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Hall rifle load data?

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So I have owned an original hall rifle for the past few weeks now, but I had a few questions I was wondering if someone on this thread could answer. Specifically, is there a place I can find bullet molds for it. I was told it was a .52 caliber and I measured it at .527. Or would it be safe to use .530 diameter round balls. Currently I have just been using .50 patched round balls to shoot it, but I would like to try and get better accuracy out of it.

As far as powder charges go, I am currently using 60gr of pyrodex FFG equivalent. I was told it originally used 78gr loads, and was wondering if anyone had any recommended loads they used and would be willing to pass on.
Thanks,
Trippy.
 

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See the eras gone site on Youtube with the company owner shooting all manner of obsolete BP arms, including the Hall carbine.

Dump the Pyrodex and get some real BP - back in the day that's what they used, and there is nothing better.
 
If it were that easy, I would have found it. I have spent hours trying and none of the videos talk about safe loads to use in the modern day, or historically. Can't find any info on google either. As far as powder goes. There isn't any available locally to me and I'm not about to pay hazmat shipping.
 
Wikipedia says the Hall used a .525 diameter roundball and with the .527 bore you are measuring that sounds about right.

A .530 diameter ball would probably work if you loaded it like a muzzleloader and poured the powder down the bore followed by the ball.
You would have to wipe the bore with every shot or the ball would most likely become stuck by the fouling from the previous shot.
 
I would suspect the same load that the other rifles or muskets about that caliber and time used. That is just a guess but it seems logical.
Make smoke
Bunk
 
If it were that easy, I would have found it. I have spent hours trying and none of the videos talk about safe loads to use in the modern day, or historically. Can't find any info on google either. As far as powder goes. There isn't any available locally to me and I'm not about to pay hazmat shipping.
If you buy at least 5 to 10 pounds, the haz-mat cost per pound is easier to tolerate.
 
So I have owned an original hall rifle for the past few weeks now, but I had a few questions I was wondering if someone on this thread could answer. Specifically, is there a place I can find bullet molds for it. I was told it was a .52 caliber and I measured it at .527. Or would it be safe to use .530 diameter round balls. Currently I have just been using .50 patched round balls to shoot it, but I would like to try and get better accuracy out of it.

As far as powder charges go, I am currently using 60gr of pyrodex FFG equivalent. I was told it originally used 78gr loads, and was wondering if anyone had any recommended loads they used and would be willing to pass on.
Thanks,
Trippy.
I thought the Halls were loaded by tilting the breechblock up, filling the chamber with powder, sticking a ball on the end of the chamber, or in the chamber, closing the breechblock, capping and firing.
Loading with paper cartridges simplifies things some.
In other words, your load data is to fill the chamber with powder, place the ball, cap, and fire.
As far as bullets go, I don’t know what would be wrong with what you have been using.
 
A .530 diameter ball would probably work if you loaded it like a muzzleloader and poured the powder down the bore followed by the ball.
You would have to wipe the bore with every shot or the ball would most likely become stuck by the fouling from the previous shot.

I can't get .530 round ball to go down the barrel while clean without using a lot of force. It will fit into the breech though without issue when I load it that way. Not sure if that makes it safe to use though as I am new to black powder. I did find some .520 molds though which I have on the way. Those should work good with the homemade patches I use.
 
I thought the Halls were loaded by tilting the breechblock up, filling the chamber with powder, sticking a ball on the end of the chamber, or in the chamber, closing the breechblock, capping and firing.
Loading with paper cartridges simplifies things some.
In other words, your load data is to fill the chamber with powder, place the ball, cap, and fire.
As far as bullets go, I don’t know what would be wrong with what you have been using.
They are breach loaders but you can muzzle load if the action gets too dirty and seizes up. As for the bullets I use. They're too small to engage the rifling and don't produce the best accuracy.
 
Use balls close to the size of the chamber. No patches. Measure your chamber to figure it out for your rifle. If it were mine I'd treat it like a large one chamber revolver. I would lube the balls with 50/50 tallow and bee's wax. IF it fouled over multiple shots I's put a dab of crisco over the ball.

Jeff Tanner's son can make you any size ball mold. Accurate Molds can make any design of bullet.

As stated before ditch the pyro poop. It will rot your gun.

I would try 1F also. I speculate that the original cartridges might have used a musket granulation. 1F would generate lower pressure and a gentler pressure curve. The rifle is almost 200 years old, be kind to the old girl.
 
one grain of very coarse powder (Fg or FFg) per caliber and load the block like a single shot revolver but without a patch should be a safe load for a very old rifle...
But be advised that thing will leak high pressure hot gas like water through a sock
However it should be interesting to shoot a time or two. Remenber it is an artifact over two hundred (200) years old. and if anything breaks there is no repair with original parts.
Make smoke
carefully
Bunk.
 
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