[Bill Lester]

I'm really getting an itch to try muzzleloader hunting. Here in PA it's flintlocks only. I'm looking for a historically accurate rifle circa the Colonial Period and Cabela's Blue Ridge in .50 caliber looks to my untrained eye a good choice. Will its 1-in-48 rifling work with the patched roundballs I would use? Do any of you have personal experience with this arm and/or other Cabela's-branded BP rifles? Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

(Edited by Bill Lester at 10:46 am on May 11, 2001)

 

[Contender]

Hello Bill,

I believe the 1-48 twist is a compromise twist for both projectiles and round balls but is more suitable to bullets. Usually, a rifle for exclusive use of round balls would have a much slower twist, 1-66 comes to mind. If I'm not mistaken, Cabelas guns are made by Traditions.

You could also keep an eye out for a T/C Pennsylvania Hunter. I think this rifle is a flinter and rifled for round balls. Not sure if it is made anymore as T/C has really thinned their line out.

Here's a link with a ton of BP Links to aid you for more info:


<a href="http://www.raccoon-n-crockett.org/linklist.htm#MUZZLE%20LOADING%20FIREARMS%20AND%20PARTS

Here" target="_blank">http://www.raccoon-n-crockett.org/linklis....

Here</a> is Traditions Flinter page: http://www.traditionsmuzzle.com/hawken.....(Edited by Contender at 12:11 pm on May 11, 2001)

 

[RugerNo3]

I have a TC ML with the 1-48" twist and if I were planning on roundball shooting exclusively, It wouldn't be with a 1-48 twist gun. A 65gr load is max for accuracy out of my 50cal with round ball. I feel that is a 50yd load. I live in Ohio so shoot slugs exclusively for whitetails. A whole nuther ball game with the 1-48. My slug load is running faster then the light rd ball load. I just use round ball for plinking, but feel it would be nice to get a 170gr rd ball up to near 2000fps if I wanted to. Why don't you take a look at the Pedersoli Line of ML's. They have a huge selection.
www.davide-pedersoli.com/

 

[Bill Lester]

Ray,

Thanks for the head-up on Traditions' website. The Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, and Kentucy looked promising.

 

[Jack Monteith]

Hi, Bill:
  A setup I'd like to have is a Lyman Great Plains Rifle with two barrels. A 1-66" for ball and a 1-28" for conicals. (Their fast twist might be 1-32", can't remember for sure.)
Both barrel were available a few years back, and might still be. The keyed barrels are easy to swap and you won't have to sight-in when you switch loads. The Great Plains isn't a colonial era gun, but it is much closer to authentic Hawken styling than my T/C Hawken and the other so-called Hawkens. Old Jake and Sam would flip if they saw them! :shocked:

  Lyman's website looks like it hasn't been touched for 4 years. Not too smart in this day and age.
<a href="http://www.lymanproducts.com

" target="_blank">http://www.lymanproducts.com

</a>   My T/C (1-48") won't win any matches, but it is minute of whitetail out past the 75 yard round ball limit.

  If you've got the &#36&#36&#36&#36, check out:
http://www.trackofthewolf.com

Bye
Jack

 

[Marshall Stanton]

Yep, I know, this thread is a bit old, but then again, I've been off the forum for quite a while now.  

I'll heartily agree with the suggestion of the Lyman Great Plains Rifle!  It is about the finest production gun out there without going for custom guns @ custom pricing!

Their 1:66" twist barrel gun shoots round balls as fast as you can push them (2000+/- fps) with outstanding accuracy.  A little lapping does wonders on these barrels, just like on cartridge rifles.  you'll find constrictions under the dovetails, but lap it just a touch, and polish the bore, then season with a natural lube (lard, Crisco or other vegetable shortning) and they shoot like a house afire, and foul very little with Elephant or Goex Black Powder.  

For what you are getting, it's actually a very reasonably priced flinter! By the way, when it comes, take off the sawn agate flint, and get some good quality English napped flints, you'll enjoy your introduction to flintlocks much more, and with more reliability!

Make heap big smoke!

God Bless,

Marshall