Author Topic: Green River trade rifle  (Read 638 times)

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Offline Oquirrh

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Green River trade rifle
« on: September 14, 2007, 03:35:53 PM »
I'm getting back into bp shooting after a 30-year hiatus.

A .45 GR trade rifle (Roosevelt, UT)  fell into my hands. It's got brass nail ornamentation (which I kinda like), pretty nice wood and what looks like a good barrel. It was very well taken care of.

Can anyone tell me something about these rifles?

Like what is the actual round ball size and is the twist right for balls?

Also some suggested loads and patch info.

Can't wait to shoot it.  ;D

Offline Paleface

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Re: Green River trade rifle
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2007, 03:18:25 PM »
Don't know nuthin about your rifle. Post a pic and it would be easier to figure out. Could it be a Lyman trade rife with a green mountian barrel? Look it over good for stamping, the barrel twist should be stamped.

I'm guessing you should try a .440 round ball and a .010 (or 0.15)  patch. I would try loads in the 70-90 grain range and see what shoots best groups.

From what I gather round ball shoots best with a slow twist 1-60 or better. Many round ball guns are 1-66 and some are 1-70 that I have heard of. There are some round ball shooters around these parts, I'm surprised no one has chimed in yet.

Offline captchee

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Re: Green River trade rifle
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2007, 04:23:53 AM »

Twist rates are relative  to the type of rifling as well as charge .
A fast twist of even the modern guns can shoot a rb acceptably  with the proper load and rifling combination .
 Slow twists can also shoot conical acceptably under the same  parameters.
What does happen is the  band of charge choices become tighter  but its still there , a person only needs to find it  and sometimes that takes a lot of time and work .
find the right load and the 1x48 is very acceptable

 In the 1970 and mid 80 there were a number of production knockoffs of the trade rifles . Some better then others .
Photos would most certainly help in the evaluation of your rifle  as well as any marking sing on the barrel or lock