Originally Posted by
rfd
balls is balls and bullets is bullets.
1:48 twist has always and forever been an offshore gun compromise for bullets AND balls, which is the predominate part of this thread - the twist and the gun.
conicals - ergo, BULLETS - need the faster twists ... patched balls need the slower twists, which has been that way for patched balls for Hundreds of years of rifled barrels for flinters and then cappers alike.
during their day, and absolutely today, real american built traditional muzzleloaders that were designed to only propel patched round balls of .45 and above will ALL employ a slow rifling twist of about 1:60 thru 1:72 ... mostly dependent on bbl length and bore diameter.
think about what you will use that "trad muzzy" for, and then take a good clue from all of the above, then with the right gun and bbl twist, begin whatever loading adventures you deem necessary to part gnat wings at 100 meters or whatever traditional muzzleloader fun that piques yer fancy.