investarm muzzle loader help please

[George K]

I have an investarms hawkens style 50 cal muzzle loader in a lefty version.  I think it is a model 130B?  I don't have the manual for it and do not know the barrel twist.  Can anyone help me with that?  From what I can find on the internet for a general manual for all their products it seems to be made for both round balls and maxi balls.  I have only shot round balls and can get no better than about 4"-5" groups from the bench with any where from 60 to 100 grains of FFg. and .490 balls.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Should I us maxi balls if so what I have no experience.  Also suggestions on the type of flint to use would help me.
Thanks
George K

[ftw]

I have probably the same gun, mine is the Cabelas (Investarms) Hawken and percussion instead o flint. I am assuming the flintlock has the same 1:48 twist barrel but I am not posiive.

It works well with both PRB and maxi balls also. I hunted with mine for several years using the T/C Maxi-Hunter bullets and killed several deer and found them to be very good with 100 grns of Pyrodex.
The last couple of years I have been using the round balls. I had to experiment a little to fnd mine likes 70 grns, .015 thick patches and a .490 ball. You sometimes have to play around with ball size,patch thickness and powder charge to find the sweet spot.

I sight mine in at 60 yards as this is about as far as my old eyes and open sights can perform. From a rest I usually get 2" groups and the gun is probably capable of more than I am.

Good Luck!

[buckskin billy]

i have one also in 50 caliber and percussion. i checked the owners manual and it doesn't give that info. mine came from cabella's also and the cabella's catalog saids they have a 29" barrel with 1 in 48 twist.
 you might need to play around with the patches some. try a thicker or a thinner patch.
 my gun likes a lyman great plains bullet with 90 grains of 2f goex. it shoots 70 grains of 2f goex with a .015 patch and a .490 round ball well too.

[flintlock]

The most important part of the equation when shooting a round ball is the patch and the lube...What do the patches look like after they are shot??? Whenever you are working up a load for a new gun you need to try different patching materialm, different lubes can also change the group size and the condition of the patches...

What patch material are you using??? What are you using for lube???

Also...if you want to figure out the twist, take a cleaning rod and patch it with the jag, push it down the bore and measure...A half turn in 24 inches is 1-48...A half turn in 33 is 1-66...
Since it is a side hammer, it's probably a 1-48, seems that's what most production guns have....

Finally...What brand of powder are you using???

[George K]

I use Goex 2F.  My lube is bore butter from TC.  I buy the prelubed patches but the packs don't  have a patch thickness that I remember.  I think I am going to try different bullets, any specific name or weight?  Thanks for all the help
George K

[flintlock]

If they are the T/C brand, they are .015 thick...

I don't care for BB, nor prelubed patches...I've seen them burn through when fresh pillow ticking lubed with other lubes didnt...

I'm guessing that you didn't look at your patches after you shot them...It' quite common for them to burn up or be cut from rifling...Either destroys accuracy...

Try this...Go to WalMart and buy a yard of cotton pillow ticking, it's .018 and will cost about $4 bucks a yard...Cut into strips about an inch and a half wide, lube with either SnoSeal or Crisco and see if you have better luck...Just load the ball flush with the barrel and cut the patch with a sharp knife...

[George K]

I'll get some and try it.
Thanks
George K