I purchased an 1853 Enfield replica not long ago. I was wondering if anyone one could steer me to a source for .577 Minies. Also some of the load data I have seen says a 70 gr 2F charge should perform with a 510 gr bullet pretty well. I haven't shot a black powder gun since I was a teenager which has been over 40 years ago, and would be grateful for any advice.
1853 Enfield
- Thread starter delta58
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Dixie Gun Works sells cast replicas of proper Enfield type minies, they look like artillery shells without any grease grooves in them. Just a hollow base. The bad part is that they are not cheap. You can find sort of generic musket minies at gun shows from bullet casters etc. that are sort of the typical Springfield type 3 groove minies for much less. How well they perform in your rifle depends on alot of things, like the lube the powder load etc. I have a bag of the generics for a musketoon but have not gotten around to trying them so I cannot really help you on specifics. I believe the authentic Enfield bullets also had wood plugs in the hollow bases but I doubt that the new ones have that. Otherwise I suppose round ball would work if you select the right ball size and patch thickness. Well presumably the sights are regulated for the minie, not the lighter balls? Depending on whether or not they take that into consideration making the replicas. Dixie may have loading data for the rifle too. Their catalogs have this info and their website might also. 70 sounds like a full charge, you might experiment starting 10 grains lower than that.
I cast my own. I have a Lyman traditional and a Lee Improved with a large meplat. I prefer the Lyman but the Lee works just as good. I use 70 grs. of powder and my Enfield will hold minute of five gallon bucket at 300 yds. Mine is a .58 tho, not a .577 as were the originals. My cast minies are .577 for the Lyman as cast and .578 for the Lee as cast. You want a bullet that's .001-.003 under bore size.
I think you are correct about wooden plug Tom2, it seems I recall seeing that before. I think it supposed to help with gas seal.
Hawg Haggen what do you use for your lead supply? Back in the day I used wheel weights when casting bullets for my .38 wadcutters, I think you are supposed to use soft lead for the Enfield is that right?
Hawg Haggen what do you use for your lead supply? Back in the day I used wheel weights when casting bullets for my .38 wadcutters, I think you are supposed to use soft lead for the Enfield is that right?
Wood plugs were used on the first Gardner bullets but were discontinued when it was found they weren't necessary.
I use stick on wheel weights which are 99.5% pure lead. They have a BHN of 6 where pure lead has a BHN of 5. They're plenty soft enough for muzzleloaders. The weight of the ramrod will push mine down the bore to the last three inches or so whether it's the first shot or 50th and I do not swab between shots. I use my own mixed lube of Crisco/beeswax (in the grooves, not the base) but I've used Bore Butter or straight Crisco. Either works well but both get really runny in summer heat.
Clip on weights have a BHN of 10-12.
I use stick on wheel weights which are 99.5% pure lead. They have a BHN of 6 where pure lead has a BHN of 5. They're plenty soft enough for muzzleloaders. The weight of the ramrod will push mine down the bore to the last three inches or so whether it's the first shot or 50th and I do not swab between shots. I use my own mixed lube of Crisco/beeswax (in the grooves, not the base) but I've used Bore Butter or straight Crisco. Either works well but both get really runny in summer heat.
Clip on weights have a BHN of 10-12.
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load
first if your bore is .577 you will need a 575 minnie. the rule is .001 - .002 under bore dia.
I have used the P-H minnie w/ 48 grn 3fffg. w/ the hodgens minnie 42 grn 3fffg goex or 38 of 3fffg swiss (that the one some N-SSA skirmishers use.) good groups out to 100 yrs cant help you past that I don't shoot more than that.
If you go to the N-ssa home page there is a link to suttlers a few have minnies. as stated dixie and I know Ball Accuary also.
a service charge was about 68 of musket powder. two muh powder and u stand a chance of blowing a skirt off the minne. If you do kiss accuracy goodbye until you get it out. also a nipple w/ to big a hole will effect Acc.
only use pure lead. lube i use is 50/50 beeswax olive oil all year round.
first if your bore is .577 you will need a 575 minnie. the rule is .001 - .002 under bore dia.
I have used the P-H minnie w/ 48 grn 3fffg. w/ the hodgens minnie 42 grn 3fffg goex or 38 of 3fffg swiss (that the one some N-SSA skirmishers use.) good groups out to 100 yrs cant help you past that I don't shoot more than that.
If you go to the N-ssa home page there is a link to suttlers a few have minnies. as stated dixie and I know Ball Accuary also.
a service charge was about 68 of musket powder. two muh powder and u stand a chance of blowing a skirt off the minne. If you do kiss accuracy goodbye until you get it out. also a nipple w/ to big a hole will effect Acc.
only use pure lead. lube i use is 50/50 beeswax olive oil all year round.
Confederate charge was 65 grs., Union charge was 60 grs. I use 70 grs. Pyrodex. Never heard of a skirt blowing off. I've heard of blowing skirts, meaning gasses pass by the skirt but the skirt stays intact. You won't see blown skirts until you get up around 100 grs. unless the skirt is a lot thinner than what I use. Lead doesn't have to be pure but does have to be really close to pure or the skirt won't expand to fit the bore. Also the higher the BHN the less it shrinks when it cools. Bullets made from pure lead are smaller than bullets made from hard lead out of the same mold. Like I said my favorite minies are .003 undersize and they are deadly out to 300 yds. I've gone past 100 grs. of powder and accuracy didn't suffer but there's no real benefit from it either.
Skirts on mine.
Recovered from 300 yds.
Skirts on mine.
Recovered from 300 yds.
bottom line you really need to slug the bore to know what you have. enfields were .577 springfields were .58.
My P-H 53 was .577 my euro arms musketoon was .578. both my two band colt are .582. mfg's have a wide range of bore dia.'s Have been told most of it is due to when your barrel was cut, the first one off the cutter or the last one before it was worn out.
My P-H 53 was .577 my euro arms musketoon was .578. both my two band colt are .582. mfg's have a wide range of bore dia.'s Have been told most of it is due to when your barrel was cut, the first one off the cutter or the last one before it was worn out.
robhof
Another source for soft lead is the cores of jacketed bullets, they rely on the jacket for hardness and soft lead for weight and adhesion to the jacket. I have a well used outdoor range near and I go after a heavy rain and the spent bullets are exposed on the berms. If others are there, I collect when checking targets, otherwise I just bring a small bucket and load up. It's not pure, but soft enough for b/p and a lot softer than ww's.
Another source for soft lead is the cores of jacketed bullets, they rely on the jacket for hardness and soft lead for weight and adhesion to the jacket. I have a well used outdoor range near and I go after a heavy rain and the spent bullets are exposed on the berms. If others are there, I collect when checking targets, otherwise I just bring a small bucket and load up. It's not pure, but soft enough for b/p and a lot softer than ww's.