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David Kennard 12146
05-13-2010, 07:48 AM
All,
Who has the 54 cal tubes? I'll be loading them for a Mississippi. I see Lodgewood has the round bottom ones.
Also I would appreciate any suggestions on a preferred bullet.
Thanks :D

Phil Spaugy, 3475V
05-13-2010, 08:10 AM
Dave,

What kind of barrel, twist etc?

Phil

David Kennard 12146
05-13-2010, 08:22 AM
Phil,
The barrel is a stock Euro Arms with an advertised twist of 1 in 66".

Phil Spaugy, 3475V
05-13-2010, 10:17 AM
I would start with the .534400 Rapine and 40 grains of 3F.

What is the diameter of the bore?

Phil

David Kennard 12146
05-13-2010, 10:30 AM
Don't know on the bore as I sent it off to C. Hahn to mod to a Mtd Inf right after I got it. I'll check to see what he came up with.
I see RCBS makes a Hodgdon in 54 also. That is the bullet style I shoot in my 55 with reasonable success.
Thanks

Phil Spaugy, 3475V
05-13-2010, 12:54 PM
I have experimented with the Hodgden .540 minie, but seem to always come back to the Rapine / traditional style bullet in my .54 calibre M1841's

Phil

Bob Elka, 12001
05-13-2010, 01:26 PM
Green Dave I kinda like those round bottom soft ones. Any idea of your bore dimensions ??? Did your loading press arrive yet ??

05-13-2010, 01:47 PM
I may be able to get the flat-bottomed tubes for .54 caliber. I'll check and let you know.

David Kennard 12146
05-13-2010, 02:26 PM
Bob,
Got it yesterday. Havn't tried it out yet. :D
Thanks

Tom Magno, 9269V
05-13-2010, 04:36 PM
All,
Also I would appreciate any suggestions on a preferred bullet.
Thanks :D

I shoot a .54 Wilkinson over 43gr 3F. Shoots mahvelous dahling.

David Kennard 12146
07-12-2010, 09:16 PM
All,
Anyone use the Lee 54 Cal. Oversize Minnie :?: I have a Mississippi with a bore of .542. Would like to get a bullet that I can size to .54.
thanks :D

Edwin Flint, 8427
07-13-2010, 01:04 AM
Dave,

Lyman makes a mould in .542 that you should be able to size down to .540. I can loan you mine if you want to try it.

Gary Van Kauwenbergh, 101
07-13-2010, 11:46 AM
I like my .54 cal. Wilkenson bullet. I especially like the six cavity mold. I shoot 43 1/2 grains of GOEX FFFg for a load.

Glen - I don't care for the vinyl quick loads. I would love to get some .54 cal., flat-bottomed, plastic cap locks. The ones I did buy a few years back were too tight, and the bullets tended to squeeze out. I don't care about rimmed or rimless, but If you can come up with some caplocks like the ones for .69 cal., I'll be buying some.

Jim_Burgess_2078V
07-13-2010, 12:44 PM
I have discovered that an unsized Lyman .542 Minie will fit in a Hege .54 Mississippi but these bullets are too large for the flat base .54 cal. polyethylene tubes. The soft vinyl tubes may be your best bet unless you need to size down your bullets.

Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

David Kennard 12146
07-13-2010, 03:36 PM
Jim,
I had the same experience. I bought some of the flat based style at the Nationals this year. I like to load my bullets base down in the tubes, but the flat based were to small requiring them to be put in nose first. Actually I have ended up splitting a couple. I got some of the soft style which work much better. :idea: I just need to get a good, sized bullet now.
News at 6, film at 11. 8)
thanks

Don Dixon
07-13-2010, 07:51 PM
.54 Tubes: Look up Caplugs on the net. Caplugs makes the flat bottomed tubes the sutlers sell at Winchester, and sells them in a variety of sizes.

Mould: One of Greg Edington's Wilkinson moulds, if you can find one. With 45 - 50 grs of Swiss FFFg, and MCM lube, they are VERY accurate in everything I've ever shot them in.

Regards,
Don Dixon
2881V

Charlie Hahn
07-20-2010, 07:51 AM
I offer paper tubes for 54 cal bullets. They are stiff sided flat base $14 per hundred. Similar to the old paper loading tubes, new production.

Charlie Hahn

R. McAuley 3014V
07-20-2010, 06:30 PM
Charlie,

Any chance of you making any combustible paper cartridges for the .50 caliber Gallager? I recently saw an original paper cartridge on a historical ammo dealer's website and had simply not realized this was one of the wartime extingencies furnished for this carbine during the war.

John Holland
07-21-2010, 11:30 AM
Richard,

Can you provide a link to the cartridge you saw? I don't believe it is a feasable concept due to the lack of a gas seal and would like to know more.

I have seen Gallager cartridges that have a thin brown paper wrap to prevent verdigris, perhaps that was one of them?

Thanks,
John

R. McAuley 3014V
07-21-2010, 03:30 PM
Hi John,
The catalog I downloaded was from a site now unavailable but will forward it separately. Similar paper and foil (brass or iron) cartridges are found below:

http://www.rothchildeantiques.com/CivilWarBullets.html

http://www.horsesoldier.com/catalog/c0034.html

http://www.icollector.com/CIVIL-WAR-ERA ... E_i9320611 (http://www.icollector.com/CIVIL-WAR-ERA-GALLAGHER-CAVALRY-CARBINE-CARTRIDGE_i9320611)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =175361438 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=175361438)

http://www.shilohrelics.com/cgi-bin/Dis ... 33&Sub=447 (http://www.shilohrelics.com/cgi-bin/Display_Items.asp?Cat=133&Sub=447)

But in addition to that item, oldammo (July 09) presented a write-up on the Silas Crispin cartridge patent held together with Thomas Rodman relative to a rolled cartridge case made of either brass foil and paper or brass alone.

http://www.oldammo.com/july09.htm

With the exception of the Rodman & Crispin case, which appears applicable to the Gallagher as well as the Smith, such a cartridge (though expensive) might work well for the gas seal? However, the brass forming costs would be complex and therefore costly but not any more costly than forming any other brass cartridge.

Richard

Charlie Hahn
07-21-2010, 06:56 PM
Gallager paper cartridges, and other items are on my list of developmental items, as well as a Smith paper option. It is just a time factor right now. If there was more interest, it could move up in the pile

Charlie