Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Suggestions on working up a load

  1. #1
    melnic is offline
    Team:
    Visitor (non-N-SSA Member)
    Member
    NA
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    20
    Region:
    Visitor

    Suggestions on working up a load

    Hello all,
    I'm not a Skirmisher but hope to get to that one day in the coming years.
    Not new to Muzzleloading and have 3 I want to finally do some load development on and looking for some suggestions here.
    I have run pin gauges through them to get bore diameter.
    What I have
    Original Springfield 1863 Bore .582
    Original Springfield 1863 Bore .581
    Traditions Enfield 1853 Bore .577

    I have molded up from soft lead Moose Moulds (About 150 of each)
    .580-466 Trashcan Hollow Base Mould
    https://moosemoulds.wixsite.com/mm2013/trashcan-hb
    .580-450 Old Style Minnie Hollow Base Mould
    https://moosemoulds.wixsite.com/mm2013/minnie-hb
    These molds come out with relatively thin skirts and deep hollow with skirts at about .055" vs say .070"-.090" like I"ve seen from other molds

    I have the Lyman 578675 Mold also w/ the Thin skirt insert from Northeast Trading Co. But don't have any molded up at this time.

    I have sizers for .580,.578,.577,.576

    Local to me I can get Goex 3F which I plan to use.

    So, I'm looking for a starting point of which bullet sized to what diameter and what loads of 3F to start off with (what increments?) for the first few range trips (when things open up).
    I will likely start with one of the Springfields.

    Tub of MCM Lube



    Thx in advance for any help.

  2. #2
    Lou Lou Lou is offline
    Team:
    Tammany Regiment, 42nd New York
    Member
    4869
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Lung Island, New Yawk
    Posts
    1,965
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts
    Try both moulds in the two springfields, unsized.
    try 40-60 grain loads in 5 grain increments. Take best load and try 2 grains on either side to see if that improves load.
    Lou Lou Lou Ruggiero
    Tammany Regt-42nd NYVI

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Huntsville
    Posts
    3,733
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas
    What Lou said.

    If your bullets in pure lead actually drop at .580 (and just because the mold says it does doesn't mean it will), then you might get away shooting them in the original Springfields unsized.

    I typically move up in sizers in .001" increments until the bullet doesn't fit, then back down one sizer. But since your bullet is (supposedly) .580 you can't go up any bigger than that. (Well, you can, with swaging, but I won't go into that).

    Like Lou said, I typically go 40 to 60 grains in 5 grain increments, 5 shots in each group size.

    Most of my muskets shoot 45-50 grains 3F, though I don't use full-size minie balls very much. I've bot a Pedersoli P58 (1:48 twist) that so far only likes a big heavy bullet with 60 grains 2F powder. I don't shoot it much because I have other guns that shoot less lead and powder and so are cheaper to shoot.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

  4. #4
    melnic is offline
    Team:
    Visitor (non-N-SSA Member)
    Member
    NA
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Posts
    20
    Region:
    Visitor
    Thx for the input so far.
    Should I swab between changing charge volume?
    Or do I need to take some fowling shots before I start up the load testing?
    I have been using the sizer to take the lube off, but even in the larger bore Springfield, an unsized minie has some high spots that it won't slip in easily w/o sizing.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Huntsville
    Posts
    3,733
    Region:
    Deep South - Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Texas
    Should I swab between changing charge volume?
    Or do I need to take some fowling shots before I start up the load testing?
    Each load group should be it's own independent test with the only variable being the difference in charge.

    So if you start your first group with a clean barrel, then all subsequent groups should start on a clean barrel.

    If your first group starts with a clean barrel and then a fouling shot, then all subsequent groups should start on a clean barrel with a fouling shot.

    Each charge group needs to be conducted the same way so that you can accurately compare load group to load group with no other variable introduced.

    I have been using the sizer to take the lube off, but even in the larger bore Springfield, an unsized minie has some high spots that it won't slip in easily w/o sizing.
    If your bullets do not consistently load without sizing, then size. First, especially in competition, you don't want to be fumbling around with a bullet that doesn't want to load. Second, sizing provides a measure of uniformity to all of your rounds.

    Steve
    Steve Sheldon
    Commander
    4th Louisiana Delta Rifles
    NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructor

Similar Threads

  1. Load Suggestions on fast twist barrels
    By Jim Wimbish, 10395 in forum Small Arms
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 06-18-2014, 07:08 PM
  2. Need Burnside load suggestions
    By Steve Weems in forum Shooting Techs, Tips, & Tricks
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-28-2014, 02:24 PM
  3. wtb: Smith Carbine in working condition, maybe a burnside
    By nickg in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-08-2012, 07:01 PM
  4. Working ph. number for Ray Rapine?
    By Tim Lyne in forum Wanted/For Sale Items
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11-17-2010, 02:50 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •