New to black powder shooting

[sswann11c]

Hello all. I'm interested in buying a reporduction 1853 Enfield for shooting and reenacting. I've never fired a black powder rifle before, therefore, I've been doing some reading on loading, firing, and a few safety procedures. However, I still have some questions. The 1853 is a .577 cal. now, do I use a .577 minie? Or would the .58 cal work? I've also read that you should try to go .001-.003 below, i think, of the rifle's caliber, is this true or not? Also, do you reccomend using a patch to load the minie, or just the minie itself? What type of lube works best? Any suggestions on which brand/type of black powder to use not only for firing live ammunition, but also as a reenactor and at what load? Does anyone have a preference to a specific brand/type of percussion cap to use? Thanks for your help.

 

[darkgael]

1853

I do not own an Enfield. I do shoot a lot of BP - both muzzleloaders and BP cartridge arms.
Normally, the Minie "ball" is loaded without a patch. It's hollow base expands upon firing and seals the bore. The Minie weighed 500 grains. The original powder load for the Enfield, depending on who you read, was 60-70 grains of black powder (68?). The original loads used "musket" powder. I am not sure how that matches with modern granulations. Perhaps Fg?
If you have been reading enough, then you know that black powder or any of the modern substitutes for BP (Pyrodex, Triple 7, Black Mag, Pinnacle and others) are loaded by volume measure as opposed to being weighed out.
Lube - there are many possibilities from Crisco to some quite complex homemade mixes. I use Lee liquid Alox.
As for percussion caps - not sure of the size for the Enfield - probably #11. I use CCI, RWS, Remington. They all work.
About powder - the substitutes are very popular. One reason is that they are easier to find and buy. Real BP is much more controlled and increasing difficult to find in stores. I order mine in bulk (10 to 25 lbs) from online vendors like Powder Inc.
Pete

 

[Doc Hoy]

Welcome

sswan11c,

Welcome to the forum and to the discipline. I am neither re-enactor nor long arm shooter. But you will get all the information you need here. Great to read your posts.

 

[Hawg]

I do own a 53 Enfield. Mine is a .58 caliber. The originals were .577 but to my knowledge all the repros are .58's. I use home cast minies that come out of the mold at .577. Loading is smooth and easy whether it's the first shot or the fiftieth. Original loads were 65 grs. for the Confederacy and 60 grs. for the U.S. I use 70 grs. of Pyrodex RS. Caps are musket caps. Much bigger than #11. Do not use a patch with a minie. As darkgael said the hollow base expands on firing. I lube mine in the grooves with a homemade lube but Crisco or Bore Butter works well it just gets runny and messy in summer heat. Some people fill the hollow base with lube but I just like it better in the grooves.
Cleanup is with hot soapy water. Do not use petroleum based lubes in the bore.

 

[Doc Hoy]

And....

....try not to come home with TOO MUCH of a smile on your face. Your neighbors will think you are up to something illegal.

 

[Hawg]

try not to come home with TOO MUCH of a smile on your face

Those big bores will sure put one on ya too.

 

[4V50 Gary]

I have Parker Hale (UK) made Enfields and a Parker-Hale mold that casts a .577 minie ball. You might want also want to get a smoothsided pritchett ball mold for it. It's smoothsided and there are no cannelures on the bullet. Historically, that was what many Confederates shot.

 

[Hawg]

Historically, that was what many Confederates shot.

Historically they shot a lot of U.S. made three ring .58 minies they took off of dead yankees or from siezed supply trains. They work pretty well for the first few shots but foul up real fast. Pritchetts have to be lubed in the base since there's no grooves to hold lube.

 

[pvt.Long]

I wouldent do the enfield its the most common rifle in use If you want a good rifle that shoots good and looks the part get a either an import repriduction other then enfield or a springfield. They will work on either side. If you watch all the recent civil war movies mot of the rifles used are enfields and I personaly have a problem with the italian made replicas that are a B at best when you get down to it they dont hold a candle to the true reproductions. I support shooting the big bores especialy the .69 rifled springfield first time I shot it I got some jaw drops especialy from the guy shooting his big an beefy .50 bolt action.

 

[Hawg]

I wouldent do the enfield its the most common rifle in use

What's wrong with that?

I personaly have a problem with the italian made replicas that are a B at best when you get down to it they dont hold a candle to the true reproductions.

I have an original and an Armsport that's about 30 years old. The Armsport is a decent clone, not exact in a couple of very minor details, mainly the rear sight but still pretty close and it doesn't have progressive rifling but the sucker will shoot. It'll hold minute of five gallon bucket at 300 yards off a bench if I do my part.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I have 2 original Enfield P53 rifles, a Model 1 and a Model 2, and I shoot a Parker Hale P53 reproduction 3 band rifle in competition. Incidentally the Parker Hale P53 was manufactured using the original Enfield gauges and measures and its no surprise that it shoots very similarly to the originals.

All the above rifles shoot the .577 3 grease grove hollow base minnie projectile very well, a slightly better projectile is the heavier 4 grease grove projectile.

As a lubricant I use 50% beeswax, 50 vaseline and a dollop of Valvalene oil mixed and melted together, then the projectiles dipped into it so as just the grease groves are filled. They are then allowed to cool and the lube to solidify.

I use 50 grains of 2fg powder. Its not the original military round but I can shoot the reduced load all day.

The accuracy is very good out to 100 yards, 4 to 5 inch diameter groups are not uncommon, and considering the sight picture and my old eyes, I'm quite happy with that.

I have not shot any of the other breeds of reproduction P53s, so I can't help you here. Having said that I have seen a few and I believe they are not up to the same quality as the Parker Hale version.

 

[Hawg]

The Parker Hale made in England was the best no doubt about it.

 

[sswann11c]

Thanks for all the insight, every little bit has been very helpful. I decided to go with Euroarm's 1853 Enfield. Now that I think about it, I have done some blackpowder shooting, kind of. I'm an infantry mortarman in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan right now, and our mortars use blackpowder charges as a propellent to "reach out and touch someone" . Helluva good time shooting those. I can't wait to get home and give that enfield a go. Thanks again.