450 Grain Bullets from a .54 Caliber Minie Mould Wanted

[Don Dixon]

During the Civil War the standard .54 caliber Federal Minie ball weighed 450 grains. I haven't been able to find a .54 caliber mould that throws a Minie ball of that weight. If anyone has one, I need about 20 bullets for an experiment. I want to determine approximately what the velocity of the Federal Army's load would have been in an original, Austrian ordnance standard Muster 1854 System Lorenz rifle musket, since at .537 inches the bullet would have been grossly undersized for the .547 inch bore of the Lorenz. I would be happy to pay for the bullets.

Regards,
Don Dixon
2881V

[Jim_Burgess_2078V]

Hi Don,

I have a Moose 542395OS Minie mould that casts a bullet weighing about 410 grains. They may be somewhat larger in diameter and lighter in weight than what you are looking for but if you want to try them in your Lorenz, I can provide you with some bullets. I can deliver to you at Fairfax Rod & Gun Club or at the Nationals or you can get them from me at the Manassas Battlefield visitor center.

Jim Burgess
15th Conn. Vol. Inf.