Target Muzzleloader

[cannonball1]

I want to make a custom target muzzleloader and want the best muzzleloader barrel money can buy. Who would you suggest?

 

[cannonball1]

Forgot one thing. It will be a 45 caliber with a 1 in 18" twist.

 

[Stumpkiller]

The best? I'm really not into the 100 pound slug guns but George Mitchell would probably be the best target rifle builder. He builds the scopes as well! No idea the cost - or his current waiting list.

 

[cannonball1]

Not what I had in mind. Stay traditional please

 

[Stringbean]

I'm a big fan of Rice barrels but not sure of that twist rate.

 

[Elnathan]

Rice offers bullet barrels in 4140 CM - I think they got started with those making some very high-end repros of British 19th century target rifles for which Bob Roller made the locks and sights. Certainly one place to look.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Not what I had in mind. Stay traditional please

Then YOU have to be much more specific and tell us the period, weight, your purse, the use and any other preferences like style and barrel profile.

Don't ask favors and then pull out one card at a time. You asked for the best target - and the best target is the smallest group. 1:18" twist is NOT traditional.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm a big fan of Rice barrels but not sure of that twist rate.

I am as well. Have one of his barrels on my Lehigh (1:66"). But Liston is a good man and doesn't go faster than 1:48" that I know of.

 

[Elnathan]

But Liston is a good man and doesn't go faster than 1:48" that I know of.

FAST TWIST BULLET BARRELS

Made from 4140 Chrome Moly steel.
Available in 15/16" and larger straight barrel in .45 caliber only.
Square bottom rifling depth .0035-.004
Starting at...$275.
With plug installed add...$25

http://ricebarrels.com/prices.html

Also, Burton will make barrels with a false muzzle, if that is what you are looking for.

 

[cannonball1]

1:18" twist is NOT traditional.

Little do you know!!

Elnathan, I've looked at those barrels, was impressed and I did purchase a couple of Green Mountain barrels. Now I am looking for somthing extraordinarily polished. For Stumpy's information - 1" octagon, 30 to 36" long, .004 riflings.

 

[charioteer]

My advice is this - having had a rifle built for a completion - and finding that it was wrong.
- Read the rules really carefully about what is required and build it accordingly.
- buy the best sights you can afford
- Buy the best quality set trigger you can afford and have it set light....takes practice to use these though
- a 1 in 18" twist will require a long bullet - get a good steel mold
- for the best accuracy you need to go beyond the build of the rifle, and you will need good reloading scales.
weigh every bullet and group them into 1gr lots.
weigh every charge to within 0.1gr (and preload your charges into plastic vials)
- ditto for best accuracy you really need to wipe the barrel between every shot.
- and it helps to have a platinum nipple.
Cheers...T

 

[Mad Professor]

Then YOU have to be much more specific and tell us the period, weight, your purse, the use and any other preferences like style and barrel profile.

Don't ask favors and then pull out one card at a time. You asked for the best target - and the best target is the smallest group. 1:18" twist is NOT traditional.

The Gibbs target rifle was 1:18 twist. Whitworth 1:20. I always thought of those as traditional

 

[fleener]

I would give serious consideration of a Kreiger. Green Mnt are certainly not bad. The last barrel I bought was a GM in 45. Stocked it up as a hunting rifle. At 200 yards 3 shot group .5” with a GG hollow point, 14x scope.

I know Rice has made some barrels like you are wanting. A couple of buddies have them. So far I don’t know how accurate they are. The owners are not great shooters.
I don’t know any of the top shooters using them yet. They might be great for what you are looking for I just don’t know.

Fleener

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I want to make a custom target muzzleloader and want the best muzzleloader barrel money can buy. Who would you suggest?

I'd suggest you tell us what type of muzzleloading target shooting you wish to do.

There is a big difference between a rifle that you're going to shoot standing, unsupported, at 220 yards, vs a "bench rifle" vs. a "military target rifle", or one where you wish to reach out 600 or 1000 yards prone or from a bench...., and then there's flintlocks.

It will be a 45 caliber with a 1 in 18" twist.

Why?

You might want to consult the "Niedner system" for target shooting, muzzle loading rifles, detailed on page 293 of The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle, by Ned Roberts https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015060544213;view=1up;seq=309;size=150 which BTW often uses a barrel with a 1:16 twist rate They were regularly used at 40 rods from a bench (220 yards). The designer used a scope, however, and the stock shaped is rather modern, but those are only cosmetics.


LD

 

[cannonball1]

Thanks for all of your imput. Here will be the specs: 1- barrel 32 to 36" long, 1" accross the flats, 45 Caliber, .004 riflings, 1 in 18" twist and high strength steel. Who puts out the best barrel?

 

[WKD]

I am currently finishing up work on a Schuetzen. I used a Rice Match Grade .40 caliber. Jason can make them with or without a false muzzle for bullet. I made mine 1/48, square bottom rifling, plain muzzle for patched roundball. 1" x 32" straight octagon.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Look up Lee Shavers version of the Ferris-Creedmore long-range MZL rifle, circa 1880. Lee has won the 1,000 yard championship a few times. See:
http://stores.leeshavergunsmithing.com/ferriss-creedmoor-rifle/

Pedersoli also makes their version of the Gibbs, circa 1865 and has a blog about shooting them at 2,000 meters. See: https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-prodotto.asp/l_en/idpr_79/rifles-gibbs-gibbs-deluxe.html

Also see more long/range MZL info here: http://www.lrml.org/reference/rifles-equipment/

 

[cannonball1]

Ya All, The only thing I want is a barrel. No gun - Just the best octagon muzzleloader barrel maker in the country.

 

[FishDFly]

Thanks for all of your imput. Here will be the specs: 1- barrel 32 to 36" long, 1" accross the flats, 45 Caliber, .004 riflings, 1 in 18" twist and high strength steel. Who puts out the best barrel?


Why not send e-mails to the barrel makers and ask them, seems simple to me, ask for a
guarantee from them?

 

[Idaholewis]

Look up Lee Shavers version of the Ferris-Creedmore long-range MZL rifle, circa 1880. Lee has won the 1,000 yard championship a few times. See:
http://stores.leeshavergunsmithing.com/ferriss-creedmoor-rifle/

Pedersoli also makes their version of the Gibbs, circa 1865 and has a blog about shooting them at 2,000 meters. See: https://www.davide-pedersoli.com/scheda-prodotto.asp/l_en/idpr_79/rifles-gibbs-gibbs-deluxe.html

Also see more long/range MZL info here: http://www.lrml.org/reference/rifles-equipment/

I bought Shaver’s Super Grade Long Range Soule Tang sight For my TC Renegade Build, 32” 1:18 Twist .45 Cal Green Mountain Barrel with .452 Bore, i also went with his Front Sight that he built for his Ferris Creedmoor rifles, Adjustable Windage. Lee is a SUPER nice guy! I have spoke with him over the phone a few times. Out of curiosity, I asked him what his best 1,000 Yard Group was to Date? Lee told me that he Put 5 Shots in 8” inches at 1,000 Yards. Pretty darn AMAZING with Peep sights!! It is guy’s like him and Dave Gullo to mention a Few, that inspire me to do this stuff.

U