All points to ponder guys...thanks.
In a 32 caliber with 1:48" twist, what minimum powder charge is needed for minute-of-squirrel-head accuracy at 25-30 yards?
I know that every rifle has its own mind and all. But, generally speaking, what minimum charge does the 1:48 twist 32 calibers need to shoot an inch or less at 25-30 yards???
Round balls are notoriously easy to stabilize. Bullets can be very finicky but RBs don't seem to care.
I used to shoot about 30 grains in a 66 but I was a kid and it shot well enough for what I was doing.
The smaller the ball the less efficient the rifle is. A 440 grain ball will produce 1600 fps with 1/3 ball weight of ff Swiss powder in my 30" barreled FL. Off the top of my head the 32 is going to require about 40-45% of fff to get to the same velocity. I guess one could say its too much power to shoot squirrels, but I shot a lot of squirrels with fairly HV loads when I was a kid with 32-36-40 caliber rifles
I would need to test a 32 with various charges before thinking that 15 grains will work at 30 yards. Its very low velocity load and simply pokes a hole in a rabbit at 10-15 feet. I never used it except in the grove behind out house shooting rabbits for that reason. This was a 32" Douglas barreled percussion rifle. A flint rifle would *probably* be slower. Light charges may produce a higher velocity variation as well.
This would be an interesting experiment but I would not go faster than about 30" and would have it rifled .008-.010 deep. Personally I doubt its worth the trouble. But only testing will tell the real story. The smaller diameter balls have far less rotational inertia and I think this will allow using a faster twist and still allow enough powder for good velocity.
A hunting arm needs enough velocity to give it a useful trajectory for the game being hunted or the expected range since ball size is not critical this is the only real limitation in a small game rifle. If the trajectory allows the same hold for the range needed for hunting say 25-40 yards, I don't think I ever shot a squirrel or rabbit much over this, and the accuracy is an inch or less at the max range you are good to go.
In the end you might end up using as much powder in the fast twist as a 48" twist would use anyway. Barrels can be contrary at times and will not always do what one wants or expects.
I would contact Long Hammock Barrels 352 748 7373
Dan