54 CAL MINIE MOLD PROJECT

[hp gregory, 9128]

i am in the process of working with NEI MOLDS to have some 54 cal minie molds made up. the molds will be .535 in dia. they will weigh around 425 grains. the shape will be close to a standard looking minie. these molds will be iron with a automatic base plug. they will fit standard handles. the 54 rifles are my favorite. since they are very few choices in 54 cal molds these days i thought i would have a good long lasting mold made up. these will be cherry cut so NEI would like to know what kind of interest there may be in this deal. if enough people show interest they will absorb the cherry cost. im not making a dime off any of this. i meerly want a mold that will cast a decent bullet and last while doing it.

hp gregory

[stump]

HP,
I would be interested. Jim Fedorko, 13th Confederate Inf.

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

HP....I will like to order one of your molds.

Phil

[hp gregory, 9128]

just wanted to be clear that i am meerly asking NEI to build these molds. if i can show them its worth it to them to foot the cost of the cherry fee the molds will be cheaper. other than coming up with the idea i realy dont have anything to do with the molds. you will need to contact NEI to order these molds. at this point the project is in its early stages. im sure the molds wont be available until early next year. i hope to get the first mold and make sure that its what we want. if it passes muster then i will everyone know they are available from nei. for now im just curious as to how many may have interest in one.

hp

[Phil Spaugy, 3475V]

Got it...just keep us posted !!!

Thanks

[Jim Leinicke 7368V]

HP- An awful lot of us .54 shooters shoot .539-.540 barrels. These mould swould have broader interest if produced to cast about .537-.538 or so to be adaptable to all barrels. .535 seems awful small. Anyway, I would take one if they were made bigger.
Jim Leinicke

[JimB]

HP, I would be interested but I agree with Jim. My bore is .537 and size to a .536/.5355.
Jim Baird

[hp gregory, 9128]

this is one reason i am putting out a feeler. i wanted to see what folks thought. i shoulda asked what size was needed. i guess i had rapines 534-400 mold in mind. i think most of the barrels hoyt is making now are around 534 bore diam. or am i wrong on that. glad this came up.

hp

[Mike Rouch 07791]

My miss. Hoyt reline takes .537 also. Are you keeping track HP ? See ya in the spring.


Mike

[John Holland]

HP -

I am also interested in a good .54 projectile. I agree with a median diameter of somewhere around .537/.538, as I don't like sizing the .542's down to .538. The .535 Lyman was always a sloppy fit in anything I tried it in.

My other concern is that the projectile is long enough for the fast twist bores in common use today. I had a terrible time stabilizing the short Lyman .535 in a Bill Large barrel. It was extremely unforgiving, with a narrow window for the powder charge. I would also like to see a projectile with a minimum of 0.950 OAL to a maximum of 1.100 OAL. Personally, I'd like to see it around 1.080. I know there is a ratio for Diameter to OAL, but I don't recall it at this time.

JDH