Shooting the Colt Special Musket

[Jim Wimbish, 10395]

I have a 3 band Colt repro with a 3 land and groove 1/48" twist barrel. I am playing around with the Hodgdon bullet in this barrel and wondered if anyone else was shooting this combination. Based on my initial tests, it looks like this barrel will be able to shoot the Hodgdon accurately with a light load, but I don't have the load just yet, but it looks like it will be under 40 grains of 3fg Goex. I have been working my way down from 43.5 grains of 3f to 41.7 grains and all of these loads appear too heavy. Has anyone shot the Hodgdon in a 1 in 48 twist, three land and groove 40" barrel?

[ian45662]

I used to have a zoli zouave and I am pretty sure it was about the same twist a yours although the barrel was shorter. It shot the same bullet pretty good with 40 grains of goex 3

[tony 1st regt]

Jim I shot one for a number of years with the Hodgon bullet. Had clover leaf accuracy with 41 grs of goex 3f, Owned by another on my team it still shoots as well "from the bench"

tony, 1st regt. engr.