Tacksman45
Pilgrim
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2014
- Messages
- 372
- Reaction score
- 161
Hi everyone,
I have been reading over posts here on the forum trying to understand Jaeger rifles, and I have a few questions. I am curious about the original Germanic Jaeger rifle barrels which had one twist in the length of the barrel. I have talked with Bobby Hoyt before about this, and he explained to me that jaegers would fine tune their powder loads to find the exact amount and grade of powder to optimize there rifles. From what I think I understand, when firing patched round balls slower twists like 1:66 are more accurate but require more powder to be accurate, while faster twists like 1:48 require less powder, but tend to be less accurate? Also I understand that the depth of the rifling is a factor in this equation. So my question is; what was the reason for having the one twist in the length of the barrel? Also how common was this twist rate in original Jaegers?
Also I know there are a ton of myths about Jaeger rifles, and I have heard quite a few of these myself. I have heard that "original" Jaeger rifles frequently had very large bores in the .70 to .80 range, which combined with the very fast twist, made them capable of 300-400 yard or longer shots because of the inertia and mass of the ball (not saying I believe this, just what I have heard.) I know from what I have read that most Jaeger rifle bores were not this large, but is there any truth to the idea that; fast twist, groove depth, shorter barrels, larger bores, and a specific (perhaps smaller and finer) powder charge can add up to a high degree of accuracy and power?
Thanks a lot!
Tacksman
I have been reading over posts here on the forum trying to understand Jaeger rifles, and I have a few questions. I am curious about the original Germanic Jaeger rifle barrels which had one twist in the length of the barrel. I have talked with Bobby Hoyt before about this, and he explained to me that jaegers would fine tune their powder loads to find the exact amount and grade of powder to optimize there rifles. From what I think I understand, when firing patched round balls slower twists like 1:66 are more accurate but require more powder to be accurate, while faster twists like 1:48 require less powder, but tend to be less accurate? Also I understand that the depth of the rifling is a factor in this equation. So my question is; what was the reason for having the one twist in the length of the barrel? Also how common was this twist rate in original Jaegers?
Also I know there are a ton of myths about Jaeger rifles, and I have heard quite a few of these myself. I have heard that "original" Jaeger rifles frequently had very large bores in the .70 to .80 range, which combined with the very fast twist, made them capable of 300-400 yard or longer shots because of the inertia and mass of the ball (not saying I believe this, just what I have heard.) I know from what I have read that most Jaeger rifle bores were not this large, but is there any truth to the idea that; fast twist, groove depth, shorter barrels, larger bores, and a specific (perhaps smaller and finer) powder charge can add up to a high degree of accuracy and power?
Thanks a lot!
Tacksman
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