Need help with new find.

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Just purchased a Investarm 50 cal. muzzle loader model 210 from a friend. Manufactured by Fabbrica De Armi. I didn't get any manual on this rifle. Does anyone have any info. on loads or what will work best in it?
It has a 23 inch barrel with percussion cap ignition. What size percussion caps and load data would be greatly appreciated.
 
I'm not familiar with this firearm, but the twist rate of the barrel will determine which projectiles are best to use. for fast twist barrels (1:36 or faster) conical projectiles will give better accuracy. For slow twist barrels, a patched round ball will doe well. Good starting loads in either would be 55 grains of either 2f or 3f. You will need to work up a load varying one component (powder charge ball size, patch thickness, and lube type) at a time till you get the accuracy your want. The amount of powder charge will depend on the ultimate use (target shooting or hunting). Target loads generally use a lesser powder charge. With hunting loads, you want a decent trajectory along with reasonable accuracy. For ignition, #11 percussion caps should do the job, just be sure you have a good nipple. If someone has dry fired the gun many times the nipple will be peened , and may not seat a cap properly.
 
Fyrstyk has summed it nicely. My own preference is to find the best accuracy load and use it for hunting or target. Most of my 50 cals like around 60 to 65 grains of powder for best accuracy and still have plenty of punch for hunting.
 
Pretty much what has already been said.
There is a contingent in the muzzleloading community fixated with trying to get 30/06 performance out of a traditional muzzleloader. It ain’t gonna happen. The long standing rule of thumb, one grain per caliber, i.e. fifty grains for .50 caliber is a good starting point. There is no need, as some will no doubt suggest, to dump 90 or 100 grains of black powder down the tube trying for higher velocities. Particularly with a 26 inch barrel.
The turkey and clanger in this picture were one of the woods walk targets at Friendship for several years. The half inch steel both are made of has been bent into a shallow C in the case of the Turkey and completely shot through in the case of the clanger. My guess is that 95% of the hits were round balls and moderate powder charges.
 

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Most modern made caplocks are 1/48 twist, fair for both conicals and ball, easy to measure, use a t handle ramrod and snug cleaning patch, run it down the barrel and watch position of the T, when it has rotated 1/2 turn mark and measure. double and you have your twist rate. I usually start with grain to caliber for rifles; 50cal 50 gr. go up by 10gr. till group opens up, back down 5gr and try again, if good, that's your max accurate load for your gun with the bullet you shot with, load accuracy will change when you change your bullet, so you should mark type and wt of bullet with best load, keep a record and you can change as the need requires and stay on target.
 
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