Greetings all. Well the BP bug has bitten me pretty bad and I recently purchased a new Armi Sport 1861 Springfield to go along with my Pietta 1860 Army and Uberti 3rd model Dragoon. I am planning on getting the 1861 out to the range tomorrow or the next. After doing a lot of research on firing and loading it I think I have the basics down (hammer to half cock, pour measured powder charge down barrel, lube Minnie and insert into muzzle, tap Minnie down with rod, install musket cap, aim, hammer to full cock and fire). I'll be using .575 dia 566 Gr soft lead Minnes and with a load of 50gr Pyrodex Select RS powder to start with and see how close this gets me on paper. I also understand that you must lube the Minnie prior to inserting it into the barrel. I have some Traditions wonderlube 1000 plus that I am planning on using for this. Without making my own lube, Is this something that will work appropriately for lubing the Minnie or is there something better? I have also read conflicting info that states I should still use some sort of patch or wadding even if using a Minnie. I don't believe this is the case for this type of musket rifle when shooting Minnies, but can anyone confirm this for me? Thanks again for helping out a newbie...
1861 Springfield questions
- Thread starter barakmd
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Welcome. The 1861 is a good musket some things to remember as that musket has a side access screw that you need to insure is snug not torqed. When you first go out to fire run a couple dry patches down to wipe out any excess oil in the barrel and at the breech, its also best to pop 2 caps with the muzzle down by aleaf or grass if it moves then the channel is clear it also helps to get any oil in the vent channel blown out. The standard powder charge for the .58 cal muskets was 65 grains of musket grade black powder(which is the only powder allowed at reenactments). Yes it is dirty but with good maintenance that isn't an issue. The wonder lube should work with no problem. As for any patch or pad between the powderand minnie I don't know as I've not had that issue of the ball moving of the powder.
You should also be able to shoot a .570 round ball with pillow ticking as a patch. You might look at maybe reenacting groups or clubs to also help you down the road. Hope this helps.
You should also be able to shoot a .570 round ball with pillow ticking as a patch. You might look at maybe reenacting groups or clubs to also help you down the road. Hope this helps.
59sharps
40 Cal.
Hammer on the nipple NOT half Cock. minies need to be .001 -.002 under bore dia. no wads needed. Crisco works good as a lube.Just gets a little messy in the summer. A good target load would be somewhere between 42 - 48 of 3fffg black powder. ea. barrel has its own likes.
I think you will find the .575 mini too small for an Armisport, .580 might be closer but you should slug your bore and size as 59 Sharps suggests. You have just recieved good advise from the two previous posters and I would like to emphasize that you shouldn't need over 50 grains (actually less)to get good accuracy out to 100 yards. You can also use a much lighter mini, I use a 315 grain Rapine with excelent results. If you are shooting fast leave the hammer down on the fired cap while loading and no you will not have any trouble with air being compressed as you ram down. I think you will enjoy your 61.
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I had a Japanese 1863 Sprinfield that liked .575 rb better than anything. Traded it 25 years ago, but just replaced it with a Colt.
The problem I had with Minies was that they were hard to cast with great consistency, hence I turned to the patched round ball.
I have a buddy who shoots his musket more than any gun in his collection. He told me the best accuracy comes from a bullet thats closest to bore size. He also fills the base with lube and says this helps the skirt expand into the rifling.
The problem I had with Minies was that they were hard to cast with great consistency, hence I turned to the patched round ball.
I have a buddy who shoots his musket more than any gun in his collection. He told me the best accuracy comes from a bullet thats closest to bore size. He also fills the base with lube and says this helps the skirt expand into the rifling.
Place the hammer at half cock while loading to allow the loose powder to blow back thru the flame channel while ramming the bullet.
This will deposit new powder right under the nipple which will help assure 100 percent ignition with each shot.
Some folks disagree and claim that plugging up the nipple will keep a "glowing ember" from igniting the new powder charge but in my opinion even with the nipple plugged, there is a lot of wind being blown around down in the bore when one rams the ball or bullet.
Not only that but the only time any glowing ember could exist down in the bore is if someone had loaded a paper cased cartridge and shot it.
Paper doesn't burn up as quickly as black powder does.
In 40 years of shooting black powder I've never seen a case where loading with the hammer at half cock caused any "cook off" or new powder load to ignite before the percussion cap or the pans flash actually fired it.
This will deposit new powder right under the nipple which will help assure 100 percent ignition with each shot.
Some folks disagree and claim that plugging up the nipple will keep a "glowing ember" from igniting the new powder charge but in my opinion even with the nipple plugged, there is a lot of wind being blown around down in the bore when one rams the ball or bullet.
Not only that but the only time any glowing ember could exist down in the bore is if someone had loaded a paper cased cartridge and shot it.
Paper doesn't burn up as quickly as black powder does.
In 40 years of shooting black powder I've never seen a case where loading with the hammer at half cock caused any "cook off" or new powder load to ignite before the percussion cap or the pans flash actually fired it.
I have seen cook offs with the hammer down although it is not that common and it seems to happen more on humid days. Having said that I load with hammer down. I am sure you can get cook offs both ways so just keep your face away from the muzzle and NEVER thumb the bullet. Just place it on the muzzle with 2 finger on either side of the minie and If it does cook off then the hope is that the bullet will just be pushed out of your fingers with a little burn. If you take your time between shots this wont be as big of a deal but when your trying to load and fire as fast as you can then these are things you should think about. I wear mechanics brand gloves with the trigger and thumb cut out so that if it does cook off most of my hand is protected. Have fun and go make smoke!!
ken.clements
40 Cal.
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Armi sport have a .580 bore or bigger. Your Minie's are probably gonna be to small.
When shooting Minie's, no patch. Let a cap off 2-3 times before you load (Oil shots, gets the Oil out), Powder, lubed Minie, Ramrod in a tap it all down, mark your ramrod (for the seating hight when your Bore is dirty),cap, cock, shoot. Repeat without Marking ramrod as often as possible. :grin:
Test the size of your Minie's:
Drop a Brass rod (in case something goes wrong you can shake the Rifle to get the Minie out)in your barrel, cock the hammer, stand the Rifle up and drop an unlubed Minie down the Barrel....
If your Minie does a free fall down the barrel, your Minie is to small= get a large target. :shake:
If you hear a "sishing" sound as the Minie falls down the barrel, very good= get a smaller target :wink:
If you have to lightly (very, very lightly) push your Minie into the Barrel, perfect= bragging rights are one the way. :grin:
When shooting Minie's, no patch. Let a cap off 2-3 times before you load (Oil shots, gets the Oil out), Powder, lubed Minie, Ramrod in a tap it all down, mark your ramrod (for the seating hight when your Bore is dirty),cap, cock, shoot. Repeat without Marking ramrod as often as possible. :grin:
Test the size of your Minie's:
Drop a Brass rod (in case something goes wrong you can shake the Rifle to get the Minie out)in your barrel, cock the hammer, stand the Rifle up and drop an unlubed Minie down the Barrel....
If your Minie does a free fall down the barrel, your Minie is to small= get a large target. :shake:
If you hear a "sishing" sound as the Minie falls down the barrel, very good= get a smaller target :wink:
If you have to lightly (very, very lightly) push your Minie into the Barrel, perfect= bragging rights are one the way. :grin:
59sharps
40 Cal.
i'M USING THE HODGENs MINNIE IN MINE.w/ 42 grn of 3ffg my sons Richmond carbine and 2 band colt like the same load.the Richmond has a Hoyt liner that shoots a 576. the other 2 shoot 580's
