Have you ever shot a "slug" of lead?

[Uncle Miltie]

Now that has to be some gun.
If you ever feel inclined to provide details on rifling and other such details then I for one would be most appreciative.

Sure. Made by H.V. Perry in Jamestown NY in 1885. .56 caliber, 1/18" uniform (not gain) right hand twist. 18 lands and grooves. Grooves are .0025 deep. One piece pure lead bullet cross paper patched with airmail paper lubricated with neatsfoot oil. I use a charge of 160 grains GOEX Cartridge powder or 220 grains of Elephant ffg. Rifle weighs 35 pounds. The rifle was built to win money at matches in the NE US. The scope is 9x. Here are pictures of the rifle, loading muzzle and the last target I shot in a match at 220 yards this past July. While not a great group it scored pretty well. Not bad for a 137 year old rifle I think it still has a few more good shots left in it.

 

[nkbj]

Thanks!

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

I always thought a flat headed 1/4 pound Foster slug from a 4 bore smoothbore stopping gun loaded with say 300 grains of powder would be a lot of fun to try on deer.

Probably wouldnt be much left to salvage.

 

[Eterry]

Sure. Made by H.V. Perry in Jamestown NY in 1885. .56 caliber, 1/18" uniform (not gain) right hand twist. 18 lands and grooves. Grooves are .0025 deep. One piece pure lead bullet cross paper patched with airmail paper lubricated with neatsfoot oil. I use a charge of 160 grains GOEX Cartridge powder or 220 grains of Elephant ffg. Rifle weighs 35 pounds. The rifle was built to win money at matches in the NE US. The scope is 9x. Here are pictures of the rifle, loading muzzle and the last target I shot in a match at 220 yards this past July. While not a great group it scored pretty well. Not bad for a 137 year old rifle I think it still has a few more good shots left in it.

Very impressive. Is this rifle in Ned Robert's book?

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Very impressive. Is this rifle in Ned Robert's book?

The maker is in his book, but not this particular rifle.

 

[longcruise]

https://www.titanreloading.com/product/lee-sc-mold-500-354-m-modern-minie-50-cal/
The 58's may be discontinued

They don't show up on their site in 58. My wife used this bullet for her first ml deer. It was down instantly.

They do list this one in 50, 54 and 58. Maybe also 45?

https://leeprecision.com/mold-578-478-m.html
The flying trash can flys in the face of most "modern" bullet theories but in our preferred lead slingers it's a whole nother story.

I have this mold for a 50 and have cast some up but no shooting yet.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Slug , meaning, just a cylinder of lead the propper diameter, the ends cut square and the same length as the diameter? I would assume it would be patched?

Slugging the barrel is to get a map of the chamber. There is no chamber in black powder firearm.
If I were to do it, Id do it just like I do all the BP cart guns.
I stuff a couple patches down the barrel to make a seal, then pour the chamber lead into the barrel, wait a minute or two then blow it out the muzzle with compressed air.
I do not think you can gain anything by knowing the size of your barrel at its smallest point.
Changing thicknesses of patches would be a better way to find the best fit.