45 Cal

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have never had one.

Always 50 or 54. For a while intrigued by the T/C 58 Big Bore.

Anyhow, Whats actual Dia of a "45 cal" Muzzle loader bullet?

CW

 

[Rick H]

I use a .440" RB in my 45 Kibler SMR. It is a 1:70 twist so conicals are pretty much out of the question. If using a modern style rifle with sabots you have a choice, 357/358 or 400/401 depending on what sabot you use. There are also full diameter skirted bullets that can be used.

 

[Ian]

The bore is usually .450".

For patched round ball, a goid rule of thumb is .010" under bore and a .015-.020" patch, depending on rifling depth. Sometimes .005" under bore is better and some guns require a much thicker or thinner patch depending on rifling groove depth

 

[Bret4207]

If you are thinking of hunting, check your state laws. Some require a certain ball diameter vs the more generic caliber designation.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

Looks like the Lyman 45 cal maxi ball nominal measurement is .454" and 245 grains.
The Lee improved mold traditional design (hollow base) is either .450" or over sized at .454". I bought the .450" and it is a bit too loose in my T/C Hawken in 45 cal.

 

[RBHarter]

I can tell you this , a PRB over 70 gr of anything gets to the backstop in a hurry. I shot a generic.015 pillow tick patch in probably bore butter with a .440 ball in a 28" Juker at 1-66" .

It was just proof of tool shooting but a salad/dessert plate sized rock out to 200-225 yd was in a lot of trouble with a hood rest .

 

[Elpatoloco]

I used a 50 cal Knight muzzle loader back when the inline thing came about. I used sabots with slugs from my .429 Magnum. They were sized at .431.
Ha! Not sure about the original question though.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

OK 440 round ball rings a bell. .005-.015 patch is same as my 50-54's. OK. I got ta thi king of all the 45 cal molds and wondered if they could be acceptable as full bore 45 smoke pole fodder.

A member of my range was siting in month back with a couple 45 cal inlines. I got ta look at them a little. He hunts across the country and this was first year for these rifles with him.
Man could these shoot!! They were Traditions BRAND IIRC. Stainless and long 28" barrels. I got the impression he was a one is none guy. Both was set up nearly identically. He was saying 45 where experiencing a come back?

CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I used a 50 cal Knight muzzle loader back when the inline thing came about. I used sabots with slugs from my .429 Magnum. They were sized at .431.
Ha! Not sure about the original question though.

I use my cast 45's in sabots in my 50 cal H&R side kicks. I have two set up almost same. One has 25 acp ignition and other is a 209. Both wear Aimpoint 2000 Red dot sites.

Not "really" looking to replace. Just thinking out loud and considering. I like using my cast pistol bullets and loosing the sabot is appealing.

CW

 

[RBHarter]

Just like that I now want to cast some pure in that .448 430421 just to see what happens.......

 

[Tomme boy]

Lots of people are going smokeless for their ML's. It is the newest thing. Lots of places out there doing barrels for most new inlines. A lot of others are using a Savage or a Rem 700 action also. They are getting some extreme accuracy and velocity out of them. More than most so called magnums.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I bought a can of BlkHorn209 two maybe theee years ago.

Trouble is I had so many cans of RS and Select I couldnt see wasting.

So last few years been trying ta use up 90g at a time. It shoots well kills adequately and is paid for.

When I picked up that 209 I had ta hunt around as it was SO EXPENSIVE I grabbed what I felt was lowest price.

Im sure its "better" but thats realitive.

 

[Bret4207]

The whole idea of muzzle loader seasons was "primitive weapons". To me that means round balls and black powder is a traditional firearm. I never got the inline/bolt action stuff.

 

[Rick H]

The whole idea of muzzle loader seasons was "primitive weapons"

My state introduced the black powder season with patched RB restrictions in the late 60's/early 70's. I built a RB caplock rifle to take advantage of the added season and the ability to use a rifle in the "shotgun" zone of Michigan. Firearm deer season was 15 days long and usually the second week was filled with family obligations around the Thanksgiving holiday. I can't speak for all but most hunters that I know who started hunting the black powder season did so for the added hunting time not some attempt to recreate the past. When restrictions eased (conicals and substitute black powder allowed) we purchased/used tools to take advantage. I was a hunter. I used legal tools to hunt; archery, firearm, and black powder. I still do.

Truth be told I think the state keeps inventing "New" hunting seasons to maximize license sales revenue. All of the above aside: this year I hunted with a flintlock. I still had my scope sighted, plastic stocked, pellet propelled, saboted pistol bullet flinging, "primitive rifle" with me on the trip as back up.

The "whole idea" of muzzle loader season was extended hunting opportunity. Right or wrong we now have special youth seasons, disabled vet season's, and extended any firearm season that go past the first week in January. In spite of all this our hunter recruitment is failing and with it the deer take is falling as well. There are a lot fewer hunters and a lot of us are getting pretty long in the tooth. Auto/deer accidents are rising and farmers are screaming about deer decimating their crops.

 

[Winelover]

If you are thinking of hunting, check your state laws. Some require a certain ball diameter vs the more generic caliber designation.

Arkansas' Muzzleloading Laws:

Muzzleloader

To be used for deer hunting, muzzleloading rifles must have a barrel 18 inches or longer and be .40 caliber or larger. Magnifying sights may be used. The use of shot is not legal. Legal muzzleloaders use flint, percussion cap, primer or electronic pulse, must have the bullet loaded through the muzzle and are not capable of firing a cartridge.
Hunters may use muzzleloading handguns with:

• barrels 9 inches or longer
• .45 caliber or larger if they shoot conical bullets (200 grains or heavier), or
• .530 caliber or larger if they shoot round balls.

A hunter may carry a muzzleloading handgun of any caliber as backup to a muzzleloading rifle.

Mostly agree with. However, the requirement that a muzzle-loading pistol has to have a barrel length of 9" is asinine. I can't legally use my Ruger Old Army because the barrel length is only 7.5 inches. However, as long as your toting a rifle, I would be legal.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

Um, seems to me that a muzzle loader does not have a cylinder with multiple chambers. I have to wonder if their definition might be a little more specific.

 

[Winelover]

Um, seems to me that a muzzle loader does not have a cylinder with multiple chambers. I have to wonder if their definition might be a little more specific.

That's all the Arkansas Fish & Game says regarding muzzleloaders.

For centerfire handguns, during Modern Gun, barrels must be 4" or longer. Revolver or semi-automatic pistol. You don't count the chamber or the cylinder when calculating barrel length.

 

[RBHarter]

Seems kind of unfair to the guys with Dragoons and Walkers too .

 

[Tom]

Last time I looked, the Washington department of absolutely not made you choose between modern rifle, muzzle loaders, and archery. Therefore, you couldn't extend your season by using muzzleloaders. I think it's been changed, but a muzzleloader cap gun had to use a cap that was exposed to the elements. No primers.

 

[JWFilips]

I like Pennsylvania's Antique season of "Flintlock and round ball only"! This was the way it was in the 18th century and I'm glad I Have the opportunity of enjoying that way of hunting for 2 weeks out of the year!