What is the best twist rate for pistols?

[Cpl.Parker]

What is the best twist rate for round ball in muzzleloading pistols? 1 in 16", 1 in 20" or 1 in 30"

Please and thank you
Kevin

 

[Rebel]

I would think it would depend on the caliber.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Most of the commercial pistols are rifled 1-30" twist. This seems to be the industry standard. Some of the custom makers use it as well.

 

[cdg]

For some reason I thought I remembered reading that CVA's old side locks all used 1-48" rifling. I could be mistaken of course, and in flipping through the manual I couldn't find the specification for the rifling, but I thought I remembered seeing that and thinking it somewhat slow for a pistol...

I'm sure there have been books written on this sort of topic as to the ideal rate of rifling for different projectiles.

 

[sr500]

I have a Trapper pistol in 45 cal. 1/16 twist. Shoot super with Lee REAL 200 grains bullet,not that good with round balls.

 

[bwhoffman]

my trapper and also mybilly parker , both 50s, have1in 20 and with 12to 18 gr 3F, are tack drivers!
The crocket .32 has a 1 in 48 and I have heard no complaints.

sounds like there is no real standard.

would surely like to get a trapper in 45, wish theysold them here in the states!

 

[44-henry]

I remember a friend who made a percussion pistol on the cheap with a cut off section of rifle barrel that, if I remember right, was 1-56 and it turned out to be a tack driver even so. I would personally want something around 1-20.

 

[Zonie]

A few pistols twists given in the Dixie Catalog are:
Ruger Old Army .44 =1:16
Pietta Remington .44 = 1:32
Uberti 1851 .36 = 1:32
Uberti 1849 .31 + 1:48
Pedersoli LePage .44 = 1:18
Pedersoli Kentucky pistol .54 = 1:28
Pedersoli Kentucky pistol .45 = 1:18
Uberti Paterson .36 = 1:64

Looks like the twists are all over the place.
zonie