Minie Ball Size for Chiappa 3 Band P53

[concretus]

1) .579 is your target size.
2) Bullets- Lodgewood. Ask for .580
3) NE Trader is a N-SSA member. Call John and ask for .579 sizer to fit a reloading press with pusher

Thank you very much for your help!!!

 

[concretus]

Update:
Turns out a .581” pin gauge did fit down the bore but the .582” would only go an inch and 3/4… So based on your formula, .580” is the desired size. I spoke with Mr. Kaboskey and ordered lubed and sized .580 Lyman old style based on his recommendation…
I came across some .578” RCBS minies to at least get to smell some black powder this past weekend…. I mixed up a 50/50 solution of beeswax, beef tallow, and dipped the minies…The very first round w/ 45gr keyholed… Thst charge didn’t print well so I bumped it up to 50gr… I would run a couple of patches down the bore between shots…With a 6 o’clock hold the point of impact was about 8 o’clock on the edge of the black. I shot this 4 shot group at 50 yds. If you look at the pasted shot on the far left that is the keyhole….Now I’m looking forward to those Minies…
Shortly after I was getting misfires and had to remove the nipple and prime it to get it to fire….will the larger diameter bullet eliminate that and not have so much fouling?

 

[Grenadier1758]

Since I am one of those fellows that wipes the bore between shots, I have to believe that the wiping of the bore that @concretus did served to pack fouling into the breech and led to the failure to fire events that he experienced. One of the features that makes Minie' balls so effective is that the groves wipe the fouling from the bore and multiple shots can be fired without wiping. The larger Minie' ball will help with better control of the fouling. The wiping procedure would have to be done with a slightly smaller wiping jag, so the patch passes over the fouling as the jag and patch pull the fouling out as the jag is withdrawn.

 

[59sharps]

So the 578 is to small. If keyholes lead is to hard or undersized. I shot 42 grn in mine when I had it. As well as in my muskatoon. Now shoot a colt it shoots 42 w mini sized 580.
Do you have 580’s coming? If not I could send you some next week they are sized 580.
Don’t wipe between shots. You should be able to get at least 15 shots off w/o wiping.

 

[concretus]

So the 578 is to small. If keyholes lead is to hard or undersized. I shot 42 grn in mine when I had it. As well as in my muskatoon. Now shoot a colt it shoots 42 w mini sized 580.
Do you have 580’s coming? If not I could send you some next week they are sized 580.
Don’t wipe between shots. You should be able to get at least 15 shots off w/o wiping.

That would be awesome! Thank you very much! I may have some other projectiles to trade…

 

[dave951]

So the 578 is to small. If keyholes lead is to hard or undersized. I shot 42 grn in mine when I had it. As well as in my muskatoon. Now shoot a colt it shoots 42 w mini sized 580.
Do you have 580’s coming? If not I could send you some next week they are sized 580.
Don’t wipe between shots. You should be able to get at least 15 shots off w/o wiping.

What he says^^^

Like I said before, I don't trust commercial minies from anybody but Pat.

Do not wipe between shots. If you have the lube and powder in balance it's not needed and the fouling you push down the bore can foul the fire channel. Also, use only real black powder.

 

[concretus]

Range Report Update:
It was a beautiful morning in east central FL today; The check I sent to Mr. Kaboskey two weeks ago had just gotten to him (typical USPS) so in the mean time I got a hold of some 490gr Rapine bullets... I sized them to .480" with the sizing die from John at Northeast; and lubed with 50/50 beeswax and tallow. I worked charges from 45 to 60 grains and was satisfied with a charge of 50gr of Schuetzen FFg. I got this 6 shot group. I didn't run any patches through it between shots for the entire session (about 35 shots)... As you can see the point if impact was about 9 o'clock with a 6 o'clock hold. The elevation was right; it would be nice to move it over to the right but I don't want to make any serious adjustments until I find the right bullet powder combination. How would you be able to adjust the windage if you can? Thank you all for your comments and recommendations.

 

[dave951]

Range Report Update:
It was a beautiful morning in east central FL today; The check I sent to Mr. Kaboskey two weeks ago had just gotten to him (typical USPS) so in the mean time I got a hold of some 490gr Rapine bullets... I sized them to .480" with the sizing die from John at Northeast; and lubed with 50/50 beeswax and tallow. I worked charges from 45 to 60 grains and was satisfied with a charge of 50gr of Schuetzen FFg. I got this 6 shot group. I didn't run any patches through it between shots for the entire session (about 35 shots)... As you can see the point if impact was about 9 o'clock with a 6 o'clock hold. The elevation was right; it would be nice to move it over to the right but I don't want to make any serious adjustments until I find the right bullet powder combination. How would you be able to adjust the windage if you can? Thank you all for your comments and recommendations.

Now we're getting somewhere. What was the distance? Group looks very good.

There's no windage adjustment per se, you now have three options
1- alter the rear by epoxying a new "leaf" and recut the notch
2- file off the post flat. Dremel a new slot and epoxy a new front post
3- live with it and aim appropriately

The repops are notorious for sight issues like these.

 

[concretus]

Thanks…If I do any modifications, it will probably be to file on the right side of the rear sight v-notch, epoxy the notch and then using a thin file, cut a new u-notch favoring to the right to move the POI right…. I have two other bullet types to try out first; then I’ll do the mods if/as needed. The distance was @ 50yds…

 

[dave951]

Thanks…If I do any modifications, it will probably be to file on the right side of the rear sight v-notch, epoxy the notch and then using a thin file, cut a new u-notch favoring to the right to move the POI right…. I have two other bullet types to try out first; then I’ll do the mods if/as needed. The distance was @ 50yds…

Sounds like a good plan. Let's see how the others shoot. Don't be surprised if those groups are nowhere near that one.

 

[concretus]

Range report with a different Minie bullet:
Today at the range it was bright and much warmer than the other day. I had gotten a hold of RCBS mold .580, 400gr Minies from S&S…Once again no patches between shots… The distance was 50yds, with a 6 o’clock hold on an SR-1 target.
It seems 50gr if Schuetzen FFg is the “sweet spot” as far as powder charges goes…Schuetzen musket caps…
This is a 6 shot group. I didn’t make any adjustments to the elevation. I figured because this bullet was 100gr lighter than the Rapine bullet used last week would explain the higher impact…Dave was correct; the group from the RCBS bullet is not as good as with the Rapine… I think I’ll order another 100 of the Rapine….It’s pretty clear the POI is to the left so I will go ahead, modify the rear sight and move the notch to the right….

 

[dave951]

Range report with a different Minie bullet:
Today at the range it was bright and much warmer than the other day. I had gotten a hold of RCBS mold .580, 400gr Minies from S&S…Once again no patches between shots… The distance was 50yds, with a 6 o’clock hold on an SR-1 target.
It seems 50gr if Schuetzen FFg is the “sweet spot” as far as powder charges goes…Schuetzen musket caps…
This is a 6 shot group. I didn’t make any adjustments to the elevation. I figured because this bullet was 100gr lighter than the Rapine bullet used last week would explain the higher impact…Dave was correct; the group from the RCBS bullet is not as good as with the Rapine… I think I’ll order another 100 of the Rapine….It’s pretty clear the POI is to the left so I will go ahead, modify the rear sight and move the notch to the right….

When you're moving the notch, remember to adjust for elevation too.

The bullet in the pic is the "Hogdon". I see you've lubed all the rings. I get much better accuracy from this bullet if I only lube the bottom large ring and leave the small ones empty. Try it.

If you can get your hands on some 3f Swiss, you may well see that group tighten up a bit more.