1-56 .50 what's your best load ?

[recurve]

almost all my .50's(1-66. 1-72) like 70 grns of swiss 3f and a 490 ball with .020 patch, But my newest flinter is differant  a 1-56 Bobby Hoyt seems to like same patch and ball but 60 grns swiss3f

[Marcruger]

I was taught that the faster the twist, the narrower the range of powder charges that will shoot well.  But, the faster twist will stabilize a ball at lower charges.  I think you found this out by experimenting.   

God Bless,   Marc

[Stoner creek]

I like 65 grains of 3fffg Eyensford, a thick patch (tent canvas or denim) and a .490 ball when I’m shooting a Getz, Colerain, or Rice barrel. I seem to need a thinner patch with the FCI barrels. I’m actually on the range playing with loads on 2 50 cal rifles today.

[Daryl]

I tried 3FGOEX, but not a lot of loads in my .50. It prefers 2F GOEX. This had happened with my .50's, every one of them since 1972/3.
These loads gave almost exactly the same point of impact. The 2F was a mite more accurate. This is not to say there is no load of 3F that
won't beat the 2F load. This was just a couple "chosen" loads. The take-a-way from this, so far, is obvious.
Actually, I haven't taken the time to work up a load - yet. It's a Rice gun-maker's barrel. I don't know what the ROT is.
Shot with this rifle.



Here is the original owner of that rifle, Leather Belly, RIP brother - you are remembered and held close.

[Standing Bear]

My Douglas 1”x36” 50 with 1/56 twist used 60 gr FFg.495 ball and .018 patch wet with water based lube. This gun and load shot center at 25 and 50 yards. By increasing to 90 grand it was on at 100 yards. For turkeys in a silhouette match I’d use the 90 grain load ad try to cut the legs off at the belly.

Yes. Douglas.  I called them in W Virginia and  by ordered the barrel about 1980.

[walks with gun]

   35-40 grains of FFG with a  .490 ball and thin ticking patch lubed with olive oil is a great load for taking squirrels, grouse, ducks in the head out to 30-35 yards as well as knocking around cans and paper targets.

[hanshi]

The .50 I own shoots well with about any load I put in it, but one stands out.  That load is 70 grains of Goex 3F, Hoppes lube and a canvas patch.  I only shoot up to 100 yards and that load really wants to please at that range.

[mgbruch]

My previous gun had a 38" Colerain barrel with the 1/56 twist.  I was shooting GOEX, and it liked sixty grains of 3f.  My current gun has a 44" Colerain barrel, 1/56 twist.  I'm shooting Swiss 3f;  and sixty five grains will shoot 1 1/2" groups at 50 yards.  Shooting prone.