Conicals in a 1/56" .54 cal flintlock

[Ardent]

I'm looking at the 1803 Harper's Ferry .54 cal kit from Track the Wolf, but would like to know if the 1/56" twist radiused lands barrel will stabilize a conical bullet. Any bullet mold suggestions would be great too, cheers!

 

[snowshoe]

It should stabalize a short conical. I think Lee has or had a REAL bullet mould in the 300 range. But why do you want to shoot conicals? The 230g round ball in a .54 is big medicine.

 

[Ardent]

Round balls and their ballistic coefficients and drop have never appealed to me personally.

 

[Ardent]

PS, appreciate the direction on the 300gr REAL, looks like just the ticket, thanks bud.

 

[doubleman]

I'm looking at the 1803 Harper's Ferry .54 cal kit from Track the Wolf, but would like to know if the 1/56" twist radiused lands barrel will stabilize a conical bullet. Any bullet mold suggestions would be great too, cheers!

I have used the REAL bullets in slow twist 50cal and 54cal rifles with mixed results, on the other hand buffalo bullet company makes a short conical called a ball-et they come prelubed and cost about $10 for 50. The 54cal weighs 310grns and shoots very well out of my 1:66 bbl and perform well on deer but I have yet to slap a moose with one. Last week I was playing around at the range and decided to try my flinter at 200 yards with the ball-et and managed a 5 shot group of about 6'' which shocked the hell out of me the next group with a round ball was about 10'' lower on the paper and about twice the size! Give them a try In the harper they should fil the freezer.

 

[Ardent]

Well I ordered the kit, will grab a 300gr REAL mold as they're so cheap I might as well try. By the way, man was it nice to buy stuff from the states, when the dollar's at PAR! I got 1:1 exchange on my order, unreal.

 

[Steppenwolf]

It has been along time since it was par. Have you thought of shooting 54 cal minie ball?

Well I ordered the kit, will grab a 300gr REAL mold as they're so cheap I might as well try. By the way, man was it nice to buy stuff from the states, when the dollar's at PAR! I got 1:1 exchange on my order, unreal.

 

[Ardent]

I would like to try a minie, as it's pretty efficient in flight, but I'm worried it might be a bit long to stabilize. I'll give it a go for sure though.

 

[Alias]

Why not try paperpatched .54 cal minnie?

http://members.shaw.ca/bobschewe/

 

[Ardent]

Great info thanks! And the more I look into it, the more it appears my 1/56" twist rate will do very well with conicals, I'm reading of guys getting good stabilization at 1/66" even with certain conicals in .54.

 

[Ardent]

As for minies, would you go for a .533" or a .540? I take it the .533's for paper patching, I just can't decide if I want that extra step and if it's worth it.