Need Armisport Enfiled load advice

[StewartLeach]

A couple of weeks ago I horsetraded into an unfired 1853 Enfield rifled musket manufactured by Armisport in Italy. It's the three band model, nominally 58 caliber, with three rifling grooves. Came to me with bayonet and scabbard, but without any manufacturers literature.

Bought a box of Speer .570 balls as I don't yet have a 58 cal mold. At the range I couldn't get a ball to start using my usual WallyMart ticking for a patch. A naked ball will enter the bore. I tried some odds and ends of other patching that were in the shooting box, including some labeled as .010", and still couldn't get a ball started.

Does anyone have experience with one of these rifles? If so, what type and thickness of patching worked out well? What weight or diameter of ball worked best?

I note that Lee has round ball molds in .562 and .575 diameters. Do I need a smaller diamteer ball?

Similar thoughts on a Minie mold? Lee has a mold for an original style bullet, plus two diameters of their improved style. Lyman has six bullets in their line-up.

Finally, has anyone tried the replacement nipple that uses the #11 cap? Musket size caps are scarce in this area.

Thanks for any help you can render.

White Fox

 

[Flash Pan Dan]

White Fox ”“ I’ve never run into that problem. You might what to slug your bore to make sure of the dimensions. I have used a #11 nipple with rifled muskets with very good result. Tests have shown that there is no advantage to using a musket cap.

 

[mb3]

Not sure what the difference is but the .570 ball and 010 patch is what i use in my 58 cal. I have to punch it down with a short starter, but it will go. Tried the 015 patch and had a rough time loading. Maybe try more lube. Use musket caps since the rifle came with a musket cap nipple.

 

[Leatherbark]

Take that .570 ball and squeeze it into a vice until it is larger than groove diameter. Then grease it and pound it into the bore and pull it out with your puller and measure the bore. This will help you get ready to buy your mini mold. I use a .562 Lee and a ticking patch in my .58

Bob

 

[ken.clements]

As far as I know = ball Dia. + 2 x ticking thickness = Bore Dia. Is your Bore .577?
With your Patches you are already over the Bore Dia. The other guys who have more experience with Balls can and probably tell you more than I can.
I only shoot Minies and as being no expert in measuring and such I had to do a trick.
I got an oversize Minie (I poured it but you could probably get one from a ML handler, or a lead rod) and slowly pushed it into the Barrel until the rifling grabbed. Pulled it out with needle nose pliers (you could drop a brass rod in the barrel a forehand just in case you push the Minie to far in).
Took the Mine to a Maschine shop, had a Sizer made (cost me a case of Beer), ordered a mould .002 bigger”¦wala.
For my Zouave (3 Lands and Grooves) I shoot a .580 Lyman PH 566 Grain Minie with Wonder Lube over 52.5 Grains Swiss 2.
In my Enfield PH Navy (5 Lands and Grooves) I shoot a .580 RCBS flat nosed, hollow flat based Minie with Wonder Lube sized down to .577 that weighs 585 Grains over 57.5 Grains Swiss 2.
Hope it helps

 

[ian45662]

I used to shoot one alot and it liked a lyman 510 grain minie sized to .576 with 40 grains of goex 3F. I have never shot round balls from it though.