Inline Twist Rate

[gunboat57]

I've hunted with my TC Hawken for many years but I'm considering getting my first inline. Does anybody make an inline that has a rifling twist that will stabilize a patched roundball? I'd like to be able to punch paper in addition to hunting without having to buy expensive sabots.

 

[Omnivore]

Patched ball will stabilize with a much slower twist than conicals require. 66 inches is a common ball twist. That is not to say that a faster twist will give poor results will round ball. There isn't much if any drawback to over-stabilizing a round ball. I've heard people getting good results from a 20-something inch twist and patched ball. My Lyman .50 has a 48" twist, which I believe is the same as in your Hawken, and that gets very good results with patched ball-- that's my primary load.

Usually though, people get the in-lines to try for something a little closer to modern firearm performance from a muzzle loader. That usually means sabots and probably jacketed bullets.

 

[MCgunner]

It's hard to find ANYthing in this day and age that ain't got a 1:28 or faster twist. I feel your pain. I've looked for an affordable gun, myself, with at least a 1:48.

I cast a 360 grain Lee improved Minie ball and also shoot the Hornady Great plains 385 grain Minie with great success in my 1:24 twist which also stabilized sabots. For cheap, I cast the Lee bullet, very accurate and I get the lead for free out of the backstop at the range.

I'm going to buy a bag of sabots and practice with some of my .45 bullets I cast, too. I cast a 220 conical in .451 or .457 for cap and ball that MIGHT work. If that don't, I can try my 200 grain SWC .451 I use in my .45ACP or my 255 grain flat nose I load in my .45 Colt to try and find the sweet spot for accuracy. Been thinking about downloading that bullet with 40-45 grains by volume for small game, too, if it turns out accurate. I need to order those sabots before I can play with that, but it sounds like it could be fun during the squirrel season in east Texas.

More'n one way to skin that cheap shooting cat.

 

[Wildfire]

1 in 48"

Hey there.
Some get faster twist to shoot balls. But as a rule. The 1 in 48" is about the fastest twist to get hunting and target accuracy. Faster twist? less powder....
My 1 in 48s shoot round balls nice at 80 grains RS.

 

[arcticap]

The TC Scout, Firehawk, Thunderhawk (and possibly the TC System 1) have 1 in 38" twists for some better roundball accuracy out of an inline.
Some deep groove barrels like Knight are said to shoot round balls okay too with light powder charges.
I recall that there was an American outfit making custom slow twist inlines but I can't find them.
However here's a custom inline that's made in South Africa for ~$2000 U.S.. Check out the available bore sizes!

http://www.mkonto.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=55

 

[whosyrdaddy]

.

WOW!​

Second pic from the bottom has awsome rack.​

.

 

[gunboat57]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I'll have to try for a 1:38 twist. As I understand it, a faster twist on a round ball isn't bad in itself. The problem is that the bearing area of the round ball is so small it won't grip the rifling if it accelerates too fast. So lighter charges and tighter patching is needed.

If all I can find is 1:28, I might have to hold onto my Hawken for cheap plinking.

 

[Mark whiz]

An in-line will still shoot patched ball pretty well, you just have to keep the powder charge on the lighter side. 50 to 80gr of powder works well out to 75yds or so.

 

[280shooter]

dixie gunworks..

try dixie gunworks...they may have what you need...
I have a lyman,,great planes..flint, 54 cal i use round ball..with 2x powder.only 90 grn.that works well for me,,I have a in line too..I use the pryodex powder..one thing u have to look out for..is the 209 primers,,they are now finding out..if you dont have a good tight seal...the power of the 209s are pushing your powder charge,down the barrel before it has time to light.messing up any chance of good,accuracy// and it leaves you scratching your head,wondering what the hell is going on...