Errant Euroarms Mississippi Rifle

[oscarlovel]

Well, went to the range today and was completely frustrated. I had glassbedded my Euroarms .54 Caliber Mississippi last week and was expecting to get a much tighter group. Tried PRB loads ranging from 40-75 grains of 3F with both .015 and .020 patches. Tried same thing with 2F loads as well, with similar results -- No luck and the rifle is impossible to even sight, as it shoots some 10" left at 50 yards and no amount of sight correction seems to be enough. I had one shot that hit exactly to point of aim and that was the second shot of the day. After that it was a crap shoot. This was off a concrete bench with sandbag rests, and I usually have a very good groups with my 1903 Springfield, Swiss K-31 or my AR15, I took another look at the crown, but I see no nicks. I dropped a penlight down the bore, and re-examined the rifling. It is VERY shallow. Slipping the tip of my little finger inside the bore and twisting it, I can barely discern any rifling. It looks to me like Euroarms cut the rifling too shallow and after a shot or two, no matter swabbing the bore, and no matter the patching, I appear to be skipping the rifling and wind up with a smoothbore. It was like I had never glass-bedded.

It looks to me like it is decision time. I can send the barrel to Bob Hoyt and get it relined back in .54 caliber with deeper rifling for roundball shooting, or send it to Dan Whitacre to be rebarreled in .58 caliber. I've owned Whitacre's barrels before and they were great for Minies. Not sure how they would do for roundball, and have not heard from anyone much about their experiences doing so. Suggestions?

 

[Zonie]

On the loads fired with patched roundballs, did you retrieve any of the fired patches?

If they have cuts or areas where the material burned thru that can tell you what the problem is.

 

[oscarlovel]

Did recover the patches and they were fine. I even used 1/8" felt wads at times between the charge and the PRB.

 

[Matt85]

you mentioned having deeper rifling cut into the barrel. how deep is the current rifling? really shallow rifling wont work well for balls.

also put a strait edge against the barrel... might be bent!

-Matt

 

[bubba.50]

the glass bedding could possibly be puttin' uneven pressure on the barrel maybe?

 

[Shine]

I agree the harmonics are messed with. its a banded musket not a modern bolt gun. i think its a case of design evolving as far as it can go.

 

[oscarlovel]

I would disagree as I've shot banded rifled muskets for over 20 years now. Two-inch groups and less at 100 yards are very possible and shot with regularity in the N-SSA.

 

[Jason Lewis]

i've been following the similar thread on another forum, i agree, glass bedding muskets is very common.

 

[Shine]

well in that case its cheating then. :grin:

 

[oscarlovel]

Well, it is not cheating according to N-SSA rules. As far as BP muzzleloading, you could say fiber optic sights, tang peep sights, scopes, saboted rounds, etc. are "cheating".

 

[Shine]

Acra glass leveling the playing field since 1842.

 

[oscarlovel]

Whatever. As the OP, I would appreciate this staying on topic. I'm far more interested in other's experience shooting PRB from their rifled muskets than delving into the sacred aspects of muzzleloading. I've been shooting BP muzzleloaders since before you were born, and I've shot all aspects, NMLRA, N-SSA and now just local fun matches. I prefer the feel of a two-band "musket" to a Hawkin style or Pennsylvania long rifle. That's me. To each his own. So please let us just stay on the topic.

 

[Robert Egler]

I see you are pretty new to the forum. Posts here often wander a bit off topic, but will usually come back fairly quickly on their own. A nudge in that direction can be useful. A kick in that direction will be counterproductive. Remember that no one has to answer your question at all.

 

[Shine]

Maybe you should have your eyesight checked then. i hear that can be an issue with older shooters.

 

[Sperit de bois]

I have Euroarms in 45 PA it has shallow rifling ,,shoots just fine with PRB and 70 grns "P" Pyrodex
Strange how your rifle is scattering the shots,could you be loading to hot???And as you suspect it's stripping the ball??Seems 40 wouldn't be to hot,
What is the ROT for the rifling?? might try Minies or slugs,,,don't know where else to go...
Mysteries come in all shades!!!!!
Think Snickers,comfort food....that is why Halloween is just before hunting season,,,so we have lots of snacks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rotf:

 

[oscarlovel]

Appreciate your reply and suggestions concerning the PRB. As to the other, FWIW, my "old" eyes are fine, thank you.

 

[59sharps]

I see you were NSSA. So I assume this is not your first glass bedding. But I will ask How is the barrel sitting in the bedding same w/ the bands installed and uninstall?. I do not shoot PRB So no advice there. How about trying a few minnies to see what happens? I do use to targets when developing a load for my muskets. 1 gose point of aim second on center after I shoot 3 shots. work up my load then my sights.

 

[Jason Lewis]

having followed both of your threads i think you should send it to hoyt for a reline.

 

[Jason Lewis]

Acra glass leveling the playing field since 1842.

bedding has been around since the long range target era in the 1860's-1890's. they just used hide glue and sawdust then.

 

[oscarlovel]

Talked with Bob Hoyt this morning and I'm sending him the barrel to be relined for PRB. I'll have a bit of a wait, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the end.