A year or so ago I bought a 45-70 prohunter barrel . I never did shoot it. I thought about selling it, but never did that either. So I finally talked to Ronnald at SMI . He wants a $150.00 to convert it by putting a breechplug in it . I think I will go that route. The encore barrel is a 1:20 twist so it should make a good conical shooter and I would have the option of using smokeless if I so desired. I have some bullets in mind but don't know how long it takes to get it back once I send it in so it may be a while before a range report.

that should be an interesting rifle... long ranger you might say.

Is that barrel a full contour?

It's a contour barrel , but I need to get it out and look. I forget the details. All I remember is it was stainless and 24 inches and I think heavy contour.

they make standard, full and heavy, if i am not mistaken.full & heavy are great standard are a bit skinny

Chet is kinda skinny.

If it's the fluted pro hunter barrel it should be either full or heavy. My understanding is any of the three should work to convvert, but the standard contour doesn't have thick enough walls to add the ramrod underneath.

What conicals are you looking at for that rifle?

I can find a lot of heavy .458 lead to use in a 1:20 twist (350-500 gr) intended for blackpowder cartridge guns but am I right in assuming those would be just about impossible to slide down a .45 muzzle loader barrel? Who makes big .45 lead conicals for muzzleloaders?

You will have a hard time getting a 458 down - probably impossible...

Dan makes some really good ones as well as others... Bull Shop Bullets in Alsaska



If you are interested let me know and I will get you more information...

And if Dan has stopped for the season then No-Excuse conicals are really good also. Dan often shuts down casting in the spring and starts again in October.