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Thread: Just bought a 1863 and have some questions.

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    Nd1887 is offline
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    Just bought a 1863 and have some questions.

    So I bought a original 1863 Springfield and have some questions on live firing. Going to get the ok from a gun smith and, the rifling is very good and has no pitting in the bore. Best way to measure the bore for getting some mini balls to try, calipers? Only thing I have noticed about it so far if the 300yrd leaf like's to pop up easy. Also some light rust formed between the stock and the barrel best way to remove it?
    Thanks just getting into this genre of rifles have done some research on it not a total dumb dumb.

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    Lou Lou Lou is offline
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    Cut a piece of bicycle inner tube to make a big rubber band to hold down the sight. Machinist can measure bore with pin guages
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

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    Muley Gil is offline
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    Welcome!

    Remove the barrel from the stock and start by rubbing any rust with a oily rag. If there is heavy rust present, use a REAL coppy penny to scrap it away. Pin gauges are considered the best way measure the bore diameter. You want to shoot a pure lead Minie that is .001-.002" undersized.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
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    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

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    Nd1887 is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by Muley Gil View Post
    Welcome!

    Remove the barrel from the stock and start by rubbing any rust with a oily rag. If there is heavy rust present, use a REAL coppy penny to scrap it away. Pin gauges are considered the best way measure the bore diameter. You want to shoot a pure lead Minie that is .001-.002" undersized.
    Best place to but minie's from? Atleast until I figure out what size my rifle likes best

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    Muley Gil is offline
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    Go to this thread:

    https://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/19120-Starting-pointers-for-a-newbie-(Pedersoli-P53)

    and scroll down to post # 6. Harry Gaul may be able to help you out. He may be able to help you determine the correct size also.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
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    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

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    William H. Shuey is offline
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    Pin Gauges

    Hi Troops:

    If anyone wants to acquire some pin gauges Travers Tool Co has them. They have a website. http://www.travers.com/

    Bill Shuey

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    MR. GADGET's Avatar
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    There are several Nut and Bolt shops that sell pin gauges in my area, also amazon has them.
    Outside of that places like grainger or McMaster Carr have been great to deal with.

    I carried in a musket and they let me use some pin gauges to see what range I needed for.the muskets, carbines and some modern M1 Garands.

    Just made a list and they ordered the correct ranges for me.
    When our shoots fire back up I will have them with me for people that want to check barrels.
    BTW a 20 gauge plastic shotgun box works great for storage.
    MR. GADGET
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    Nd1887 is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by MR. GADGET View Post
    There are several Nut and Bolt shops that sell pin gauges in my area, also amazon has them.
    Outside of that places like grainger or McMaster Carr have been great to deal with.

    I carried in a musket and they let me use some pin gauges to see what range I needed for.the muskets, carbines and some modern M1 Garands.

    Just made a list and they ordered the correct ranges for me.
    When our shoots fire back up I will have them with me for people that want to check barrels.
    BTW a 20 gauge plastic shotgun box works great for storage.
    Looks like the 3$ guages go up by 5 thousandths and the ones that go by 1 thousandths cost 16$ each so if I need to try .577,.578 .579 .580 would cost more than 60$
    Looks like there is some light pitting there also any good way to something into the pitting to remove the rust in it?

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    Muley Gil is offline
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nd1887 View Post
    Looks like the 3$ guages go up by 5 thousandths and the ones that go by 1 thousandths cost 16$ each so if I need to try .577,.578 .579 .580 would cost more than 60$
    Looks like there is some light pitting there also any good way to something into the pitting to remove the rust in it?
    I have taken a shotgun cleaning rod and chucked it in my portable drill. Using a 20 gauge brush, SLOWLY rotate the brush in the barrel, pushing in and out. I remove the barrel from the stock and secure it in my bench vise. Occasionally remove the barrel from the vise and tap it muzzle down to remove the rust and lead. Clean and oil the barrel.
    Gil Davis Tercenio
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    34th Battalion, Virginia Cavalry
    Great, great grandson of Cpl Elijah S Davis, Co I, 6th Alabama Inf CSA

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