain load, then it all went south, currently working on my sight picture, patches etc., but I think I can get it back on track again. I wouldn't say the .54 gives me an extra sense of security down here in Kodiak, but yes it is a little VW coming out that barrel but it still has to make the right connection.

 

[parrett]

Hey Brown Bear,
I noticed in your profile that you're a photographer. I'm a bit of a shooter myself out here in the Aleutians. Where are you and what are your main subjects?

Dan

 

[Mad Professor]

I have a 54 cal 1-28 GM barrel. It shoots a 425gr hornaday over a wonder wad and 90 gr FFg real good. Took my deer last year at 90 paces offhand. Shot was a bit high (spine) as I forgot to take into account I was looking downhill, dropped like a bolt of lightening hit him.

My 50 cal 1-28 GM barrel likes a 370 gr buffalo bullet over wonder wad and 80 gr FFg. Five shots touching at 50 yds.

If you want to up the ante consider the 58 cal . My 1-48 twist lyman handles 525 gr Honadays/90 gr FFg well and that is a VW, BUS!

P.S. all of those loads kick like a mule

P.P.S. GM is offering a limited run of 45 cal 1-18 barrels. These should handle 500-550 gr conicals and really reach out there with a healthy dose of FFg as they have a better ballistic coefficient. You might get performance similar to a Whitworth or Gibbs.

 

[bucktales]

My WMC has a 1:20 twist and likes 425gr conicals with 85gr 3f.
I shot many deer with this combo.
This year though, I plan on using my GPR .54 with a PRB.

 

[BS]

I have a 54 cal. DeHass barrel with a 1-36 twist that shoots Large slugs quite well..........but....

I find it much more enjoyable to shoot big patched round balls better. A .662 ball weights 437 grains.....[about].......[.675 bore]

Favorite is a rifled 12ga. [.729 bore] a .725 grain ball is about 560 grains. :shocked2:

 

[BrownBear]

I sent you a PM, Dan.

 

[E Poffinbarger]

Dan:

I couldn't be happier with my Lyman GPR-Hunter 1:32 using a nicely pointed home cast Lyman .542, 425grain hollow based minie.

Well maybe a little happier with a little less recoil.

Osage