.45 Cal, has anyone had any luck with sabots, buffalo bullets, min/maxi balls

[Jeff McCarthy]

Barrel would be a .45 Cal Colerain with 1 in 56 twist.  I'm looking to shoot a heavier bullet instead of a roundball. Anyone had any success with this? Thanks 

[doc nock]

Not a great testament, but that twist sounds slow to this unwashed neophyte...

Back in the day, up home we had T/C Renegades and Hawkens with 1:48 and when PA moved to allowing conicals from PRbs, those CVA power belts shot super well from the 1:48...they were in the 250-300 range for 50 cal

[Jeff McCarthy]

Hi Doc, I hope your doing well. I was thinking it would only shoot roundballs well but Scott from Colerain make me think different now. Here's what he had to say today. ( If it is standard rifling, and I assume it is, then round balls, LEE R.E.A.L.’s will work well. Sabot’s should with some experimenting with different bullets.) That gives me some hope and may also make me buy a rifle that I'm crazy about but don't need.

[Yewbender]

Hi Jeff, I don’t have a .45cal and only shoot PRB’s in my flinters so no help from me. With that said if you shoot mini/maxi, buffalo, or sabots you will need to use a cleaning method that will remove lead or plastic fowling from the barrel...just saying.

[doc nock]

Jeff,,

One of our resident scratch builders has stated he used "gain rifling" which ITHINK (?) he described that it gets faster as it goes...

I used some R.E.A.Ls in my 50 GPR...the 325s sucked in stereo... a kid from MO came to visit and brought some 250s that were nearly as long as fat...they shot nearly the same as the RBs, FWIW

[Jeff McCarthy]

That's all helpful information guy's. The cleaning of plastic or lead adds another twist to this also.

[doc nock]

Someone did mention if I used the longer REALs I might have to drive them faster in the 1:60 twist but it didn't seem to help... the shorter fat 250s in REAL / 50 cal seemed to print right with RBs...

Course, all bets are OFF with my eyes and iron sights anymore...

Some of us age better then others...

[Jeff McCarthy]

Thanks Doc, I had read before that the shorter in length bullets are more likely to print with the roundballs also. I'd say that's the answer.

[doc nock]

Jeff,

Not sure thanks is due...haven't tested that THEORY... I know when PA went to Any bullet for deer, a LOT of guys got faster twist BBLs for their favorite BP guns

[bldtrailer]

Ok this is a little left field BUT Colerain makes a "Gain Twist/rifled  barrels " I found out about them when I visited Cabin Creek Muzzle loaders shop in York pa( Brad tuned my locks)  the barrel starts at the breach at 1-96 and is 1-48 at the muzzle. Brad stated that during testing it was found to shoot patched round ball as well or better than slow twist BUT it really shoots a longer conical Very well! 
So if not out of the price range a new Gain twist/rifled  barrel( one for a new build)

 (The current issue of "Muzzleloader" magazine contains a terrific 14 page article on Brad Emig, with outstanding color photos of his rifles, knives, etc.) Cabin Creek muzzle loaders They have a web site

[Jeff McCarthy]

Thanks bldtrailer, I'll check them out.

[Rob DiStefano]

conicals require faster rifling twist rates, typically 1:32 or lots faster.  this would be no different than, for example, a .45-70 cartridge rifle that typically employs a 1:18 twist rate to stabilize a 500 grain bullet.  there are many other dependencies, such as the projectile diameter versus length, powder type and charge weight/volume.  lots of offshore trad ml's use a "compromise twist" of 1:48 which is just that, a compromise and will typically not work as efficiently well for ball or bullet as would slower or faster twist rates.  patched balls prefer 1:60 to 1:72 slow twist for maximum accuracy at all sane shooting distances.  this is why a great plains hunter cap lock has a 1:32 twist and a great plains rifle flinter has a 1:60 twist.

[stikshooter]

Hi Jeff, I don’t have a .45cal and only shoot PRB’s in my flinters so no help from me. With that said if you shoot mini/maxi, buffalo, or sabots you will need to use a cleaning method that will remove lead or plastic fowling from the barrel...just saying.

Not if your sizing your projectile correctly ,and for sure use a wad over your powder . In a 45 I use a 50 cal 1/8 inch felt wad /a 50 cal a 54 wad and so on .With sabots know your bore demension and ask the sabot maker and you will get the proper sabot . I shoot with all the above and (NEVER) geet fouling , if you do reread the previous ! I know it"s an old post but I like to share as correct bullet sizing is important for accuracy and fouling control ! /Ed