Shooting from the bench to 50 yards, was all over. Using 575 213 lyman mold, lubed Minnie. They dropped in fairly easy. I would like to know what y'all are doing right. What are y'all using and doing? I don't need a big write up, bare bones is fine. Minie size, powder, should it be tight loading? Is paper cartridges worth the trouble? Thanks
I use a candle wax melter to melt sticks of lube I buy ,hot dip them then push them through a sizer but you can finger lube them with wonder lube or whatever is working for you.
Mines a Pedersoli three band 1862 rifle. I use beeswax and tallow mix lube. Don't have to force the ball down at all. No grouping at all. I may look into my bullet casting. I'll recast and try again.
I also have a Pedersoli CS Richmond, I know all rifles are individuals but mine takes a .577 Minie but still does OK with a .575
I have a 575 sizer that I can push them thru after casting fairly easy. Remembering when I first bought this rifle I also bought Minies from TOW and I remember it shooting well. It been awhile since I shot it. But now I'm shooting my castings. I'll think I will review my technique. Maybe I have some hollow spots in mine.
It seems like you have identified a variable, it may be some casting inconsistency
It may well be, I was thinking I was missing something the Minies needed I wasn't doing correct. After chatting with you I think I will look into the casting. Thank you for your time and insight.
You're welcome, the next batch you cast will probably shoot well
Absolutely the most important thing is to size the minies to the bore of your gun. You have to measure the bore on your particular gun, there is a lot of variation in these as they come. Measure your bore, then you need minies of pure lead no more than .002 under your bore size. These are the musts, everything else will be fine tuning the load.
Match shooting with the military muzzle loader, in most cases, doesn't seek to recreate original practice. Some Associations permit glass-bedding of rifles, while others don't. Parker-Hale introduced a three band Enfield with 1 in 48 twist rifling - the MLAGB banned it, as their matches are for Pattern Enfield Rifles and the P.53 did not have such fast twist rifling. The UK has a rich heritage of muzzle loading competition shooting with the Enfield - the MLAGB matches emulate the original shooting distances competing out to 600 yards. Shooting is prone with just a sling for support. However, cartridges or even paper-patched Pritchett bullets don't feature - today the shooters prefer pre-measured charges and a grease groove bullet. N-SSA matches have evolved quite differently. As have MLAIC International matches.
What many seem to forget when chasing that elusive magic load, is that the shooter also needs tuning. Without training you're not going to be able to compete.The chase for "Match Accuracy" is a wild goose chase for most people, really. Unless you can really dedicate a good portion of your time shooting, tweaking your firearms, and actually competing you're just "peeing " into the wind , really. Not everything can do MOA accuracy or was designed to
If using science , astronomy and algebra at the range to shoot weapons designed to allow an untrained draftee to load and shoot 3x per minute into a man sized target at 100 makes a person feel more accomplished, then do youI shoot at 12"×12" swingers or put up my 4-6" within spec groups at 100 with "Service Cartridges "
available to him and within the competition rules.There is no rocket science here. Follow these basic steps and you'll see huge improvements in your rifle if you can halfway shoot. Ignore any of it, then good luck.
I honestly just feel cool using the paper cartridges, and I kinda get into a zen-like rhythm of reaching into the box to get a cartridge, loading the rifle, etc etc
I believe my problem is undersized minie. I need a .577 instead of .575 Working on this now. Thanks everyone.
This is exactly the information we needWhat many seem to forget when chasing that elusive magic load, is that the shooter also needs tuning. Without training you're not going to be able to compete.
One of the joys of the military muzzle loader for me is that it isn't a MOA rifle - I like testing my shooting skills and observation of conditions. Appraising wind strength and direction, sometimes having to aim way off to account for it. Seeing the target appear at 600 yards with a well placed shot is immensely satisfying for me. I don't make any pretence that I am recreating the past - today's competition rules for target shooting with historical arms that I take part in have evolved to create a highly enjoyable sport.
In the 19thC and distinct from 'musketry instructions', target shooting was also a popular sport with Rifle Volunteers in Great Britain, who were armed with rifles that used the Government cartridge. As today, Riflemen sought tools to aid their shooting. The .568 cartridge was still used in competition, even though the service cartridge used a .550 bullet. Some complained that powder charges in cartridges were inconsistent - and (as you noted) devices evolved for checking the volume of powder during loading. Tools also evolved that had vernier scales on them and were used to adjust the rearsight elevation precisely and consistently. Eley were advertising Metford bullets for the Enfield, which used a hollow nosed bullet and reportedly improved shooting at long range. There were books published to explain the art and science of rifle shooting, as distinct from musketry instruction. They were also primarily shooting at ranges of 200 - 600 yards with their Enfield rifles, not 100 yards or less that is common place today. The 19thC competitve riflemen used all the "science , astronomy and algebra"
David
This stuff is very cool but it's Greek to probably 90% of guys who just want to get out and shoot as beginners , and just want to get a repro rifle-musket running
