accuracy difference

[smokeymike]

How much accuracy difference is there between a smooth bore and rifled barrel. I shoot round ball and maxi both. It is for a TC hawkin. I would also like to know how anyone feels about barrel length regarding accuracy as well. As stated before I have many years in smokeless shooting however this dark and dirty stuff is new to me in the last few years. Regards Mike

 

[8ball]

I do have both kind of smokepole and accuracy can not been compared between a smoothbore and a rifled bore. With peep sights and Maxi-Ball or Maxi-Hunter bullets I can talk accuracy up to 200m and more with my .54 T/C Hawken. With round balls I would not go over 75m in hunting situation on medium sized game like deer. Round balls are not very accurate in my T/C Hawken because of the 1/48" barrel twist, would be best in a 1/62". For my .62 smoothbore accuracy is almost inexistent. You can talk arouns 5" at 50m, the ball been not supported in any way. I will use this gun for hunting at bow distance. Barrel lenght is very important in the BP world. Longer the barrel = greater velocity. There is a great loss of velocity for less than 28" barrels.

How much accuracy difference is there between a smooth bore and rifled barrel. I shoot round ball and maxi both. It is for a TC hawkin. I would also like to know how anyone feels about barrel length regarding accuracy as well. As stated before I have many years in smokeless shooting however this dark and dirty stuff is new to me in the last few years. Regards Mike

 

[Claven2]

One of the reasons the Lyman Great Plains gets better press than the T/C Hawken in many circles is that like original Hawkens, it's a 2-key stock with longer barrel and this increases performance.

WRT smoothbore patched ball, accuracy better than 5" at 50m is very achievable, but it requires very tight control over charge, patch material, ball consistency, etc. Rifled barrels have more accuracy potential and are much more forgiving.

Still, the fun factor is off the scale when shooting replica smoothbore military muskets But for serious hunting, the Hawken rifled barrel clones are hard to beat without going to a (shudder...) inline.

 

[8ball]

The 2 keyed stock is indeed better for accuracy as we can see also on the Tryon rifles for example. I still have to work my .62 Tulle musket with some loads and patches but even with the Corelain barrel I don't think that the groups will get very much tighter...

 

[smokeymike]

Thanks to all for the information it is greatly appreciated. 8ball your shudder towards inlines is how I feel as well. I refuse to poo poo them, as a choice in firearm preference is like selecting a wife. They are all good if it is what you like. Traditional is my choice. They can be out performed by some inlines but the fun factor is just to high in the old stuff.

 

[hornhead]

my 54 robinson percussion used to do about 2"@100 yards. (it's their single key hunter). MY accuracy has fallen off over the years but i'm sure the rifle will still do it. game shot?75-100 yards.

a 50 TOTW flinter i have will do 2"@50 yards pretty often.
for shooting at something other than paper ? 50-75 yards.

my 54 jackie brown trade gun (smoothie) gets about 2"@25 yards on the occasions that i do everything right.

JB on warm furry things? 40 yards max until unless i get better.
shot loads? 20-25 yards.
smoothies are a MAJOR learning experience, but fun.
more like "traditional" archery point and shoot.

your results may vary, but those are my parametres.