New .45 Huntsman

[PHATINJUN]

I just picked up a .45 Huntsman basically new very sweet gun. Anybody got bullet recommendations for it what would be starting grains of powder for this both double and triple F powders? Thanks Kurt

[burntmuch]

Nice Buy. I think I would try the .40 cal speer gold dots 180s or 200 grainers. with the mmp sabots

[MSP Ret]

That fine example of an early .45 cal Huntsman (the best I have ever seen) may prefer full diameter lead bullets or even patched round balls to the newer sabots. I am not sure of what the rifiling twist rate is but that might be a good place to start to find something it likes to shoot accurately. It may have a slower twist that would possibly better suit non-sabots. Nothing wrong with trying sabots in it though, what ever it shoots well, it shoots well....<><....

There is fine quality in those early guns, I especially like the workmanship in the rear sight and the tooling of the breechplug....the bluing and finish on the barrel and the case hardening coloring on the receiver is much better than todays guns as well...

[PHATINJUN]

I know this sounds funny but the best I get when I check twist is 1-54 I am not familiar with the .45 just seems like a strange twist to me .I will be shooting non sabot' . I think I will take this to the other ML forums to see what I can find out. Thanks Kurt

[MSP Ret]

Just as a thought Kurt, how about asking if anyone has an owners/users manual from an H&R .45 Hunstman/Shikari. If so perhaps they could either scan it or photocopy it for you. It would be nice to have with the gun and it might even have some suggested loadings and info on bullets to use....<><....

P.S. 1/66 is one of the old twists for round balls, a little faster is for lead bullets, Maxi-balls, etc...

[PHATINJUN]

Thanks that makes sense. As Andy said Does any one have a copy of the owners manual for the .45 Huntsman or from any of the ML of the early mid 1970's they may of been generic for all four ML's. I think they were 12ga,.45,.58 and the 45/70 Shikari. Thanks Kurt

[quickdtoo]

Ya might take a look on ebay.

Tim

http://cgi.ebay.com/H-R-Huntsman-Factory-Instruction-Manual-Repro_W0QQitemZ130211906184QQihZ003QQcategoryZ383QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

[Busta]

I know this sounds funny but the best I get when I check twist is 1-54 I am not familiar with the .45 just seems like a strange twist to me .I will be shooting non sabot' . I think I will take this to the other ML forums to see what I can find out. Thanks Kurt

PHATINJUN,

I think the old Huntsmans had a 1:56 twist IIRC. Like burntmuch said, you might be able to get a short fat saboted .40 caliber bullet to fly outta that thing.

[MSP Ret]

yes you might get it to shoot a more expensive sabotted bullet, but why not use a full diameter lead bullet or patched round ball. It just may have been designed for those fine projectiles, and they work great, and at a lesser cost as well. You can even cast them yourself for fun and to save more money. I prefer to shoot my ML's as they were intended to be shot, with round balls, mini-balls, maxi-balls, etc....<><....

[PHATINJUN]

Busta I believe you are right on the 1-56 I get just short of a half turn at 26 1/2" and think it would take a full 28" to get to 1/2 turn. I have found a few loads with patched balls that sound very fun to shoot. I know those big balls shoot well from my .58. Thanks for the info guys. Kurt