Rifled Musket accuracy

[58cal]

I found David Minshall or he found me here. Page 2

http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/253464/tp/1/

Next target practice with be 80, 90 an 100 grains of FFg .570 rb and .015 patch  at 50 and 100 yds. to see if the patch holds up and if the group opens up.

After that I'll try some .575, 566 grain, shallow base minies from SS firearms. They were already sized (.5751-.5752) when I received them.
50 and 100 yds. I think about 70 grains FFg.

I'm using 50/50 Beeswax, olive oil for lube. I hot dipped them.

SS Firearms also sells the same minie in .577, that might be my next try.

Anyone ever use this die?   http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_101_285&products_id=15317

[coyotejoe]

Yes, I have one and I don't know why they even make it, it reduces bullet diameter to .575" which is too small for any barrel I know of and about the size they drop from the mold anyhow. You are most likely to need a way to make them larger, not smaller.

[58cal]

You have the GA 0406, .577 Enfield and it sizes to .575?

They sell a GA 1103 that is suppose to size to .575

Maybe I could have one honed or reamed to about .5760 - .5765


I think I'll order the .577 minies and see how they fit.

SS Firearms minies seem to be well cast, if I have to size them down, does it matter if I only size them down .001?

[coyotejoe]

I doubt you'll need any sizing, they should come right from the mold. Bullet sizing is often necessary for modern firearms but it is never desirable, sizing never can improve a cast bullet, it can't make a bullet better than it dropped from the mold, only smaller than straight from the mold. The most accurate minie is one which fits the individual bore snuggly, not so tight as to be hard to ram down but not so loose as to fall down the clean bore. Many serious competitors buy a custom mold to cast a bullet slightly larger than the bore and then size it down a tiny bit to a perfect fit. They may be using that one mold for several rifles with slightly different bore specs and have one custom made sizer for each rifle. But if you are buying pre-cast minies or casting from a mass produced mold I think they are much more likely to be too small than too large.
 In other words, don't assume you'll need a sizer until you find you actually do need one and then, if you need one it will probably need to be custom made.

[58cal]

Thanks.

I ordered the .577, 566 grain minies and I'll see how they fit.

Hopefully it will be snug enough to give good accuracy.

Will still need to remove the excess lube off of them after hot dipping.

[Pat/Rick]

Who are some of the custom mould makers? Do you have links? Are the sizers polished smooth inside? I know a few machinist who could make some if they are. Thanks.

[58cal]

I was talking with a guy the other day that has a rifle like mine and he uses a .565 rb with 10 oz canvas (.025) soaked in moose milk. Says the smaller ball is better because of the progressive depth grooves. I have used .570 rb and .015 patch.


The instructions that came with my rifle calls for a minie of .575 dia, 50-70g of ffg or fg and I have read several places where people say you should use a minie .002 under bore size.

David Minshall, you,  and others recommend .001 under bore size.
I have tried both and have yet to notice a difference, maybe it's because I only shoot 50 yds.

I was shooting 65 and 70g of ffg and 60g fffg using .5758 530g pritchett, and .575 and .5765 566g shallow base P/H
Next time out I'm going to try less powder maybe 50g ffg and 45g fffg.
Ordered some 460g 575213 OS minies to try also, even though I've read these rifles do better with a heavier minie.

Most of my shots are 3" high which is understandable at 50 yds, but I'm also right on most shots, even when I shot the rb.
I think I may have a flinching problem, or the trigger pull is to heavy.

I know I don't have a problem with my 50 cal. T/C Triumph at 100 yds, but it has a scope.

I doubt you'll need any sizing, they should come right from the mold. Bullet sizing is often necessary for modern firearms but it is never desirable, sizing never can improve a cast bullet, it can't make a bullet better than it dropped from the mold, only smaller than straight from the mold. The most accurate minie is one which fits the individual bore snuggly, not so tight as to be hard to ram down but not so loose as to fall down the clean bore. Many serious competitors buy a custom mold to cast a bullet slightly larger than the bore and then size it down a tiny bit to a perfect fit. They may be using that one mold for several rifles with slightly different bore specs and have one custom made sizer for each rifle. But if you are buying pre-cast minies or casting from a mass produced mold I think they are much more likely to be too small than too large.
 In other words, don't assume you'll need a sizer until you find you actually do need one and then, if you need one it will probably need to be custom made.

[coyotejoe]

I'd suggest you first work on getting a consistent group and not worry about the group location on target until you find a load which puts them all in pretty much the same hole.
  Only after you have settled on the load you want to shoot, can you then begin tinkering with the sights to get that group moved to where you want it. If you are getting consistent groups then I doubt that you are flinching or jerking the trigger. One really can't expect a rifle to shoot center for you right out of the box, some sight adjustment is nearly always required. Since the rifled muskets have no provision for windage adjustment that must be done by filing the sights. To move your groups to the left you will need to file the V notch rear leaf on the left side only. You will unavoidably be making the V deeper at the same time as moving it left. But I wouldn't worry about it shooting 2-3" high at 50 yards, you may find that gives you a pretty fair zero at 100.