New Member with Questions....

[kiddynomite]

Just wanted to Hi and Thanks for a board with so much info on it. I'm in search of some advice. I'm new to smokeless muzzleloading and I have a H&R that I want to put a SMI barrel on. I am looking for advice on the .45 cal such as barrel length, twist rate, bullets and loading suggestions. I will be mostly whitetail deer hunting with shots in the 100-300 yard range. Any and all info will be greatly appreacated. Now if a .50 cal would be better I'm in for one of those so any info you have on it would be graet. I really like accuracy and killing power. I'm not trying to start a .45 / .50 cal debate just want info so I can order up a barrel and get me a smokeless muzzleloader for this deer season. Thanks in advance. Kid... ;D

[tar12]

What make you think you will start a debate? ;D ;D

[Deleted]

welcome! I think SMI uses fairly slow twist rates on their barrels but they might do anything you want. some here have them so Im sure they will chime in. Is .45 legal in your state? that is the first question.

If .45 is legal it opens many options, .40 cal bullets saboted (easier on the shoulder) or full form .45 bullets (many to choose from)

I would stick with a 28" tube on that platform but thats just me, anything from 24" up will work fine.

Talk to SMI and find out the options and then post your thoughts, you will get answers.
I think a few here have that same gun / barrel combo, maybe they will sound off...

[dans]

I have a heavy barrel 28 twist SMI barrel that I ordered from them several years ago. It shoots around 1 inch at 100 yards with 55 grains of H-4198, 195 Barnes, CCI 209m and the blue smooth Harvester sabot. I believe you can get about any twist you want and about any barrel contour. The above load was the first one I tried in the rifle and I didn't see any need for further load developement. Give them a call in the shop and talk to them, they are nice people to deal with and will answer all lyour questions.

[Deleted]

I have a H&R / SMI .45....25" with 1/22" twist. It shoots about anything the Pac-Nors are shooting. It shoots 62gns H4198 with either a 200SST or 195Barnes equally well. Personally I wouldn't go longer than 25" on the barrel length. It's front heavy at that. It's deadly on deer in the 100-300yd range.

[pposey]

I have a 26 inch encore 45/70 converted by SMI and it is a great shooter and balances well, it is a lighter contour barrel though than most have on their ML's and is flutted as well.

The 26 inch Encore barreled gun is shorter overall than the factory savage ML2 and about the same as my savage ml2 with a 21 inch barrel... thats the main reason I have switched all the way over to a single shot action for Muzzle loading,, more compact and simpler.

You could also have a H&R 45/70 converted and have a 24 inch barrel.

[rmclaughlin]

Listen to Panhandle &Rangeball,Thier advice was a 1 in 22 twist.I
got that twist with a 28 in 45cal barrel,barnes bullets,4198 powder,smooth blue Harvestor sabots,Easy accuracy with this setup

[kiddynomite]

Thanks for everyone's info that has responded so far. I have always shot a .50 cal Knight Disc but with all this good info on the .45 caliber I think I'm gonna get me one. I'm gonna order a SMI .45 caliber with 1 in 22 twist 24 inch barrel. Since I've decided to get me a .45 caliber please don't let that end anyone's suggestions and load and bullet combs are always welcome. Since I'm brand new to this smokeless muzzleloading would someone give me info on where to get the harvester sabots and bullet name, caliber, size etc along powder make , number with what will I need to measure the powder with. Sorry for the questions and THANKS for all the help. Kid...

[rangeball]

Only thing I can add is when talking with SMI don't mention if you plan to shoot sabotless. They aren't big fans.

[Richard]

kiddynomite
About anything you need is available at Mid-South Shooters Supply and usually at the best price.
The powder talked about is Hodgedon's H-4198 (not IMR - it will work, but a bit slower.........Most use the "H") You are definitely going to want to practice??? The Barnes 195's get a bit expensive for practice. For 100 and even out to 200 yards, the Hornady 200 gr. XTP and Nosler's 200 gr. HP are excellent practice bullets and have given me accuracy as good and even better than the Barnes. The other bullet you want to look at the Hornady 200 gr. .40 SST. There are opinions around this board, but mine is that the SST is more accurate than the Barnes. The construction of the Barnes is more to my way of thinking and accuracy can be as good but if I had to bet $$$ on a shot, I would use the SST. OPINION! Don't use those BP magnum primers. Any of the regular ole' 209 shotgun primers work fine. Winchester 209's for me? Fed. for others along with CCI's Again, OPINION. On the Harvesters..........MOST prefer the "Easy Load" smooth blue sabots. The blue Crush Ribs work...............but just not as good! This has been pretty much unanimous. If you look in the loads section, you will see a ton of loads I have personally shot and chronographed. This will give you some ideas of whats out there and how they might work for you. Most prefer a "spin-jag" on their ram rods. Some do no cleaning at all? Some do a little? I run a patch with four drops of Rem. bore cleaner down the bore after each shot followed by a clean patch in and out. (that patch is almost not even hardly damp) Again....OPINION.
Hope some of this is helpful.
Richard

[deadon]

Great advice Richard.Thanks again for the great bedding job, Rusty

[12ptdroptine]

my .2 cents. If you proceed further...do yourself a huge favor. look at all the loads and read everything...I MEAN EVERYTHING....You can read here. These senior(not age but seniority) board member's here have done TON"S of development for us guy's who dont have the time or resources to get to this level. Ask and ye shall recieve...advice...help...guidance...direction...Whatever you want to call it. I am on my second build since I joined here. I love my .45 so much I could not see me going back to a .50... My 3rd might even be a .40.. Anyway good luck and ask lots of question's. Drop