j8064
Garrett Co Hooligan #1
Most everyone on the forum knows for several months I've been figuring out shooting and developing accuracy with my new Pedersoli 1861 Springfield reproduction. It's a beautiful rifle. We've looked at it here: https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=220392&highlight=Hooligan; and on other threads.
I've already learned that loading techniques for consistent ignition; BP powder grind; brands of musket caps; diameter and purity of lead used for home cast boolits; and a lot of other factors come into play when developing accuracy for these fun assault rifles of the 19th century.
With all that said, I'm hoping to focus this thread specifically on what my recovered Minie balls are telling us they did when fired. Our objective is to develop accuracy moving forward.
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Below are pics of Minies I recovered at the range's 100 yard berm today. They were fired a couple of weeks ago. The boolits were originally cast using "soft" lead in a Lee .575/500 mold. They were sized to .575; lubed with a 50/50 mixture of beeswax & Crisco; excess lube was cleared and they were fired by 60 grains of Goex FFG. All seemed to be the correct diameter for the rifle's bore when rammed home - tight, but not too tight.
I do not have target pics from their firing. Suffice to say none of what we've fired could be called a "group" at this point. But we've seen no keyholes and all would have been bad news for a man-sized target at 50 yards.
My first thoughts on the recovered slugs compared to an unfired example from the same batch are:
Learning to accurately load and shoot an 1861 Springfield has been on my To-Do list for umpteen years.
I'm wide open to any and all input y'all can provide!
What say you "Civil War Reenactors"?
Thanks in advance...
I've already learned that loading techniques for consistent ignition; BP powder grind; brands of musket caps; diameter and purity of lead used for home cast boolits; and a lot of other factors come into play when developing accuracy for these fun assault rifles of the 19th century.
With all that said, I'm hoping to focus this thread specifically on what my recovered Minie balls are telling us they did when fired. Our objective is to develop accuracy moving forward.
==========================================================
Below are pics of Minies I recovered at the range's 100 yard berm today. They were fired a couple of weeks ago. The boolits were originally cast using "soft" lead in a Lee .575/500 mold. They were sized to .575; lubed with a 50/50 mixture of beeswax & Crisco; excess lube was cleared and they were fired by 60 grains of Goex FFG. All seemed to be the correct diameter for the rifle's bore when rammed home - tight, but not too tight.
I do not have target pics from their firing. Suffice to say none of what we've fired could be called a "group" at this point. But we've seen no keyholes and all would have been bad news for a man-sized target at 50 yards.
My first thoughts on the recovered slugs compared to an unfired example from the same batch are:
- The standard Civil War load of 60 grains of BP produces plenty of power.
- Compared to an unfired boolit, the skirts on the Minie's seem less expanded than I expected. Rifling is very shallow in a Springfielld's bore. But I don't see as much rifling on the skirts as I thought I would.
- Would different (guaranteed pure) lead alloy and/or Lyman or RCBS molds produce thinner Minie skirts and therefore better accuracy?
Learning to accurately load and shoot an 1861 Springfield has been on my To-Do list for umpteen years.
I'm wide open to any and all input y'all can provide!
What say you "Civil War Reenactors"?
Thanks in advance...