Best accuracy load with 45c 1-66 twist using roundballs

[midland man]

I have the traditions Kentucky rifle in 45c flintlock and I been using 50grs of goex powder but it shoots pretty good but was wondering if the accuracy could be a bit better so what do ya'll use??

 

[midland man]

i guess no one shoots 45 caliber rifles I must be the only one?

 

[bothenook]

kind of like riding scooters. Fun, but nobody wants to admit to it.....

 

[Hanshi]

The .45 is my favorite ML caliber and I own three. My pet is a TVM late Lancaster flintlock. 60 grains of 3F is a fine, accurate load at 60 yards; but 70 grains will outshoot me every time at 100 yards.

 

[midland man]

hanshi that's a very nice muzzleloader you have I am envious but yeah I love the 45c better than the 50c so much more now I like it so much that's all I wanna shoot! so hanshi what twist rates does yours have??

 

[ThomasT]

I have a Cabelas Hawken in 45 caliber and I never shoot just one load. It depends on if I am shooting a round ball or a Lee REAL bullet as to the powder charge. And I sometimes change that for the range that I am shooting. And the 45 is my favorite caliber. My gun has a 1/48 twist. I have no idea what twist your gun is.

I have the traditions Kentucky rifle in 45c flintlock and I been using 50grs of goex powder but it shoots pretty good but was wondering if the accuracy could be a bit better so what do ya'll use??

You didn't list what you are getting for accuracy so who would know if it could be better? And no one can come here and tell what powder charge will work best in YOUR rifle. Thats your job to find out. And there is only one way to do that. Experiment.

 

[midland man]

I agree mine has 1-66 twist for round ball use only and I use 18ths patching material with the patches lubed each time, with a .440 dia ball and I also use 3f goex real black powder!

 

[ThomasT]

Middle Man the fun is in the shooting and experimenting. Each gun has it own likes about what it shoots well. Figuring out the best load gives you an excuse to spend a day out shooting.

 

[midland man]

very true well I thought I would ask seeing how on another question on here regarding the same thing about 50c accuracy seems like everyone had some suggestions but on mine question about the 45c wasn't a whole lot said this caliber! but thanks for ya'lls help!

 

[driver243]

I have a .45 Pedersoli Tryon rifle. On a 25yard range I use 35 grains fff. Hunting I use 60 grains fff

 

[Hanshi]

IIRC, midland man, the twist is 1-56" but could possibly be as slow as 1-60". I'd bet on the 1-56" however.

 

[Erwan]

I have a .45 Pedersoli Tryon rifle. On a 25yard range I use 35 grains fff. Hunting I use 60 grains fff

With the Tryon Pedersoli at the 50 yard range I use 37gr of swiss 3Fg, patch 0.25mm thick, ball .445, for 100 yards idem but with 40 gr of swiss BP N°2 (3Fg), grease Ox-Yoke or other Wonderlube 1000 grease like for example Tradition grease...

For hunting I can't talk about I never did it with the Tryon...

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Switching to a .445 RB generally improves group size coupled with a .015" to .018" cotton patch. In a flint rifle, 50 to 60 grains of GOEX 3Fg powder is fine out to 50 yards, 70 grains at 100 yards.

Best thing to do is shoot from a bench position to reduce errors. Start at 50 grains on the powder measure, shoot five shot groups at a clean target at 25 yards. Increase the powder charge 5 grains on each five shot group. Do everything the same in your procedure, including cleaning the barrel intervals.

It's called "working up a load". AKA Doing your homework.

 

[BCRider]

You just need to try them. My "proper" flintlock and my underhammer cap rifles both are in .45 and both seem to require wildly different charges. The flinter seems to do really well with light charges of around 35 to 40 grains. The underhammer is laser accurate with 62 grains.

One of my BP patch and ball single shot pistols also taught me that the patch and fit of the ball and patch plays a big part too. So don't be afraid to try different patch material options.

 

[midland man]

thanks bc rider well I wished I could get it as accurate as a regular deer rifle but I do understand the limitations!