White Mountain questions

[robtattoo]

Just picked up (well, waiting for) a T/C White Mountain carbine. Didn't really want one, but I couldn't pass it up for the price :v

Could anyone tell me what the twist rate is & whether I can expect any sort of accuracy with a PRB?
What powder loads do yous guys shoot?

 

[rabjr]

What caliber? Helps to know...

The first .50 cal's were made with a 1-20 twist rate then T/C changed a couple years in production to a 1-38 twist rate.

I believe both the .45 and .54's were in 1-48 but I'm not sure on those, never owned a .45 or .54. I bought one the first .50's made and it had the 1-20 twist. A couple cousins bought .50s just a couple years later and both ended up with the 1-38 twist...

Mine got a steady diet of 90g 2F and 370gr maxi. Never did try balls.

 

[robtattoo]

Thanks Swampy. It's a .50, but I have no clue as to the year of manufacture. It's not particularly old, so I would guess the 1:38 twist.

I'll have to see about getting some maxis to throw down it.

 

[rabjr]

Mine was a low,(started with 4) four digit ser#.

Was a fun gun while I had it and its one I actually regret selling to this day. I was lugging around a Renegade up until getting it and man what a difference for me being lighter. Five shots, five bucks... :thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Wasn't familiar with this model TC. Looked it up. Not a bad looking 'sorta' traditional appearing rifle. Good for hunting with the fast twist. Not a target or rendezvous gun, fer sure.

 

[Mike 56]

My 54cal White mountain carbine has a 1 in 24 twist it shoots PRB well. This target was shot at 50yd i think there was 10 shots in the target.
Mike

 

[Rifleman1776]

Impressive.

 

[rabjr]

T/C never made a 1-24 twist. Yours a custom barrel?

 

[gearheart]

You pretty much have to measure the rate because of the variations. I have one with 1/48 twist so you're up to 3 possibles.

 

[rabjr]

He has a .50 caliber WM. They were only produced in either 1-20 twist (early) or later in 1-38 twist. T/C never produced a 1-48 twist .50 caliber WM. The .45's and .54's produced in this model was in 1-48 twist.

 

[Mike 56]

It is a 54cal with a 22inch barrel. When i pull a ramrod with a patch on it the ram rod turns almost one turn.
Mike

 

[rabjr]

I've never seen anywhere in what 23 or 24 years since the model came out where the .54 was made with anything other than 1-48 twist.

I do know a little something about this model as I had a friend who worked at T/C developing and testing things out back then. He used to send me stuff to try in my WM and give feed back. But I confess to knowing about the .50 cal and not much about the other two.

 

[paulvallandigham]

There is a short article, under 'Member Resources' on this forum that tells you how to accurately measure any Rate of Twist.

 

[Mike 56]

I bought it used last summer for a 150.00 it had some rust in the barrel i cleaned and polished it. It still shoots good. It might be a odd ball i just bought a GM 32in 1 in 70 barrel for it. The guy at GM said it takes a Hawken 15/16 barrel mine was a 1 inch he told me to get a Renegade barrel. I had to fit the hook and the under rib was a little short.
Mike

 

[stude 283]

I believe the 50cal flintlock version had a slower round ball twist.Mine shoots great with round balls and I remember contacting tc and them telling me it had a slower twist,but I don't remember which.

 

[rabjr]

A slower twist from what? Anything is a slower twist from the original 1-20 twist right? They did go with a slower 1-38 twist a couple years into production. If your suggesting a 1-66 twist "Penn" type of gun, I've never heard of such a beast in the .50 WM. :idunno:

 

[rabjr]

This may help to enlighten some people,
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/239243/

 

[Sunday Mule]

My parent's gave me a White Mountain Carbine for Christmas back in 1984. Still have the gun and shot my biggest deer ever with it. Would never part with it. Very handy rifle to carry in the woods. Enjoy.

 

[Mike 56]

I have been enlightened i used the method in the link. You were right Swampy it has a 1 in 48 twist.
Mike

 

[rabjr]

Might want to think some on that date Sunday, thats about 4 years sooner than I remember White Mountains being introduced. :v