Bullet sizes for 54 and 58 rifles

[George Gompf]

I would like some informaton from our membership. I am building double cavity mini molds and would like to get an opinion of the size our shooters prefer. I have made a run of 20 molds in .575, .577, .580 and .585. I am interested in what diameters would be good for 54 cal. My mold design will allow me to make 54 as well as 58 cal but I am not sure what size to make. My present run of molds is the "315 wadcutter" style but I have a full size mini designed from the original drawings which I will be building in the near future if I can get this thing going. So, guys and gals, what size mini and what style mini is used in a 54 cal?

Thanks
George Gompf
Forrest Escort Co.
Deep South

[Blair]

George,

Do you know the minimum (land to land measurment) bore dia, of the arm you are askeing about?
What of the rate of twist, of the barrel you are using?
Muzzle loader or breech loader?
These things are very important in being able to answer your question.
Just a thought on my part,
Blair

[George Gompf]

The question is, what is the consensus of the shooters using a 54 cal musket as to what is most commonly wanted.

I have made a number of 58 molds and have a very good Idea what the common diameters of the projectile are for those using 58. I am capable of making 54 cal minis for a musket. What do the shooters want? I do not know what style or diameters would be best received in a 54 cal musket. I can reduce the 58 cal wadcutter mini down to 54 with little more than a tool offset. I do not know if there is any demand for a 300 grain 54 cal mini in a wad cutter design. If the shooters using a 54 will let me know what they want in a bullet, I will try and design and build a double cavity captive core mold for them.

George Gompf
Forrest Escort Co.
Deep South

[Jim_Burgess_2078V]

George,
My Hege Mississippi may not be typical. It takes a .542 diameter bullet. I'm not a big fan of wadcutter type minies. They are fine for 50 yards but leave much to be desired at 100 yards. A standard old style minie of about 400 grains and .542 diameter would be something I would be willing to try. Those needing a somewhat smaller diameter bullet could size them down.
Jim Burgess, 15th CVI

[George Gompf]

I have received several responses to my question. The present opinions are to make them in .540 for those wanting a .535-.538 projectile and then make some in .545 for those wanting the oversize 54's. It seems that 100% of the 54 shooters prefer the traditional style and not the wadcutter. Will be happy to keep hearing input on this topic. Hope to get a lot of good information next week at the fort.

Thanks
George Gompf
Forrest Escort Co.

[Edwin Flint, 8427]

George,

An off the rack Italian Mississippi in .54 usually, in my experience, runs .546-7. As you have learned, the other barrels usually run .535 to .542. Might I suggest .538, .542 and .546? This would cover all of the barrel sizes and allow sizing down to cover most every possibility.

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

I would make the ,54 mold in .537 and .541, bullet style would be like the Rapine .534. I had Brooks make me a mold in .540 several years ago so it would work in a ,540 barrel and also could be sized for a .538 M1841 that I currently shoot. Works well.

My personal opinion is not 2 size more than 2 thousandths off a bullet and it seems like most of Hoyts barrels are running around .535 or a bit smaller.

Phil

[Yancey von Yeast, 8073]

George,

I'm with Phil. The old rapine 533400 bullet has an excellent reputation. Since they are not around anymore, there is a large call for moulds in that type/style. If you were to make one in that style in say .537-.540, I will order one today.

Thanks,
Yancey

[Don Dixon]

George,

The Austro-Hungarian Army ordnance standard for the Muster 1854 family of arms, rifles/Jägers/Extra Corps, was .547/8 inches/13.9 mm. A good .548 conical would permit some of the folks who would like to shoot their Lorenz system arms to do so.

Regards,
Don Dixon

[Scott Kurki, 12475]

I have a Bill Large barrel on my Mississippi that the is .535 but I size to .533 for it.

[George Gompf]

Thanks for the information guys. I will be leaving for the fort tomorrow and hope to start a second run of molds when I return, if the interest is there. I will keep checking on the board for additional information but will not be able to reply to anyone until I return next week.

Thanks
George