Loading TPA Pellet 1:28

[mikezias]

Bought a Traditions PA Pellet Lightweight, 1:28. Cannot load .490 ball with 015 patch, at least extremely difficult. Contacted Traditions but not open until 1/2/2025. Considering 0.10 patch. Anyone with experience loading this rifle? What is best patch thickness? Also, anyone know the groove depth?

 

[Des52]

I have a Traditions .50 that has a tight bore and it likes .480 balls and a .10 patch with mink oil.

 

[planefixer da50]

if they are like the hornaday pa pellets. they are wax lubed n use no patch.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Bought a Traditions PA Pellet Lightweight, 1:28. Cannot load .490 ball with 015 patch, at least extremely difficult. Contacted Traditions but not open until 1/2/2025. Considering 0.10 patch. Anyone with experience loading this rifle? What is best patch thickness? Also, anyone know the groove depth?

The answer can be determined close enough with digital Vernier calipers. Accurate to 0.001, measure inside, outside, and depth. Measurements are the first steps to getting optimal performance.

 

[Steve Wagner]

I have a Traditions .50 that has a tight bore and it likes .480 balls and a .10 patch with mink oil.

Yes on this. My 2 Trad Hawkens are both on the very tight side with .490 roundballs and a .015 patch. Much easier and seem to shoot just as well with .010 patches. My Trads are 1/48 so I can only bet that a 1/28 twist would make things even tougher to load.
Not saying that a Trad PA Pellet won't shoot PRB, but I think those rifles are really meant for conicals.

if they are like the hornaday pa pellets. they are wax lubed n use no patch.

Fixer, the OP is talking about the Traditions PA Pellet ML Rifle, not a bullet. But the bullet [Hornady PA Conical] you mention would be a great conical for his rifle. 240 grains vs 180 for a round ball. And correct, it needs no patch. SW

 

[Trigger]

"The new 1:28" twist allows you to fire saboted bullets and modern muzzleloading projectiles"

That's what the site says that's what it was made for to use. It is what it is.

Mount a scope on the too. They had those back then.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

@Trigger Nothing new about a fast twist. Been around since the days of the early Jaeger rifles. They usually had a twist of 1 turn for the length of the barrel. Barrels could be ~28" and shorter. Their grooves were much deeper, though.

I had a Pedersoli "Jaeger" that had the 1:24 twist and .005 grooves. It was deadly accurate with a patched round ball. It's all about finding the correct ball/patch fit, and not overloading with powder.

OP, good advice from @Des52 and @Steve Wagner

 

[Trigger]

@Trigger Nothing new about a fast twist. Been around since the days of the early Jaeger rifles. They usually had a twist of 1 turn for the length of the barrel. Barrels could be ~28" and shorter. Their grooves were much deeper, though.

I had a Pedersoli "Jaeger" that had the 1:24 twist and .005 grooves. It was deadly accurate with a patched round ball. It's all about finding the correct ball/patch fit, and not overloading with powder.

OP, good advice from @Des52 and @Steve Wagner

Yea. Just info off there site. Looks like just a deer gun. I don't think he is reenacting anything with that.
I don't know. Maybe he bought it not knowing it's good for those modern things.