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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 8:24:36 GMT -5
Greetings all.
I know I'm not a regular poster here but I am a regular reader and I really appreciate all the valuable info I have picked up over the years here. With that said, I am a long time smokepole hunter but I have made up my mind to drop the smoking habit. ;D (I have actually been wanting to quit for some time now but funds have always been an issue)
This week I plan to make my leap of faith and place an order for a 50 cal smokeless barrel for my Encore Pro Hunter from SMI.
Two things that I am really struggling with are rate of twist and whether to go with an on-board ramrod.
Ron at SMI tells me the standard twists they are doing are 1 in 36 and 1 in 32. Ron seems to favors the 36 and Dan favors the 32. This barrel will be primarily for deer hunting. I suppose there is a possibility in the future that it could go on an Elk hunt. My hope is to find a great bullet or two that it will like in the 200 to 275 grain range...I am very fond of Barnes bullets. I don't care much for heavy recoil and am thinking that 300 grains bullets may be more punishment than I really care to deal with. I should also say that I would like a setup capable of taking game to 200 - 250 yards with out much worry of holdover consideration at the 200 yard mark.
In regards to the ramrod, I visualize the rifle "looking" much better without the rod attached but I cannot seem to get over the idea of toting a collapsible rod around and then during the excitement of a shot, fumbling around putting the rod together for a reloading operation. It just seems easier to have it on-board and no worry of losing a piece or forgetting to pack it with me.
I would REALLY appreciate some opinions on these issues from those who have been there done that.
THANKS in advance!!
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Post by rangeball on Aug 2, 2011 9:11:54 GMT -5
My .50 SMI is on an H&R. I went with 1:22 twist to mimic what the guys here are doing in the .45s, and only a bit faster than the stock savage ML2. I can shoot all the bullets you mentioned no problems. The faster twist doesn't take anything away from the bullets you mentioned plus keeps your options open in case you want to shoot longer heavier bullets someday. Currently my go to load in it is 42gr of N110 and a thor/barnes 250gr .500 bullet sabotless. Point and shoot to 200yds, and hold just a tad bit high at 250. The douglas barrels are tack drivers and SMI does great work. You might consider asking them for a carbide bushing in your breech plug. Good luck  |
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 9:43:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the input rangeball! With that load you mentioned how is the recoil? What would you compare it to if you can? I just got off the phone with Ron at SMI, the last barrel he had now has my name on it  . Looks like my twist quandry is now settled as it is a 32. He assured me that he & Dan get no difference between them with the 4" of differing twists. Now I just have to decide on the ramrod option... My .50 SMI is on an H&R. I went with 1:22 twist to mimic what the guys here are doing in the .45s, and only a bit faster than the stock savage ML2. I can shoot all the bullets you mentioned no problems. The faster twist doesn't take anything away from the bullets you mentioned plus keeps your options open in case you want to shoot longer heavier bullets someday. Currently my go to load in it is 42gr of N110 and a thor/barnes 250gr .500 bullet sabotless. Point and shoot to 200yds, and hold just a tad bit high at 250. The douglas barrels are tack drivers and SMI does great work. You might consider asking them for a carbide bushing in your breech plug. Good luck
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Post by rangeball on Aug 2, 2011 10:07:57 GMT -5
Recoil is mild. About like a 20g slug gun?
I forgot about your ramrod question. I have their screw together ram rod and it's all I use in the field. If I'm in a stand or blind I just put it together and have it ready to use if needed.
I always intended to order one of Macs ramrods but haven't done so and am now wondering if it's too late? He's a member here that makes a highly regarded shock corded snap together ram rod.
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 10:57:21 GMT -5
Good to know on the recoil...sounds very manageable to me. I can shoot my 30-06 with no problems so this shouldn't be a factor. Thank you rangeball! Recoil is mild. About like a 20g slug gun? I forgot about your ramrod question. I have their screw together ram rod and it's all I use in the field. If I'm in a stand or blind I just put it together and have it ready to use if needed. I always intended to order one of Macs ramrods but haven't done so and am now wondering if it's too late? He's a member here that makes a highly regarded shock corded snap together ram rod. |
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Post by rmclaughlin on Aug 2, 2011 11:16:52 GMT -5
Huntmeister,You will be happy with your barrel .I got a 45 cal.this spring and it is great.The ramrod that came with it is made well.
