Range Report - 2-band Enfield

[paulmarcone]

This morning I took my Armi Sport 2-band Enfield to the range. Shot okay from 25, 50 and 100 yards.
Aside from one shot I took standing at 50 yards, all shots were fired seated on a bench rest.

I used about 57 grains of Goex FFG, overshot card and a swaged Enfield bullet lubed in the base. Here is a picture of the bullet:

Here is my target at 25 yards:

Here is my target at 50 yards:

And here is my target at 100 yards:

I only had time for four shots from 100 yards. My shots were spaced out but I did get a nice bullseye at 100 yards. I would have liked more time to try and dial it in. She was shooting high and to the left -- very pronounced at 100 yards. This seems to be a constant characteristic of her's. Once I compensate in terms of aiming point, she's pretty consistent.

All in all a very fun morning!

 

[bingo1952]

Not too bad. Did you paperpatch those pritchett bullets? They are not designed to be shot bare like a minie with grease grooves is. Two wraps with 25% rag bond onion skin paper should be about right.

 

[paulmarcone]

Not too bad. Did you paperpatch those pritchett bullets? They are not designed to be shot bare like a minie with grease grooves is. Two wraps with 25% rag bond onion skin paper should be about right.

I coated them with Rooster Jacket. I do them in batches of 50 or so. I make sure to let the bullets sit for at least 24 hours in a dry room. A lot less work than paper patching -- same result.

 

[Trench]

Where does the overshot card come in to your load combo? Do you need it to hold the bullet down on the charge? I don't shoot minie's and I'm curious.

 

[paulmarcone]

Where does the overshot card come in to your load combo? Do you need it to hold the bullet down on the charge? I don't shoot minie's and I'm curious.

I place the overshot card over the powder, then ram down the bullet. The card keeps the lube from the powder.

So far, this combo has worked quite well in my Enfield.

 

[Trench]

Does the Enfield bullet have a hollow base like a Minie? I thought those bullets required the charge to push the skirts out to engage the rifling. Would the shot card hinder that from happening?

 

[Trot]

Does the Enfield bullet have a hollow base like a Minie? I thought those bullets required the charge to push the skirts out to engage the rifling. Would the shot card hinder that from happening?

I agree, I think you would do better without the card. I don't think it lets the bullet expand.

 

[TFoley]

...I used about 57 grains of Goex FFG

Sir - I have had very good results over the last thirty years or so by using the service load of 2.5 drams [ca.68gr] and the bullet that the piece was designed for - the hollow base and unpatched Minie bullet of around 535gr.

This, I believe, is what most two-band shooters here in the UK [where we shoot it out to 800 yards or so] have used since the days when it was the service arm.

Nor do we use any form of over powder wad.

I'm sure, however, that Mr Minshall of the MLAGB will correct me if I am mistaken.

tac

 

[arquebus]

I'd be inclined to do away with the OP card. If you're concerned with the lube contaminating the powder use some cream of wheat, or similar, between powder & bullet. I think you'll find you'll get much better results at 100yds. Most any load will give decent groups at 25 & 50yds, but 100yds & further require a bit more load development.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I'm sure your barrel is rifled but your groups are about what would be expected from a smoothbore. I'd say you have alot of work yet to be done. Your paper patch bullet without a paper patch is most likely the main problem.

 

[cal.43]

the groups are inacceptable for a rifle and I would suggest to use a modern minie and one of the classiclubes to get good groups. Your type of bullet without paperpatched will result in leaded rifling very fast. In competion you have to shoot 13 times without cleaning at 100 m, with this combo there is no way to do that.

 

[Viking78]

You should be able to do a lot better than that. At 25 yards your five shot group should be one ragged hole. It would be interesting to see how your musket performs with paper patched Pritchett balls. What is the diameter of your balls? And, like the others have said, get rid of the over powder wad.

Here's a 13 shot target from my original .577 Pattern 1856 Tower Enfield at 100 metres (109 yds), prone with sling support.

I use the following load:

• Bullet: Lyman 575213 Old Style sized to .5775"
• Bullet lube: A 50/50 mix of beeswax, coconut butter, and a little olive oil to soften the mix
• Powder: 55 grains of Swiss #3 (FFg)
• Caps: RWS four wing type

 

[poordevil]

I have the Parker-Hale musketoon made in England about 1974, when I got it (or '75) :hmm: At the time, I got a brass mold from Dixie that makes a smooth side Pritchett Minnie at about 560-ish gr. that was made in England by Dixion , I believe. I still use it. Took a Buffalo with it in WY in 2007 with 70gr of 3FFFG. With 55 gr of 3FFFG I can make one raged hole at 50 yrds., standing, with about 15-20 shots. I have and do sometimes paper patch them, but I have never had accurecy issues with it unpatched. It does not tumble for example. I also think the over powder wad should go, so the explosion can open up the skirt. Good luck. The Enfield is a great style!

P

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

tac--This is the load that I use in my three band P-H Enfield to good effect.

Using a paper patched bullet without the paper patch seldom produces the best results in my experience,Paul. These rifles thrive on a proper traditional diet.

 

[st_lgarret01]

very nice!