ORIGINAL: Pittsburghunter
If you read the manual it will tell you to use a max charge of 80g BP and a patched roundball. The ones I have I believe have a shallow 1:48 twist and only shoot patched balls and light ballet or REAL bullets.
Now it is a well made rifle except the solid wood you speak of is a mystery finish on top of some sort of press board that is plenty ruged but chips off revealing the press board under. I have camo painted most of mine and given them away as presents.
I wouldn't need to put more than 80 g in but the twist probably wouldn't do the big conical I would like to use and that size projectile may be an unsafe overload anyway. I tried to inspect the rifling to see if it was buttoned or cut. As you say, it was shallow but I couldn't see it well, the interior of the barrel was also blued. For roundball, I think I'd just get a 1:70 .54 GMBfor my hawken for about the same price. Shoot, doesn't sound like it'd work for my purposes.
You know, if that wasn'tsolid hardwood they sure do a great job of faking it. The other guy said, "what is that wood, looks like ash". The shop owner chimed, "Its walnut I think, European walnut". Honestly it did look alot like walnut sapwood but I would guess if the stock is solid, it is southeast asian in origin.
Thanks alot Pittsburghunter. I appreciate the info.
Happy Hunting, Phil