Standard Rifling and Smooth bore barrels
All barrels are cut rifled with 6 groove, Radius bottom rifling (round bottom) with groove depths of .012” for .36 and .40 Caliber. 45 caliber through 62 caliber are .016” groove depth. Flat bottom may be requested at no extra charge.
Standard rifling twist are as follows
1 in 48” twist for .36 and .40 calibers.
1 in 56” for .45 thru .58 calibers.
1 in 66” for the .62 caliber.
Note that we are able to change twist rates if requested.
Smooth bore barrels
All of the calibers in our rifled barrels may be left smooth, plus 16ga, .690”, 12ga, .750” and 10ga.
Gain twist
We offer GAIN/progressive twist rifling as an option in our barrels. All gain twist barrels will shoot round balls very well, plus allow the use of conical and saboted bullets. To arrive at the desired curve for rifling gain twist some precise mathematical figuring is required, in other words you cannot just throw in some curve and hope it works. With gain twist the bullet starts at a much slower twist rate than what it leaves the muzzle at. As the bullet travels down the bore the twist rate starts to increase, first slowly then faster as it goes. For instance, let’s say in a 42” barrel the rifling machine is set to cut a twist of around 1 in 96” at the breech then the muzzle twist rate will be around 1 in 48”. If the twist rate is increased to a faster rate at the muzzle the twist rate at the breech will also increase, but at a lesser rate than the muzzle. This type of rifling in a muzzleloader barrel comes literally as close as possible to give one barrel the ability to handle most forms of bullets and with a high precision of accuracy. If any of you shoot long range centerfire rifles you might have noticed that the big names in high power barrel manufacturing have also started to make GAIN twist barrels.
Our gain twist barrels are being used by hunters and target shooters. Hunters in the western states are hunting large game because of the ability to shoot conical’s and saboted bullets. We offer gain twist in all rifled calibers except 36 cal.
Turkey Choke Barrels
For many years now we have been producing turkey choke gun barrels. These barrels are for shot only due the tight restriction at the muzzle. We offer these in 20 gauge bore that restricts to 58 caliber at the muzzle. We have had nothing but wonderful success with these barrels. For those of you that love turkey hunting and muzzleloading then you should try this. Will you be handicapped, only in the fact that you will be limited to one shot! These barrels are capable of out shooting modern turkey guns with the right load, shot patterns are extremely tight. The gun builder that started us down the road on these choked barrels said from the beginning that the firearm should have both a front and rear sight, not just a front bead. I know many might ask if 20ga is large enough, and yes, 2oga is large enough, we are dealing with a muzzleloader that we can shoot various weights of shot through. You can even try taking it to your local turkey shoot, they might laugh at you going in, but if you can make them feel pity for you and allow you to shoot, they will ask you to not bring it back. This story did happen!!
The following loads are a sample of some being used in the field by customers.
Shown below in the order of steps taken.
100grs FFG powder
3 to 4 .125 card wads
2oz #6 lead shot
½ or 1 .125 card wad
80grs FFG powder
2 .125 card wads
Styrofoam wad**
1 3/8 #5 lead shot
1 over shot wad
80grs FFG powder
1.125 card wads
1 felt wad
1oz #4 lead shot
1 over shot wad
Notes:
The .125 thick card wads should be moist. Most hunters will just suck on them till moist. They should then be started through the muzzle and the choke on there edge with a short starter. Do this one at a time if using multiple wads. Once past choke, ram all at one time onto the powder. Wads need to be seated TIGHT on the powder.
One load shows ½ to 1 .125 thick card wad over shot. The other 2 use an over the shot wad which is thin. Either will work, just make sure that everything is packed tight. You do not want your shot running out onto the ground as you walk. That might make the turkey happy, but I doubt you will be!!
** Styrofoam wad
This is made from the Styrofoam board used for insulation. ¾ to 1 inch thick. Using whatever you can find to punch out 5/8 dia. plugs. This serves two purposes. First, helps cushion the shot, preventing deformation, second, reduces felt recoil greatly.
