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The mould is on its way...

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10 May 2004, 14:47
Bakes
The mould is on its way...
I sent away to Greenriver Rifle Works for a mould for my tower musket (1859). I took a cast of the bore(the wrong way I've been told) and sent that away to have a mould made. The cast measured out to be .577 cal, god knows what weight projectile it will throw.

Being a gumby when it comes to BP any tips from you guys about getting this rifle shooting? I've ordered a mini-ball mould btw.
11 May 2004, 09:25
<eldeguello>
BAKES!! I have a .58 flintlock with a GRRW barrel they made for me when they were still in Utah! Great barrel, 1/60" twist.



The bullet you need depends on your rifling twist. The U.S. Civil war Springfields and copies were 1/72", and use a 535-grain Minie ball with a service load of 60 grains of FFg powder. I think the same bullet and powder charge would be close to "issue" for your Tower (Enfield??) rifle-musket.



I use the Lyman 57730 Minie bullet in my .58, which is a rifle with 1" across the flats octogon barrel of 36" length. The bullet weighs 570 grains, and come out of the mould with pure lead at .577" I size it to .575", and it is a tight sliding fit in my GRRW barrel. Shoots quite well with 120 grains of FFg, but I'd use less powder in a musket. The barrel walls are thinner than in a rifle. Strangely, my .58 rifle shoots a .570" round ball with 0.015" patch and 120 grains of FFg to the same point of impact @ 100 yards as the 570-grain Minie ball! (Good thing too - the rifle has fixed sights!)



Have fun! I think you'll like black powder, once you get a whiff of the fumes!!
11 May 2004, 14:25
Bakes
Thanks for the info mate. They are sending me some load info with the mould. Can't wait to use it against some pigs this year