Some_Mook
Insignificant Git
Brett at paper cartridges released a recent video in which he addresses issues of accuracy when using historical style bullets / cartridge combinations in replica (mainly Italian) versions of infantry muzzle loading rifles. He states that the replica versions (and there is a distinction between a replica and a reproduction) use a broach cutter rifling method as opposed to a progressive-depth rifling method. Due to production tolerances and wear/re-sharpening of the broaching cutters one may obtain an Italian replica with fairly strong rifling or possibly a barrel with lighter rifling, kind of a luck-of-the-draw thing. Since paper-patched 1850s - 1860s Enfield style cartridges and Burton style (etc..) expanding bullets will strip the rifling if they do not get very good contact with the rifling when bumped up at the initial instance of firing Brett states that some people may never get the accuracy and performance out of their Crimean / US Civil War era replica rifles when using historically accurate bullets / paper cartridges without some serious intervention, such as re-barrelling or sleeving with a progressive depth rifling alternative.
I know the N-SSA folks get remarkably good accuracy out of Italian replica rifles, but are not using historically correct loads or patterns of paper cartridges. That is fine, and I have no argument against using what works in 50 yd competition shooting tiles and board mounted clay pigeons, but I enjoy replicating the US 1855 Expanding Ball Cartridges and the 1860 Boxer pattern .550 Pritchet and shooting same at longer ranges. At 100 yards off-hand I am doing better with my Pedersoli 1861 Springfield than my P-58 using self-cast bullets and DIY paper cartridges. Still a work in progress to get where I would ultimately like to be, but not terrible. My intent is to acquire the necessary sheet steel to construct a 4'x6' School of Musketry style target and shoot at 300 - 500 yards for grins.
Curious to hear any of your empirical observations using Italian replicas and historically accurate military loadings at distances greater than 50 yards.
Cheers!
I know the N-SSA folks get remarkably good accuracy out of Italian replica rifles, but are not using historically correct loads or patterns of paper cartridges. That is fine, and I have no argument against using what works in 50 yd competition shooting tiles and board mounted clay pigeons, but I enjoy replicating the US 1855 Expanding Ball Cartridges and the 1860 Boxer pattern .550 Pritchet and shooting same at longer ranges. At 100 yards off-hand I am doing better with my Pedersoli 1861 Springfield than my P-58 using self-cast bullets and DIY paper cartridges. Still a work in progress to get where I would ultimately like to be, but not terrible. My intent is to acquire the necessary sheet steel to construct a 4'x6' School of Musketry style target and shoot at 300 - 500 yards for grins.
Curious to hear any of your empirical observations using Italian replicas and historically accurate military loadings at distances greater than 50 yards.
Cheers!