Traditions Pennsylvania Percussion?

[Walks with fire]

It is much more difficult to find new production rifles in slow twist for patched ball. There still are barrel blanks available though with 1/66 to 1/70 and of course many used rifles can be had. If I was going for a custom made barrel I would go even slower to around 1/80 to 1/82 with .010/.012 groove depths. If your looking for a percussion rifle with 1/66 in .50 caliber then perhaps a used TC Pennsylvania Hunter with 31" barrel could be found reasonably priced. The one I have is flint and shoots patched ball very well with 90 grain 2f and a .490 ball.

The Lyman Deerstalker .54 1/48 twist is able to do 2-3" groups at 50 yards with 80-90 grains but it likes charges around 60 grains much better. It's not enough thump for me as a hunting load though and it doesn't hold up well at 100 yards in group size either. The stock and lock are great for the price and I purchased a Green Mountain barrel 1/70 .54 to make a switch barrel for it. I am sure heavier charges in the 100/110 2f range will be much more consistent at 100+ yards than the 1/48 twist will ever do. I haven't been able to do a 1 big hole group at 50 yards from the bench with anything over 60 grains yet in the 1/48.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I've heard the drop in the stock takes a lot of getting used to, and some really dislike it.

I've a Lyman GPR I've got now and just love it. But, who knows? I might still get this Traditions gun someday.

 

[Zonie]

If I was loading your gun I would use about 70 grains of powder.

Not only will the gun shoot nicely with this load but, when compared with the 100 grain load your using now, you will get the powder for the 4th shot for free with some powder left over. :grin:

3 shots @ 100 grains = 300 grains

3 shots @ 70 grains = 210 grains.

4 shots @ 70 grains = 280 grains

 

[necchi]

his machines are close to what the Hawkins used only his has power. but the same basic principle.

Is there or are there rifling machines that don't use the same basic principle of the earliest rifling machines?

I-48 is a good twist for a .45. but it will work good others. in fact I have a .54 with a 1-48 liner that bob put in. won a lot matches with it the ones I did lose was not because of the twist it was me. i also have a .40 with 1-48.

So you also endorse 1-48 as a good twist for roundball shooting?

My point earlier was there is no magic "best". There are optimal twist rates for caliber and projectile choices,, but the bottom line is the shooter, his time spent learning what his rifle likes.