Load Data for Parker Hale 1861 Musketoon

[oscarlovel]

Just picked up a very nice Birmingham 1861 PH Musketoon. I'm looking for load recommendations for skirmish use (ie target, not hunting). What bullet you are using, what powder and amount, and what accuracy I can expect? Also, what are you sizing your Minies to?

[Gary Van Kauwenbergh, 101]

I used the same load in mine for both target shooting and hunting, and always used the .575 Parker-Hale shallow-based minie. I started out using 50 gr. of GOEX FFg, but switched to 43gr. of GOEX FFFg. The only other advice I would offer, is that I always held mine a little forward with the left hand, and pulled it in tight. Mine seemed to have a lot of barrel-jump, and I had really watch the consistency of my hold, or the groups would get larger.

I do not own any Parker-Hales at the moment, but at one time had the 3 and 2 banders, along with the musketoon and Volunteer rifle. You can find some chronograph readings I made under 'Gary Van Kauwenbergh's Notes' on this page: http://acwsa.org/Pages/ShootingNotebook.htm

[Muley Gil]

Mine shoots well with 45 grains of FFFg Goex, topped with the Lee full wadcutter, sized to .576.

[Dennis Kurowski 10555]

37 gr of 3F with the PH Minie.