[grimjaw]

I couldn't find another thread on these (https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=5102eb278d3107211cbf06c1605d7fb0&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=5dadafd809b601a67c77adcd3834ac1d) bullets (http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=730932), Hornady item number 6617.

It says they're designed for use with a slow twist. Does anyone here have experience with them, and how do you think they'd do in a compromise 1-48" twist?

jm

[arcticap]

AFAIK there hasn't been much of anything reported about the PA conicals compared to the similar Buffalo Bullet Ball-ETs. They make .50 caliber versions of it that weigh either 240 or 270 grains.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/default.php?cPath=22_99_311_313

Like any conical, they need to be tested in the individual gun to see how they will shoot.
Personally, I haven't had too much luck with the 240 grain version of the Ball-ET. They don't shoot too badly but just not so great past 50 yards. But my friend's slow twist Lyman GPR really liked them just fine out to 70 yards loaded with a wool over powder wad, and it shot as good as a patched round ball.
The problem with shooting it from a 1 in 48" twist is that it's shorter for it's caliber than a .45 conical of the same weight which may perform better when combined with a sabot. I've had much better luck using 240 grain saboted bullets while some other's haven't.
I suspect that more people will have better luck with slightly heavier conicals out of their 1 in 48" twist, i.e. - the 270 grain Buffalo Ball-ET, the 325-350 grain TC Maxi, or the 385 grain Hornady Great Plains Bullet (which also happens to be harder to load).
But perhaps the best conical to try with the 1 in 48" is the new Hornady 300 grain FTB conical that are available at many Walmarts. They reportedly shoot well from a variety of guns & twists:

http://www.hornady.com/images/newproducts/2008/fpb_illustration.png

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=367963

Do you intend to shoot a conical bullet for hunting or target plinking?

[grimjaw]

I guess the primary draw for me was that it was a relatively cheap conical, and the idea was being able to plink at longer ranges than ball with the possibility of a tighter group.

jm

[Brillo]

I shoot them successfully in my 1:45 twist, better than a PRB and much better than all but the shortest conicals. My experience is that the 1:45 twist barrel is a real compromise. I will not buy another. I'll either get a slow twist for PRB or a fast twist for conicals. If you shoot ball-ets or PA conicals in your 1:45, I suggest loading powder to the high end to keep the muzzle velocity up, which will impart enough revs per second to the short conical to stabilize it. Remember, its not just the twist rate but the rps that matters in stabilizing a projectile. That's one reason why muzzleloading pistols have faster twist rates than the rifles of the same caliber.