Here's SHORTY!! pics

DeerSlayer303: Do you happen to know its twist rate? As some of these little carbines came with a fast-twist-rate? Being European made? Finding out its twist-rate is most important to know. As doing so, will disclose the type of projectile this carbine was designed to shoot accurately. Not everything for your (Caliber) seen in the market place or suggested by others will shoot well. Best to check first. Just might save you some money and disappointment at the range. And you are right. Smoke Poles are a whole different breed. When I got my first one. I was totally surprised how awesome the fire power these rifles are capable of. That our ancestor carried along during their time in history.:)

P.Script: In the T/C book that came with my 58 Big Bore. It says the Maxi Ball produced by T/C and sold to their consumers weighed in at >555 grains. And the Maxi-Hunter weighed in at 560-grs.
Lots of lead thrown down range no-doubt-about-it!!:D
 
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Try the .570 ball with different patch thicknesses. It's a lot harder to work up a good round ball load. I'd start with the .570 and a .010 patch with 90 grains of powder. I'd imagine your best load to be with a tight fitting .018 patch and somewhere around 110-120 grains of powder. Just have to burn some powder and see what it likes.
 
The 1:48 twist is supposed to be a "compromise" rate that works respectably with both round ball and slug-type projectiles. All calibers have a "perfect" rate of twist and I used to know the formula/equation for figuring that out but have long since forgot it. I do know this: 1:48 is the perfect rate of twist for shooting a prb out of a .40 cal.

That being said, Hawg's suggestion to start with the .570 & .010 patch is a good one and work from there. I've never shot that much BP behind a RB and it seems a bit overkill....my suspicion is that you'll blow a fair amout of unburned powder out the end of that short barrel. I'd think 90 gr of 2Fg would be sufficient but that's only MHO.

As an aside, I've never had any success with the maxi-ball or maxi-hunter projectiles. I do have a 1:28 twist green mountain barrel for my T/C and it likes Barnes Bullets TMZ real well! Those are an all copper bullet (just finally approved for hunting in my state, WA) and make that barrel a real tack-driver. Unfortunately, I don't believe they come in .58...only .45 & .50, I think. Sorry, this has nothing to do with the thread, I got carried away and wanted to brag a little I guess. :o
 
Yeah I wasn't thinking about the short barrel.:D I actually use a 90 grain load out of my 33 inch barreled Hawken.
 
Man I sure do appreciate all the advice, you guys are a TON of help. I am gonna go with the .570 and I will get some .010 and .012 patches I already have some .015. I think I'm gonna start at 70 grs and work my way up. I plan to hunt with all three of my BP rifles next deer season. This carbine is going to be the brush gun and used on a few stands I have with short shots <70 yards. Then of course the GPR will do the longer shots, then the buckstalker (scoped) will do the even LONGER shots. Gosh I can't wait till deer season. And keep your hats on folks I even plan to film some hunts.
 
Possible reason for the musket cap could be that the original owner may have been using pellets instead of loose powder.
When the pellets first came out ( and prior to the big inline explosion) sidelock guys wanting to use the pellets had ignition trouble. Needed more ignition heat, therefore went to the musket cap.

Just a thought.

If I were shooting loose powder I'd go back to the #11.
 
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