handgun rate of twist?

[jaegerstutzen]

Thinking about a Uberti dragoon. Rate of twist 1-48. I know about modern rifles and blackpowder arms but am clueless about handguns. I'm thinking about duplicating the old 45 Colt load that Elmer Keith did such good work with. Around 265 gr @ 950 if my memory serves, which it often doesn't. What is optimum for a round ball? this is a fantasy gun and not for skirmishing. i'm hoping to go bear hunting with my .54 Jaeger next year and if my first shot doesn't do the trick I want something with enough _ss to break a shoulder if he's getting a little frisky and heading in my direction. time is not on my side and if I,m gonna have a little fun I better get with it. Thanks for lookin. Jaeger 20 GA.

[bobanderson]

A 45 round ball weighs about 130 grains. Round balls usually take a slow twist rate, like the 1 in 66" in my flintlock rifles.

To shoot a bullet, like a 265 gr 45, you go to a much faster twist. Here is a shareware rifling twist calculator I saved years ago.

http://kwk.us/twist.html

Punch in the specs for your load and it should tell you what you want to know.

[efritz]

Correct me if wrong but the formula isn?t usable for round balls.

[jaegerstutzen]

From the calculator you gave me I need 1/28. Don't know about the other formula but can't even start not knowing what the hay t is. I was using gone by dragoon bullet. .457...259 gr. ...80 length. Dixie says .440 lands and .457 grooves. Chamber .449. How is that gonna work? Do the chambers need reaming? do I need the bbl relined or just forget the whole thing? Thanks all for lookin, Jaeger

[Muley Gil]

You could use a conical bullet.

[threepdr]

I think all of Uberti current .44s are 1:18 and have been for over 10 years. My 259 grain Dragoon bullets shoot great in the Walker. You might have to elarge the loading port just a tad to get it to load, however.