Who made this Kentucky repro?

[gregdownunder]

Hi all,
Its been some years since I last used a muzzle loader, however I recently picked up a Kentucky rifle so am keen to get back into it.
As it was second hand, I have no idea  who made it or how much powder it can handle.
I have attached a couple of photos, it looks just like the Armisport Kentucky.
Barrel length is "35 with OAL "50,  3/8 across the flats,8 groove and appears to have a rather fast twist of 1 turn in "20.
It has the word "kett"  and "made in Italy" near the breach.
Its a .45 cal,  I would like to shoot round ball, and was thinking of around 60 grains of Goex FFFG or FFG.
I would also like to know how you remove the barrel from the stock, do you have to drift out all the pins?

Thanks,

GDU

[captchee]

i believe its  made by Armsport ,

[Semisane]

The AC within a circle tells you it was made by the Italian manufacturer Armi Sport.  The AM within a box tells you it was proofed in 1984.  If that first mark is a PN under a star, it was proofed by the Italian proof house of Gardone & Brescia.  Should be of pretty good quality.  Nice find.

[gregdownunder]

Excellent, a maker and time frame, many thanks.
Does anyone know what the italian proof load would have been?
I will try it out with 50 odd grains of black and see how it goes for accuracy, mind you with that sort of twist I am picking it will be a better conical shooter than round ball, still you never know untill you try.

[Dillohide]

Rule of thumb is to start with a load equaling your caliber and work up. A start load of 45 to 50 grains should be fine. I'm not familiar with that rifle. It would seem that something trying to look like a Kentucky Rifle would have a slower rate of twist for round balls but if it is a fast twist it will still shoot them but don't think you'll get the best accuracy much past 50 grains and maybe not that much. Like you say, never know till you try.

[coyotejoe]

Those are not bad little rifles, you should have a lot of fun with it. You said the barrel is 3/8" across the flats. If that is not a typo then I think you misunderstand the term. "Across the flats" does not mean the width of one individual flat, but the diameter of the barrel as measured across any two opposing flats, thus "across the flats". I'd start with a .440" ball and cotton patching of .015-.020" thickness. Try 40 grains of 3f or 45 grains of 2f black, if you can get real black powder. You can safely work on up to 80 grains or more but that is a light rifle with a narrow butt and will likely have an unpleasant kick with the heavier loads. Start light and get to know your new toy before you start to work up heavier loads but I'd have no hesitation in hunting anything in Colorado with that rifle, well, except for the very few grizzly bears.