barrel twist ?

Investarms made a lot of "brands" of rifles. They make Lyman, Cabela's Churchill, Investarms, and others. So I am guessing you have a Churchill model made by Investarms.

As for the twist, that is impossible to guess but you can determine the twist Take a ramrod, put a snug fitting patch on it. Dampen the patch with alcohol. Push it to the bottom of the breech. Take a piece of masking tape and wrap around the ramrod level to the muzzle. Then lay a straight edge on the front site and mark the masking tape in line to the front site. Now pull the ramrod up slowly and let it spin with the rifling. When it gets half way around the barrel, measure the distance the ramrod has moved from the muzzle to the bottom of the tape. If it went half way in 24 inches then it is a 1-48 twist. If it went half way in 16 inches, it is a 1-32 twist... etc.

I will guess that if it is a Hawkins style rifle it is a 1-48 twist approximately.

You could shoot whatever you want, just doesn't mean you're going to hit anything with it. To check the rifling, insert a snug patch on a jag and run it all the way to the bottom of the bore then pull it up 1-2" for full engagement. Mark the rod at the muzzle and pull it out until the rod makes half a turn then measure the distance from the muzzle to the mark on the rod and double it, that's your rate of twist.

I'll offer a warning too ... if you get to thinking about slinging heavy conicals from it, be sure to stay within the load parameters established by the manufacturer - conicals increase pressure considerably.

Thanks guys, it is a Hawkins style gun and does have a 1-48 twist. Would the maxi-balls shoot good out of it? What about any of the sabots? I've heard that you need a 1-28 for them to shoot good, is that true or might they shoot good? I have some different one here, from trying them in my in-line. Is there some kind you would recommend for a 1-48 twist barrel? Thanks you!

Doug

padeerhunter10 said:

Thanks guys, it is a Hawkins style gun and does have a 1-48 twist. Would the maxi-balls shoot good out of it? What about any of the sabots? I've heard that you need a 1-28 for them to shoot good, is that true or might they shoot good? I have some different one here, from trying them in my in-line. Is there some kind you would recommend for a 1-48 twist barrel? Thanks you!

Doug

Click to expand...

The maxiball should work fine. Try 80 grains of powder. If you want to shoot a sabot, try a 240 grain Cheap Shot or 240 grain Hornady XTP. They might work. Otherwise shoot roundball.

Maxi balls will work fine for accuracy and the 1:48 twist. They are a little difficult to start at times. You may try using a hollow base Minie ball. I have used them in my .58 and they are very accurate and not hard to load.

Thank You!!

1-48 twist and bullets

go to t/c site and down load manual for t/c hawkin. it has the same twist. you can use the data but stay below 90 grs 2f powder since its itlaian.

I have an old Lyman Plains rifle (not Great Plains), and I thought it was 1 in 48", but Lyman says they were all 1 in 60" barrels. I am going to have to do the ramrod thing. Does anyone know any specs on this rifle? I bought it in 1976.

Some of the real old Lyman Great Plains models were 1-66 twist actually. They later went down to a 1-60 twist. You will not know the difference though. I never saw a Plains Rifle. Sounds real interesting. What is the barrel length on that rifle?