.54 Minie Mold?

[Jim_Burgess_2078V]

I have a Hege .54 caliber Mississippi rifle that has a bore size of around .543. I've been using a Lyman 542622 mold that drops a .542 bullet which fits nicely in the rifle without any sizing. So far I'm not impressed with my groups off the bench. Part of the problem could be the very thick skirt on the Lyman bullet and only two grease grooves. Not sure why Lyman can't design a better .54 Minie with a thinner skirt. I also have Lyman's 533476 mold but that is far too loose a fit. Before I go looking to get a custom mold made, does anyone have or know of a mold that produces a .540-.542 diameter, 3-groove Minie with a relatively thin base skirt?
Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

[Lou Lou Lou]

Jim
have a new base plug made up to give you a thinner skirt. Harry made one for my RCBS, works a treat.

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

Jim,

As a long time shooter of M1841 rifles I have not found any off the shelf mold in a size that works in bores above .538 or so. I have gone the custom route with Brooks or Mike Oziak.

I had the very same problem with that .542 Lyman mold years ago.

Right now I am shooting a .542 mold sized to .540 with 45 grains of Goex 3F. This bullet was designed by Jim Leineke a number of years ago, with Oziak making the mold.

Phil

[ian45662]

I am having good luck with gompf molds also. I use them for my 58 and 54 hollow base bullets but like brooks they are not cheap however they are very much worth the cost.

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

I have also had Charlie Hahn fresh out several molds for me, and redo the baseplugs. That works well too.

[Jim Mulligan 7288V]

Jim,

I have one of the brass moulds for the Jim Leineke designed bullet, never used if you are interested in buying it.

Regards,

Jim Mulligan

[ms3635v]

I have a Euroarms Mississippi in .54 caliber (bore size is .543). I tinkered with three hollow base moulds (Lee, NEI and Lyman) and was not completely satisfied with the results. So, I had Moose make me a .542", 2 cavity Wilkinson mould. This bullet fits just right and shoots great with 38 or 40 grains of GOEX 3F.