Barrel Twist Question

[verzilli]

I've noticed that centerfire rifles in 444, 44, 45 colt, 460, 50AE, etc have twists of 1x16-1x20...(yes this is an inline BP question...).  If we are using 44-45 cal pistol bullets, shouldn't inlines have a twist faster than 1x28?  Is the 1x28 still a compromise for full caliber conicals?  Just wondering.  have a happy new year!

[Busta]

Google "Greenhill Formula", that will answer many of your questions better than I can. I will say the 1:28 twist is good for both saboted .50/.45 caliber bullets up to 300 grains and full bore .50 cal conicals up to .460 grains.

My White .504 caliber has a 1:24 twist and will shoot up to 435 grain saboted bullets and 600 grain full bore conicals extremely well. My White .451 caliber has a 1:20 twist and will shoot up too 350 grain saboted bullets and 500+ grain full bore conicals, as well as the .45/40 caliber 200 grain SST's. Its all a matter of finding the right speed for the right twist.

[Semisane]

I think the problem with fast twist in a muzzle loader is that the bullet will likely strip/jump the rifling.  In a cartridge rifle, the bullet is swaged into the barrel through a forcing cone.  It's a very very tight fit by the time it gets into the barrel, completely filling the grooves.  To achieve the same type of bullet to barrel fit in a muzzle loader would require pounding an oversize bullet into the bore with a hammer.

[verzilli]

Makes sense.  Thanks for the info and bullet details.  I'm going to be picking up a Knight Rolling Block (couldn't pass up the deal).  So I'll be " 'speerimentin' ".

[Hammerspur]

Here's a good page by Cecil Epp of Precision Rifle addressing this issue in .45 cal muzzleloaders:

http://www.prbullet.com/s45.htm