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Post by rangeball on Aug 2, 2011 11:25:01 GMT -5
No problem, you're welcome One thing to note that many guys with the standard twist have reported is they work great with SMI recommended loads, not as well with savage book loads. |
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 12:11:46 GMT -5
Yes, Dan had lots to say about the powders / twists subject. I will not be playing around alot with this rifle and different loads. I just want to get it setup with 2 or 3 good killing loads and go shooting (occasionally) & hunting with it. Is there any issues with the SMI recommended loads that I should know about? No problem, you're welcome One thing to note that many guys with the standard twist have reported is they work great with SMI recommended loads, not as well with savage book loads. |
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Post by rangeball on Aug 2, 2011 13:13:58 GMT -5
Nope. They just favor slower powders. Dan isn't a big fan of N110 or other similar type powders, at least he wasn't when I had mine made. Use their sabots and recommended powders and you should be able to duplicate their results. They've been at smokeless muzzleloading a long time, in fact I think they were the first? One thing is they don't note the temp instability that some here do with lower dose loads of slower powders like H4198. Can't say if that will be an issue for you or not. I would think if you want a premier hunting load a 250 or 300gr .500 thor over whatever powder load they recommend for a similar weight bullet will make you very happy |
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Post by excisac on Aug 2, 2011 13:49:22 GMT -5
Not questioning your choice because it is just that, your choice, but a 32 twist is much slower than the 22 twists most are using in their smokeless MLs. If I were you I would be looking into that twist a bit more before going ahead with it.
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 14:01:22 GMT -5
I definitely got it that he doesn't care for the faster powders the savage shooters are using.  Temp instability? Are you talking hang-fires in cold temps or? If so, I'm in Indiana and it can get pretty dang cold late muzz season so I will have to discuss that with them I suppose. I will check out the Thor bullets, thanks! Nope. They just favor slower powders. Dan isn't a big fan of N110 or other similar type powders, at least he wasn't when I had mine made. Use their sabots and recommended powders and you should be able to duplicate their results. They've been at smokeless muzzleloading a long time, in fact I think they were the first? One thing is they don't note the temp instability that some here do with lower dose loads of slower powders like H4198. Can't say if that will be an issue for you or not. I would think if you want a premier hunting load a 250 or 300gr .500 thor over whatever powder load they recommend for a similar weight bullet will make you very happy |
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 14:04:22 GMT -5
Can you explain why it may be an issue? Not questioning your choice because it is just that, your choice, but a 32 twist is much slower than the 22 twists most are using in their smokeless MLs. If I were you I would be looking into that twist a bit more before going ahead with it. |
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Post by dans on Aug 2, 2011 14:40:28 GMT -5
My 50 cal SMI barrels are all 36 twist. I have no problem shooting up to 300 grain bullets with good accuracy (1.5 at 100 yards).
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Post by rangeball on Aug 2, 2011 15:16:26 GMT -5
Temp instability? Are you talking hang-fires in cold temps or? If so, I'm in Indiana and it can get pretty dang cold late muzz season so I will have to discuss that with them I suppose. Yeah, some here have reported hang/fail to fires in cold temps with certain slower powders like H4198. Also, RB proposed some time ago that there was a minimum grain level a powder was likely to work at to get adequate pressure to do the job. Again picking on H4198, I don't recall what the minimum he recommended was but Dan told me he used way less for reduced recoil loads in cold weather without issue. Since they hunt in IN iirc, they should give you some good insight. If you can find it N110 or 4759 should give you good cold weather performance, but no idea how it might work with the 1:32 twist. N110 hits fast. I think some of Dan's aversion to faster powders is their original breech plugs just used a hole drilled in the face and they were seeing premature wear they weren't with slower powders. If you got a vent liner or carbide bushing version of their plug, that shouldn't matter. |
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Post by GMB54-120 on Aug 2, 2011 17:00:23 GMT -5
My NULA 50cal is a Douglas 1-32 and it loves N110 and 4759 with upto a 260gr bullet. Chuck shot upto the 275 BE and a Barnes 290gr IIRC with excellent results too. Im trying some slower burners next and heavier bullets.
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Post by excisac on Aug 2, 2011 17:59:50 GMT -5
Can you explain why it may be an issue? Not questioning your choice because it is just that, your choice, but a 32 twist is much slower than the 22 twists most are using in their smokeless MLs. If I were you I would be looking into that twist a bit more before going ahead with it. Sorry, I thought you were talking about a 45 cal. barrel. Feel free to ignore anything I might post in the future. |
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Post by huntmeister on Aug 2, 2011 19:05:34 GMT -5
Its all good! Can you explain why it may be an issue? Sorry, I thought you were talking about a 45 cal. barrel. Feel free to ignore anything I might post in the future. |
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Post by jims on Aug 2, 2011 20:47:54 GMT -5
I got my SMI .50 along with a Savage action used. It shot best with the SMI recommended powders and loads as compared to the recommended Savage loads.
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. Looks like my twist quandry is now settled as it is a 32. He assured me that he & Dan get no difference between them with the 4" of differing twists.
