First black powder rifle, headed to the range.

[Mooney 78865]

I bought a Traditions 1853 Enfield kit a few weeks ago and did a small thread in the "builders" portion of the forum detailing my experience.
It is now time to take it to the range and give it a go. I purchased some .575 minie rounds from TOW that arrived yesterday. Sized them, lubed them, and made cartridges with 60 grains of FFG. I have on their way more .575 as well as .577 to try.
I figure setting up at 50 yards for starters to get a feel on where it is shooting, then work back to 100 yards.
This will be my first time shooting a black powder rifle, although I have been shooting cap and ball pistols for 8-9 years.
I've done a bunch of research here and on other forums, and wanted to see if anyone had anything specific they could share.

 

[leadhoarder]

Looks good. If by some chance you run into issues try loading without using cartridges in case their construction causes any issues.

 

[Major Tim]

Nicely done!

BTW, is that a Stelvio in your avatar?

 

[RicM]

Have a blast and enjoy. And take your time and joy it all. Your Enfield looks great!!

 

[SDSmlf]

I figure setting up at 50 yards for starters to get a feel on where it is shooting, then work back to 100 yards.

Good looking gun. I did not know Traditions made a 1853 Enfield.

Would suggest taking first couple shots at a 25 yards. Once you have an idea where it’s shooting and make necessary adjustments to get on paper, then move to 50 yards.

 

[excess650]

Guinness! Its not just for breakfast!

 

[Mooney 78865]

My cartridges are the 1862 style and will not be using the paper as wadding like a traditional English cartridge. Thanks for the tip though!

 

[Mooney 78865]

Good looking gun. I did not know Traditions made a 1853 Enfield.

Would suggest taking first couple shots at a 25 yards. Once you have an idea where it’s shooting and make necessary adjustments to get on paper, then move to 50 yards.

Copy that. I'll start closer in!

 

[Mooney 78865]

Nicely done!

BTW, is that a Stelvio in your avatar?

Thank you! And yes, it is a 2016 Stelvio. I've got about 35,000 miles on it. I've ridden A LOT off road as well. Probably 10-11,000 miles in the dirt. 5 Back Country Discovery routes and a run from Nogales AZ to Canada, in the dirt.
I even have all three factor accessories! Top box, heated grips and the Bambi Basher! Have to love a bike that comes with everything!
You a fan of the Stelvio?

 

[Mooney 78865]

Guinness! Its not just for breakfast!

No, no it's not!

 

[dave951]

How did you arrive at 575 for a bullet size. It might be marked that and advertised as such but I've seen more than a few that were otherwise. I've even seen one at 584.

We shoot these critters in competition and there are some basic to getting accuracy. Also, don't be surprised if it shoots 18in high. That's normal with issue sights.

 

[Mooney 78865]

How did you arrive at 575 for a bullet size. It might be marked that and advertised as such but I've seen more than a few that were otherwise. I've even seen one at 584.

We shoot these critters in competition and there are some basic to getting accuracy. Also, don't be surprised if it shoots 18in high. That's normal with issue sights.

Thanks for the information on shooting high.
As for the .575 for the rounds, it really was what was available when I ordered the rifle. I also have .577 but waiting on a sizer. Some of the .575 are from a Parker Hale style mold, Some are from a Lyman mold. Basically I have 25 rounds from two style molds in .577 and .575. Total of 100 rounds. I don't figure on needing to shoot 25 rounds of each flavor to get an idea on what direction to go. As for the sizing when they arrived, I checked a few from each bag and all were pretty close to their respective catalogue size. Certainly sizeable. Is their something I should know?

 

[hawkeye2]

Dave951 is referring to the bore size and not the projectile diameter. You need to know the actual bore diameter of your gun and not what the advertising says. It's been my experience that most Italian guns have bores larger than .575" and as Dave says I have actually seen them as large as .584". If you are at all interested in accuracy you will need to get your actual bore size and then choose a mold and sizer that will allow you to come up with a minie that is .001" to .002" (max) under that bore size.

 

[Rendezvous Valley Trading]

I hope you git that same grin that I get trying out a new one! Go have a great day and make some smoke!!

 

[Mooney 78865]

Dave951 is referring to the bore size and not the projectile diameter. You need to know the actual bore diameter of your gun and not what the advertising says. It's been my experience that most Italian guns have bores larger than .575" and as Dave says I have actually seen them as large as .584". If you are at all interested in accuracy you will need to get your actual bore size and then choose a mold and sizer that will allow you to come up with a minie that is .001" to .002" (max) under that bore size.

Got it!
So, armed with my trusty digital inside calipers and doing it a half dozen times I repeatedly came up with .578. So that would be a bit large for the .575 rounds, but good/better with the .577, correct?

 

[hawkeye2]

If your measurements are accurate and the minie is actually .577" it would be an ideal match.

I was a Guzzi mechanic many, many years back. My last ride was one of the first V7 Sports to come into the country

 

[Mooney 78865]

If your measurements are accurate and the minie is actually .577" it would be an ideal match.

I was a Guzzi mechanic many, many years back. My last ride was one of the first V7 Sports to come into the country

I'm pretty confident my bore measurement is accurate, as well as the Minie. I have a fair amount of time measuring with calipers. Proof will be Thursday when I get a chance to shoot it I guess.
I really like the V7 sport, wish it came in an 850 though. Say what they will about the Guzzi, you just can't beat something that has a generator engine and a tractor transmission. My first BDR on the Stelvio was Arizona. There were a number of times I had the clutch stinking like the brakes on a semi coming down Donner Summit. Still had the paper plate on it, that was nearly 35,000 miles and many more "stinky" clutch events ago! Still rocking the same clutch. Bullet proof! It has never let me down, not once. When I rode the KTM 990 I had to carry a water pump rebuild kit, fuel pump rebuild kit as well as a spare ECM, just to be "comfortable".
Like the saying goes, "Ride one for 20 miles, you'll never own it, ride one 200 miles you'll never sell it".
What do you think of the "new" Adventure offering they are running around the the block now that the 1200 Quatrovalve engine is out the door?
The wife and I were out your way earlier this year touring the country. Williamsburg, Gettysburg and up to Bar Harbor. You live in a nice piece of the country!

 

[Grenadier1758]

How many lands does your rifle have? Using your digital calipers, you will get a measurement of top of the land to the bottom of the opposing groove. You need to know the land diameter. If you have an odd number of grooves, measure from the top of the land to the outside of the barrel. Measure from the bottom of the groove to the outside of the barrel. The difference is the groove depth. Subtract the groove depth from from the inside the barrel measurement for the land diameter.

 

[Muley Gil]

Pin gauges would be better for determining the diameter of your bore.

I shoot an 1858 Parker-Hale rifle. The bore is .577" and I shoot a .576" Minie over 45 grains of FFFg Goex.

 

[TFoley]

My cartridges are the 1862 style and will not be using the paper as wadding like a traditional English cartridge. Thanks for the tip though!

The traditional English cartridge for the Enfield did not use wadding. The powder went in from one end, the cartridge is then reversed. The lubed end containing the bullet is then inserted into the muzzle and the remainder snapped off, leaving the bullet ready to be rammed.

Please watch -

Please read 'The English Cartridge' by Brett Gibbons and watch -

a. Youtube - paper cartridges, and

b. Youtube - Britishmuzzleloading.

Brett Gibbons also makes a whole range of paper cartridges - check out his web site.