Hunting loads for the 1861, final chapter!

The deed is done. Going with Spark's two-shot method, instead of my usual three shots, to simulate that first shot on game, and then the follow up shot(s) I spent quite a while today with the Springfield.

The target above consists of firing a .562" roundball, with a .020" patch, over a wonder wad, and beneath that a bee's wax wad, all over 100 grains fffg, from a clean barrel, followed by a quick reload of a waxed (bee's wax) 525 grain, .575" minie'. No wiping or cleaning the barrel for the second shot. Point of aim was the bottom edge of the plate.

In my previous shooting session, I had filled the base of the minie' with Bondo Glass, which is a type of bondo with glass fibers. It shot well, and to same POI as the ball, but I did get a couple/two wild flyers. Today, I started out shooting minie's with the base filled with regular Bondo.

The regular Bondo slugs did not shoot well. That hole way to the left, and low, in the carboard, is a regular Bondo minie'. Most did not stray that far, but sure didn't group like the glass Bondo. The glass Bondo is a little harder to work with, but certainly worth the effort.

Sticking to the two shot method I experienced no super-wild flyers, as I did the other day. I am now very confident in the Springfield for the soon and upcoming ML deer and Elk season. I hunt primarily with a flintlock, but like to have a "backup" rifle for very wet or rainy days...and the Springfield is SO cool that I like to take it out for one or two days per season...even if it does weigh a bazillion pounds.

Anyhow, I am quite please with that group, 90 yards, from two different loads.

I plan to have the rifle loaded with ball, and then the slug in a paper cartridge will be a very fast reload/follow up shot. I have not shot more than three slugs in a row, but the bore stays amazingly clean, the slug keeps going down easy, which makes sense with a .575" slug in a .580" bore. When you press the slug into the muzzle, it shaves off a ring of wax, kind of like a revolver shaving a ring of lead when loading. So it's a perfect fit every time.

The ball load is shooting very well, as you can see. I'm impressed that the shallow minie' rifling will throw a ball so well, over a stout hunting charge.

The Springfield says: "thanks for listening!"