Investarms barrel size.

[Fire-Steel]

I was given an older Investarms carbine. You could compare it to a Lyman Trade Rifle that uses similar parts. I have purchased an extra barrel, mainly because the price was right. So I now have a .45 and .50 caliber rifle set.
Has anyone out there used the Ampco bronze nipples. Are they more durable than steel. Either blued or stainless.
Just looking for some input.
Have not used a percussion gun in many years. Thought I would try it out.

 

[Fire-Steel]

Sorry, been a long day. On top of the question about the bronze or steel being more durable. I was interested in knowing from shooters if the 1 in 48 twist is better with the conical or round ball? Is it just a compromise?

Note: it is not wise to text and take cold medicine.

 

[Grenadier1758]

The 1 in 48 can be a good round ball twist. It is the depth of the rifling that makes the compromise. T/C used a very shallow depth of the groove so light loads were used for round ball accuracy and the T/C Maxi ball was designed to work with the shallow grooves. The question to be answered is how deep is the rifling in your gun.

By the way, Jake and Sam Hawken used a deep groove 1 in 48 twist in all their rifles and they were a very good and accurate round ball rifle.

Ampco nipples are very good. Be sure you get the correct thread size for your rifle. I don' know the correct size off hand. I also like the Hot Shot stainless steel nipples. These seem to be more effective if you are forced to use a substitute powder.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I have a T/C Hawken that I have shot for years. When I got it I also bought the Maxiball mold, but I don't think I ever shot more than a half dozen Maxis through it. I always shot round balls. Mine is a 50 caliber and I use .490 round balls. I found with the T/C that it likes a tight patch for best accuracy and only used mattress ticking for years. I does have the shallow rifling, but shoots will with both a 50 grain and 80 grain load of ffg Goex black powder. I have also used Pyrodex too.

I've not used Ampco nipples, but have read good things about them here and in other places.

 

[burlesontom]

I like the vented Hot Shot nipples in mine. I have never worn one out. The Investarms rifles are all listed as having .010 deep grooves. Fine for shooting round ball loads. Mine also shoot the Lee RAL and Improved Minnies well.

You did good getting a .45 caliber barrel. I have a Cabelas Hawken I bought as a kit and a 45 caliber bore. I love that caliber and shooting that gun. They used to offer a smooth bore barrel for these guns also. I have never seen one and they don't list them on their website. The Investarms website is worth looking at. They make several styles of guns that aren't sold in the states. I have 4 of their rifles now. Good guns in my opinion.

And all my guns have 15/16 barrels. And IIRC the nipple thread sie is 6.75x1

 

[Fire-Steel]

Thanks for all the replies. Have given me some good information.
As I stated in my original post, have not done much with cap guns for quite a while. Been shooting and tinkering with flinlocks going on 30 years now.
Now I can see some facial expressions. It isn't bad enough he uses "those things." Now the Coupe De Grace,
Smoothbores mainly.
I have a nice little 40 that I have been working on but haven't finished, and a 50 cal 1" x 42" barrel in reserve for a yet unamed project.
Still have my Euroarms percussion rifle that stated all of this way back in the early to mid 1970s. The drum is loose from the pounds of lead that went thru that barrel.
I appreciate all of the effort and answers. Have stirred up a couple things I had forgotten.
I think I am going to like this forim. Nice people here.

 

[robinsroost]

I am not sure of your question. I have an Investarms model "B", .50 caliber. The barrel is 29" long, with a 1 in 48" twist. The barrel is 1" across the flats. Mine is a good shooter. Keep yer powder dry......robin

 

[OLD CROW]

I have a LYMAN trade rifle and a ''canadian''SAFARI ARMS(Toronto ONTARIO). BOTH .50 CAL.
BOTH barrels,15/16''
BOTH barrels made by INVESTARMS/Italy
BOTH have a 1989 build code date.
60 gr.PRB for target/plinking goex 3f
hunting load is 80 gr.with a home cast 255gr. .45 cal / rnfp of wheelweight lead. in a TC yellow plastic sabot......jt DOES kick but its an accurate load...also 3f goex.
the serial numbers are less than 1000 units apart
1 in 48 '' twist. at over 71 and ''older eyes'' I bet a 50 yr.old kid could group 3 rounds into the VERY GOOD class.
use steel nipples.....works fine for me.

INVESTARMS makes the same 15/16'' barrels for MANY American caplock .50 cal brands.....

 

[Fire-Steel]

Th ank you for the infor.ation. it is most appreciated.

 

[Fire-Steel]

I like the patent breech on these. A recessed chamber and minimal travel for the priming flash to the rear center of the powder charge. Makes for a reliable ignition.
The 50 cal barrel had a couple of rough spots about half way thru the barrel. The 45 was pretty hairy looking. But cleaned up very well.
The 45 barrel is just a hair bigger than the 50. So it was measured and comes out just shade over an inch. No marking on it to tell who or where it was manufactured.
Soon I will mix up some of Dr. Dirty Magic Elixir and give the barrels another good scrubbing to see if I can get more of the residue out .
Winter projects. Having a good time.

 

[OLD CROW]

Greetings FIRE-STEEL,

The 2 .50 cal. that I spoke about were from a relation of the original owner.....both were ''abandoned ''- left loaded and forgotten about for years.......after considerable labor,both barrels cleaned up well. one appears to be chrome or highly polished steel.....the other,a wee bit dark with a ''tight'' spot about 2/3 down from muzzle......both shoot the same. the SAFARI ARMS'' has a modern rear adjustable sight... and fancy patch box on right side of stock....the LYMAN Trade rifle has a fixed rear sight.......a little plainer .one has a heavy steel ''rib''under barrel for the wooden rod,the other rib is ''aluminum.
I like the ''fixed'' sight.
OLD CROW.

 

[Fire-Steel]

I am more.of a fixed sight man myself.
At one time chrome lining the barrel was often done by manufacturers because of the corrosive environment these guns are exposed to. They shot and loaded very well. It was discontinued because of, you guessed right, cost. Keep the price down.
The one 50 of mine has some putting in the bite too. I have worked it with a mixture of OOOO steel wool last and kerosene wrapped around a dowel. It will not work the pits out, but will dull any jagged edges so the patch will not catch and tear.
The 45 cal barrel I am beginning to believe is a chromed bore.
The 45 was the popular caliber when i began shoiting in the 70s. Before Jerimia Johnson told the world 'it has to be a Hawken 50'.
I will probably use the 45 as the primary barrel due to the ease of loading and economy, I already have molds for a 440 rb and a familiarity with the caliber.
I am not familiar with the Safari arms. Invest arms has been around for a good long time. Thompson Center sourced them for breech plugs, hardware and locks. Put American barrels and American walnut wood on them and sold them as made in the USA. Till the wood shop burned several years ago. Then they went ........ I haste to utter it. , inline.
Granted it is not a new invention but a more modern take on an old idea. Just not my cup of Joe of you know what I mean.

 

[Mad Professor]

I am not sure of your question. I have an Investarms model "B", .50 caliber. The barrel is 29" long, with a 1 in 48" twist. The barrel is 1" across the flats. Mine is a good shooter. Keep yer powder dry......robin

What Be, a model "B"?

Sure it's not 15/16"?

 

[Fire-Steel]

The 50 caliber barrel is a metric size just shy of 15/16. The 45 barrel is Just at an inch.
As far as a N model, No idea
Perhaps someone could explain this. Inquiring minds want to know.