Parker Hale Enfield 1861 - a couple of questions please

[dave951]

I know it wont transpose to mine, but what is your load?

43gr 3f Old E, RWS caps, RCBS Hogdon sized to 576, Lard/beeswax lube. It might work for you but a couple things in shooting any minie hold constant- pure lead, size to .001 under bore, lube, good quality powder and caps meaning Swiss/Old E and RWS or Schutzen caps. If you want accuracy, you'll have to ante up for quality components, there are no free lunches.

 

[LawrenceA]

Here it is a matter of what we can get.
I could get Goex. Not sure now. and I got RWS caps.
I am a little surprised with how light the loads are.

 

[Heelerau]

Peter Dyson and Son in England has some Parker Hale Replacement parts. I did buy some some years ago, tumbler, stirrup, hammer screw etc. PM me some time re lube etc .

 

[LawrenceA]

If you want accuracy, you'll have to ante up for quality components, there are no free lunches.

That is damn good shootin!

I have read that article about "Managing the Enfield" which explains heaps about bedding etcetera.
Did you have to bed the barrel? If so how?
Took the barrel out of mine and it seems to hang off the tang. Not sure where it touches the stock but not at the breech. Looks like the prior owner really tightened up the tang to the point of squashing the wood down a bit and pushed the bolster hard against the lock.
Confess I have not even sourced a mould yet. Torn between Pritchett and Burton

 

[TFoley]

Peter Dyson and Son in England has some Parker Hale Replacement parts. I did buy some some years ago, tumbler, stirrup, hammer screw etc. PM me some time re lube etc .

I've just sorted out a fellow Australian of yours with barrel band screws for HIS P-H Musketoon, from Henry Krank - ask for Matt, a VERY helpish young fella.

 

[Britsmoothy]

That is damn good shootin!

I have read that article about "Managing the Enfield" which explains heaps about bedding etcetera.
Did you have to bed the barrel? If so how?
Took the barrel out of mine and it seems to hang off the tang. Not sure where it touches the stock but not at the breech. Looks like the prior owner really tightened up the tang to the point of squashing the wood down a bit and pushed the bolster hard against the lock.
Confess I have not even sourced a mould yet. Torn between Pritchett and Burton

Get it off the lock plate sir.
I used canvass shims under the breach and tang to bed the breach.
If additional clearance is needed file the lock plate where the bolster is.

 

[jimairwin]

Get it off the lock plate sir.
I used canvass shims under the breach and tang to bed the breach.
If additional clearance is needed file the lock plate where the bolster is.

I'd like to see an 1861 Enfield. These are 1858 pattern, I believe. Springfield muskets started with the 1861.

 

[LawrenceA]

I'd like to see an 1861 Enfield. These are 1858 pattern, I believe. Springfield muskets started with the 1861.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_1861_Enfield_musketoon

 

[dave951]

That is damn good shootin!

I have read that article about "Managing the Enfield" which explains heaps about bedding etcetera.
Did you have to bed the barrel? If so how?
Took the barrel out of mine and it seems to hang off the tang. Not sure where it touches the stock but not at the breech. Looks like the prior owner really tightened up the tang to the point of squashing the wood down a bit and pushed the bolster hard against the lock.
Confess I have not even sourced a mould yet. Torn between Pritchett and Burton

Barrel is glass bedded. Old guys in the day used other materials. Key is to reduce stress on the barrel. One way to check for undue stress is to put the barrel in the stock and run down the tang screw. If the barrel rises, you have issues. Put some paper or something else under the tang to build it up. Then look to see if it's straight in the stock. Any deviation left to right has to be addressed. In my gun, the barrel sits perfectly in the stock. As I run down the tang screw, it doesn't rise or shift. One other thing to look at is tang screw torque. Too much can affect point of impact and group size.

On a mold, I've tried the Burton but the Hogdon shoots better hands down.

I can't stress good components enough. Without the good stuff it's like trying to drive a race car on crap pump gas. It'll get you to the grocery or pub, but you won't be there first.

 

[LawrenceA]

On a mold, I've tried the Burton but the Hogdon shoots better hands down.

The RCBS Hodgon mold is $276 here. Shame RCBS won't post to Australia it is about USD70 (AUD100) with the current rebate.
Will have to investigate and see if I can find a way. Freight forwarding company or something.

 

[Britsmoothy]

There are I understand unless the rules have been changed requirements for some competitions that only traditional bedding methods be used.

 

[LawrenceA]

only traditional bedding methods be used.

What are the traditional methods?
I have read fitting a wood block and inletting or shims of paper

 

[Britsmoothy]

What are the traditional methods?
I have read fitting a wood block and inletting or shims of paper

Wood veneers, canvass.
It's also important to grease the underside of the barrel as once bedded it doesn't need to ever be removed.

 

[dave951]

There are I understand unless the rules have been changed requirements for some competitions that only traditional bedding methods be used.

In our competition, glass bedding is allowed. Other orgs may frown on that. Traditional methods are usually restricted to paper and careful massaging of the barrel to stock fit.

For using a composite material for bedding, Acraglass works but is expensive. Lots of folks have great results with JB Weld.

 

[LawrenceA]

All good I have bedding compound.
Never bedded a smoke pole before.
That sound rude!

 

[Britsmoothy]

The Parker Hale stocks were done by machine. The router that machined the wood under the breach left a high spot under where the breach sits. To give clearance for the high spot more than necessary wood is removed.
This is what the bedding has to undo... primarily.

 

[LawrenceA]

I noticed that the barrel was hanging at the breech.
Normally, when bedding, I would dig out an 1/8 of wood at least and key it into the side but I doubt there is 1/8" of wood to dig out without breaking into the ramrod hole.
Maybe rough up the inlet and skim bed it.
Or just shim and see.


Nothing ventured nothing gained!

 

[Heelerau]

I had a mate at the Adelaide Black Powder club bed the barrel on my PH Navy rifle back in 1981, or there about, I have not removed my barrel at all since. That rifle has shot consistently and ver well ever since.

 

[LawrenceA]

When bedding with canvas is it just laid in or glued and if glued does it need to be something historically accurate (ie animal glues or perkins paste)

 

[TFoley]

Bedding an Enfield with JB Weld is like bedding a Tikka TX2 with greased brown paper and horse-hoof glue.