Navy Arms 58 Cal Carbine? Musketoon??

[Eterry]

Hi all, I am a newbie on here, I built my first M/L in 1979 in 8th gr. shop class and have had a few since then, but I recently bought a Navy Arms 58 cal Musket? with a 24 inch barrel. The barrel is marked Made in Italy, Navy Arms, 58 cal 3 1/2 drams black powder only. The only other marks I see are a Crown with V-F under it and Enfield on the lock.
I searched the internet and it appears to have a 1-48" twist, but am not certain. Does this weapon have rifling Dixie Gun Works speak of as having shallow rifling at muzzle and deeper rifling at breech? Also is it .575 or .577? I found two used Lee molds for it this weekend, a REAL 440 gr and a 500 gr Minie nose pour. Their site shows both being .575, so they may not shoot like I want, but who knows.

I intend to hunt deer with it this fall in the brush, any info as far as loads, powder, bullet would be helpful. FWIW the weapon doesnt seem to have been fired; there was remnants of gummy packing grease in the breech, no burn marks around the nipple, and is really clean.

Thanks for any and all help,
Eterry

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

Eterry, You have a P61 Enfield musketoon, which may be very accurate. What town and state do you live in? I suggest you attend the next regional N-SSA skirmish near you to ask these questions. You can find out for yourself when and where these are held by going onto our home page at www.n-ssa.org (http://www.n-ssa.org), clicking on "INFORMATION" and then "All Skirmishes."

[Eterry]

Thanks Ken, I live in TEXAS BY GOD !!! north of Ft. Worth. I'll look into the when and where for more information....again thanks.

Eterry

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

Eterry, Don't guess you'll find an N-SSA skirmish near enough, so I'll give you email addresses of 3 skirmisher friends of mine who live in Texas for you to contact:

Smokinpole@ aol.com Charlie Bondurant lives in or near Houston, is Commander of NBForrest's Escort Co.

PALaake@juno.com P.A.Laake lives near Austin, a former member of the 2d TX Inf, current member of Forrest's Escort Co

Hawkeve_78757@yahoo.com Bill Knipscher lives in or near San Antonio, former Cdr of 2d TX, current member Terry's TX Rgrs.

Hope this helps you, KenH

[DAVE FRANCE]

Eterry,

I'm a member of the N-SSA and I live in Forney, Texas near HWY 80, a few miles East of Dallas.

Send me a message and I'll be glad to help you. Leave your phone number and I'll give you a call.

David France

dave-france@live.com

[Harry]

I have a Navy Arms P61 and shoot it in the carbine events. Mine is much more accurate then I am. For target I shoot 43 grains of Goex FFFg with a Lee trashcan bullet. I also use mine for deer hunting and up the charge to 60 grains Goex FFFg with the same bullet. The later provides a tighter group at 100yrds. The Lee trashcan is .575 and is just a little loose but the skirt is thin enough that there is planty of expantion. I never get tumblers or fly aways unless I cause them. I have shot many other bullets from the gun and found it to be very favorable on most but less accurate with heavy bullets and better with light. It shoots extremely well at 50yrds with the 375g wadcutter but that bullet drops off and leaves a wide group at 100 yrds. When I take the gun hunting I use the same loading tube setup as when on the line. BTW ... the Lee mold is aluminum and therfor rather inexpensive to buy a coupe and play with. If you would like I can send you some samples of the Lee trashcan bullets.

[Eterry]

Harry, is your P61 made in Italy or a Parker Hale? Just trying to get some info on my rifle. All I could find around here is FFg, so that will have to do. I guess you are talking about the lee wadcutter, it sure looks like a trashcan to me too! What wadcutter are you referring to as the 375 gr. one? if you could send me some trashcan bullets that would be great, I'll pm you details.

Thanks all,
Eterry

[Eterry]

Dave, pm sent.

thanks,
Eterry