.45 Patched Round Ball + Huntsman = ?

[zeprin]

Just bought an older one.
Am ordering the .25acp Plug.
It's mainly going to be a Range Toy and occasional woods walker (sm game).
Or would that be pointless with the 1:28 rifling? Better off just using light lead conicals?

thanx
zeprin

[bubba]

I doubt they will stabilize well with that twist.  Some ppl shoot them and have good luck but most no.

[Busta]

IIRC the .45 caliber Huntsman had a 1:56 twist. You can easily check this with a tight fitting patch on the jag...push the tight patch to the bottom of the bore...tape the ramrod at the muzzle and mark the rod in line with your sight on the tape...slowly pull the ramrod out, leting it turn with the rifling...if it makes 1/2 of a revolution, measure from the tape back to the muzzle and multiply by 2 to get your twist rate. You would need to travel 28" in 1/2 of a revolution for the 1:56. If you cannot make 1/2 of a revolution in the barrel, stop at 1/4 of a revolution. Measure from the tape back to the muzzle and multiply this measurement by 4 to get your twist rate

Example: If after 1/4 of a revolution your rod has moved 14", 14 X 4 = 56, 1:56 twist.
If after 1/4 of a revolution your rod moved 7", 7 x 4 = 28, OR after 1/2 of a revolution your rod moved 14", 14 x 2 = 28, both would be 1:28 twist.

I take it that the one you bought has a screw-in breech plug instead of the push in plug? I'm not real sure the .25 ACP will work in them, I haven't heard of anyone doing that. The old huntsmans have a flat firing pin for #11 caps, they will set off 209 primers, not sure how well they would do on the small rifle/pistol primers.

Let us know what you find out.

[MSP Ret]

I agree, a little clarification and a more detailed explaination and description of the gun you have is needed, perhaps even pictures if you can post some. There are older and then there are Older, and there are even OLDER models as well, and even a precursor to that one. There also seems to be a better and less expensive system than the .25 acp primer system now as well. I suggest you do a bit more research before you jump in on this project and start ordering things....there are many here who will offer suggestions that might help you out a lot....best of luck with your endeavor and keep us posted....<><....

[db22]

My .50 cal Huntsman shoots .490" patched round balls pretty well in spite of its 28" rifling. I use a half-charge; 50 grains of Pyrodex with a .25 ACP primer.  Much more than that, and I get stripped patches and no accuracy.  Your .45 cal rifle should make a good small-game gun, no matter what its twist rate.  Just experiment with charges until you find one that keeps 'em in the black at 25 to 50 yards.

[kitchawan kid]

db22,same here,my 50 cal. huntsman shoots great with 50grs. and patched ball,did very well in a blackpowder match.Uneducated on using pistol primers I have had some hang fires at times even with clean vent.

[db22]

Kitchawan Kid: I use the aftermarket breech plug that accepts a .25 ACP pistol case (empty) fitted with a small rifle primer.  No hangfires, more consistent accuracy, a little less blowback.  Look up the thread about adapting your factory breech plug to use #11 percussion caps -- cheaper, and should yield the same benefits, if you can make it work.  I cast my own balls using salvaged range scrap and what little pure lead I can find, and make my own lubed patches from a lube recipe I found on a traditionalist ML website.

Glad to hear that you are shooting roundballs too -- there's a traditionalist hidden just under my skin, if only I wasn't left-handed!  The whole reason I got started with NEF rifles is that they are a cheap and interesting alternative to left-handed bolt actions. 

[kitchawan kid]

Will give that a try,I have some range lead also,can it be used for MZ's I thought only stright lead? As far as left handed I lost sight in right eye some years ago and am right handed,it took alot to change,trap shooting was real challenge.

[db22]

Kitchawan: By range lead, in this situation, I mean the melted-out cores of jacketed bullets, and also lead shotgun slugs.  I cull out spent cast bullets to re-cast as handgun bullets.  The cores of jacketed bullets, and shotgun slugs, may not be pure lead, but they are soft enough to work in my NEF's .50 muzzleloader barrel.  Just recently I managed to buy a fresh supply of wheelweights, and found a small supply of the stick-on kind that come in strips.  These are supposed to be pure lead, and I always set these aside for my hunting conicals. 

[petemi]

I've never shot PRBs out of my .50 Huntsman, I have lots of traditionals for that.  But, if I were you, I'd see if the new 209 carrierless breech plug would work in my rifle.  It yields instant ignition and about zero blowback, and you don't have to re-prime cases.  Mine works excellently.  I want to do some more work with it, but the weather just won't permit.  Just now it's 30 - 50 mph winds and lake effect snow.  Not a range day!

Pete

[PHATINJUN]

I know this started as a .45 patched ball ? But there is talk of differant breech plugs. Are you guys now talking about .50 cal or 45. Reason I ask is I own 6 H&R ML 2 .45, 1 .50, 2 .58 and 1 shotgun. I have never seen or heard of a .45 plug that was anything other than percussion cap ignition you have screw in .45 plugs and push in pop out .45 plugs. Have not ever heard of even a .45 with the 209 with the orange carrier for the 209 I know at one time they had planned on coming out with one in 45 but as far as I know it never came to be?? I use 25acp 209 and caps for ignition. Are any of you using anything other than caps in the 45? The only guy I know that has probly experimented with all of these ignitions is Busta and I don't recall him doing much with the .45 Huntsmans. Kurt