Twist Rate

Dana C · November 26, 2010, 09:17 PM

Ok, what about 1:48 twist. If I am not mistaken, that is what TC Hawkins have. I can pick up a beautiful 50, Wesson style with a custom 32" 1:48 twist barrel. Am I stuck shooting patched balls or can I shoot
conicals. Also with that twist how will I do at 300 yards assuming that I do my part? The rifle is a Craig Stolzer piece.
I came to the realization that 1000 yard shoots are for younger guys with better eys. Buying Gibbs would be a waste of money in that case. Even with glasses that really would be a stretch. However mid range would work.
All your expert opinions are welcome!

**4V50 Gary** · November 26, 2010, 10:01 PM

1:48 favor conicals. 1:66 for patched, round balls.

B.L.E. · November 26, 2010, 11:26 PM

1 in 48 is sort of a in between compromise twist. It will shoot patched round balls well with lighter loads and is fast enough to stabilize Maxi-Ball style bullets with heavy loads.

Dana C · November 26, 2010, 11:31 PM

The barrel is just shy of 29". Is that a problem? I hear a lot about 32-34" barrels used but do you get that much more powder burn? I would think that the sight radius improvement would be minimual over 29 or 30 inches.

kwhi43 · November 27, 2010, 01:01 AM

You guys are missing one very important thing in this twist thing. Thats
caliber! A 1-48 twist is very very slow for round ball if the caliber is
a 32 or 30. It is on the slow side for a 40. It is just a tad on the fast
side for a .45 and fast for a 50 . Caliber is just as important as twist.
The two go together.

Hawg · November 27, 2010, 03:41 AM

Craig Stolzer makes fine guns congrats.

mykeal · November 27, 2010, 07:13 AM

Caliber is important (he's looking at a .50), and the 1:48 ROT for the Thompson Center .50's has worked very well for a long time. It is a good compromise for someone who may use either roundball or conical depending on the situation. At issue will be the length of the conical projectile; the 1:48 will be better with shorter conicals than longer. The barrel length (is it 29 or 32?) is not an issue.

300 yards will be a stretch for that gun, and yes, 1000 yards is out of the question; both the caliber and the ROT are wrong for it in my opinion. Conicals only, at that range of course. You'll need a medium distance vernier tang rear sight. I personally doubt you will be satisfied with the results.

B.L.E. · November 27, 2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykeal

300 yards will be a stretch for that gun, and yes, 1000 yards is out of the question

I agree. Roundballs slow down like ping-pong balls and cross winds blow them way off course even at 200 yards. Short conicals are only a little better.

Dana C · November 27, 2010, 02:36 PM

Based upon all the input, perhaps I would be better off by buying a fast twist target barrel for my TC?

kwhi43 · November 27, 2010, 04:36 PM

I have two Thompson Center Hawkens. Both have GM drop in barrels. One
is a .40 with a 1-48 twist, The other a 50 with a 1-66 twist. This is for
round ball shooting. Check Tip Curtis for barrels. He has them in stock from
.32 cal up to 54 cal. They just drop right in the TC Hawken stock.

Dana C · November 27, 2010, 09:03 PM

Well after checking out a few options and hearing from you guys, I came up with
a "back to square one" conclusion. I couldn't find any drop in barrels faster than
1;48 which is what I have.
If I want to shoot mid to long range which requires heavy long bullets, my best
route is to save my $$ and buy a Pedersoli Gibbs. I can pick one up slightly used
for $1,300. By the time I have a barrel rifled, sight dovetails cut etc. it really doesn't make any sense to go that route.
So now I need to sell the TC Hawkin!
Thanks to all of you, I ended up not making a big mistake.
Thanks all,
Dana

November 26, 2010, 09:17 PM	#1
Dana C Member Join Date: October 5, 2010 Posts: 54	Twist Rate Ok, what about 1:48 twist. If I am not mistaken, that is what TC Hawkins have. I can pick up a beautiful 50, Wesson style with a custom 32" 1:48 twist barrel. Am I stuck shooting patched balls or can I shoot conicals. Also with that twist how will I do at 300 yards assuming that I do my part? The rifle is a Craig Stolzer piece. I came to the realization that 1000 yard shoots are for younger guys with better eys. Buying Gibbs would be a waste of money in that case. Even with glasses that really would be a stretch. However mid range would work. All your expert opinions are welcome!

November 26, 2010, 10:01 PM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,840	1:48 favor conicals. 1:66 for patched, round balls. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

November 26, 2010, 11:26 PM	#3
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	1 in 48 is sort of a in between compromise twist. It will shoot patched round balls well with lighter loads and is fast enough to stabilize Maxi-Ball style bullets with heavy loads.

November 26, 2010, 11:31 PM	#4
Dana C Member Join Date: October 5, 2010 Posts: 54	The barrel is just shy of 29". Is that a problem? I hear a lot about 32-34" barrels used but do you get that much more powder burn? I would think that the sight radius improvement would be minimual over 29 or 30 inches.

November 27, 2010, 01:01 AM	#5
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	You guys are missing one very important thing in this twist thing. Thats caliber! A 1-48 twist is very very slow for round ball if the caliber is a 32 or 30. It is on the slow side for a 40. It is just a tad on the fast side for a .45 and fast for a 50 . Caliber is just as important as twist. The two go together.

November 27, 2010, 03:41 AM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Craig Stolzer makes fine guns congrats.

November 27, 2010, 07:13 AM	#7
mykeal Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 2,772	Caliber is important (he's looking at a .50), and the 1:48 ROT for the Thompson Center .50's has worked very well for a long time. It is a good compromise for someone who may use either roundball or conical depending on the situation. At issue will be the length of the conical projectile; the 1:48 will be better with shorter conicals than longer. The barrel length (is it 29 or 32?) is not an issue. 300 yards will be a stretch for that gun, and yes, 1000 yards is out of the question; both the caliber and the ROT are wrong for it in my opinion. Conicals only, at that range of course. You'll need a medium distance vernier tang rear sight. I personally doubt you will be satisfied with the results.

November 27, 2010, 02:36 PM	#9
Dana C Member Join Date: October 5, 2010 Posts: 54	Based upon all the input, perhaps I would be better off by buying a fast twist target barrel for my TC?

November 27, 2010, 04:36 PM	#10
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	I have two Thompson Center Hawkens. Both have GM drop in barrels. One is a .40 with a 1-48 twist, The other a 50 with a 1-66 twist. This is for round ball shooting. Check Tip Curtis for barrels. He has them in stock from .32 cal up to 54 cal. They just drop right in the TC Hawken stock.

November 27, 2010, 09:03 PM	#11
Dana C Member Join Date: October 5, 2010 Posts: 54	Well after checking out a few options and hearing from you guys, I came up with a "back to square one" conclusion. I couldn't find any drop in barrels faster than 1;48 which is what I have. If I want to shoot mid to long range which requires heavy long bullets, my best route is to save my $$ and buy a Pedersoli Gibbs. I can pick one up slightly used for $1,300. By the time I have a barrel rifled, sight dovetails cut etc. it really doesn't make any sense to go that route. So now I need to sell the TC Hawkin! Thanks to all of you, I ended up not making a big mistake. Thanks all, Dana