doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Pinfire rifle

Daryl,
Regarding twist - the twist in Powell pinfire rifle barrels is
1 in 8 ft 8 inches.

As I remember,my .57 round ball gun was made with a 1 in 80 twist, so a bit faster than what Steve reports for a bullet. I wonder if that means the bullet was hollow based, like the Minie. That might make it lighter even if it was a little longer..

The Weber and Schultheis seems to have a twist of about 1 in 60 inches. Any thoughts ?

Daryl

Special--

And this is a DoubleGun Thread at its best.

Thanks to all

Berrien

Daryl,
Of course, the "school solution" is to use black powder, for lower pressures, but I just am hesitant to use it due to the corrosive residue getting inside the rifle, requiring it to be taken apart for cleaning. Most conversions of centerfire cases to pinfire leak some gasses from the old primer area.
Mike

Der Ami thanks for the thought. Have you seen a pinfire design that can use smokeless powder ? It is my understanding that the percussion caps will not ignite smokeless efficiently. I have yet to think up a design to hold a 209 primer or other smokeless powder primers.I currently make my pinfire shot shells out of custom brass cases and it works pretty well. I do have about 200 28 ga empty paper pinfire cases. It looks like if these are cut down to about 1 1/2" that they will work in the rifle chamber. Then the only problem is loading and possibly crimping the cases to hold the projectile. I think I would prefer to make custom brass cases and not use up the 150 year old paper cases.

Daryl,
My buddy, that loads pinfire ammo, uses centerfire primers. He inserts them, upside down into the primer pocket, so that the "pin"fits through the hole in the case and rests on the anvil of the primer. BTW, I think he makes his "pins" from the springs found on common clothes pins. He closes the hole at the primer pocket with tape. He uses black powder only in his old guns.
Mike

Der Ami, what centerfire primer is your friend using ? A rifle primer ? Then the pin enters the opposite side of the primer from where a firing pin usually strikes ?

I don't understand completely "He uses black powder only in his old guns" Of course most , if not all, pinfire guns are "old guns". Has he then used smokeless powder in some pinfires ?

Daryl,
As far as I remember it is a large rifle primer, but it may be small rifle. Just use which ever fits best. You are correct about the way the pin enters the primer. All pinfires are old. I don't think he has used smokeless, but was thinking about trying some different types, usually used by cowboy and black powder cartridge shooters. I would think you could also use black powder substitute ( I think one may be non fouling).

Thanks, I understand. Daryl