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Getting into the percussion game, 1858 Enfield

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Road_Clam

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Gun club shooting buddies are just BAD BAD BAD ! Again I have been bitten by the saying "Try my antique 1861 Springfield, it's a hoot to shoot !" Yes, it darn well was ! While I absolutely loved the nostalgic shooting experience of the 1861 , I really struggled with the super long sight radius (I have extremely poor eyes). My buddy is just a master at all aspects of shooting antique military muzzleloaders and he advised me to look into the 1858 Enfield. Better (more forgiving) sights, and a shorter sight radius. By pure luck I actually found a used / unfired '58 Pedersoli at one of my somewhat local larger gun shops, so after some easy haggling I own it ! Really happy with the excellent build quality of the Pedersoli. Very nice fit and finish. Really looking forward to learning how to load authentic paper cartridges and mini balls.


 
Nice rifle! I owned a 1861 and I could not warm up to it, so I sold it. Someday I will own a Enfield, they just have that right look. Good luck and shoot it in good health.
 
The sight radius on the Enfield was actually made for older eyes, given that lower Enlisted soldiers in their 30s-40s were more common throughout the British Empire during this time period.

I'm guessing the Springfield was designed without regard for older troops, just 17-20ish conscripts.

Rolling 1863 Pattern cartridges is super easy , just find out what diameter Minie and charge it likes, get a sizer and a candle wax melter for hot lubing and have at it.

Pritchett cartridges are much more complicated.
 
I got myself a copy of this: <https://books.google.co.uk/books/ab...rifle_musket.html?id=6U4BAAAAQAAJ&redir_esc=y> There are pdf copies availabe for download.

And this bloke shows how to do it:

My barrel is slugged and I plan, as my mould produces .568, to size down to .558 (I have made a sizer ready) this will allow the ball to fit down the bore (I hope) all these lessons have, of course, been learned by more quaified shooters than I but I just have to try don't I?
 
Gun club shooting buddies are just BAD BAD BAD ! Again I have been bitten by the saying "Try my antique 1861 Springfield, it's a hoot to shoot !" Yes, it darn well was ! While I absolutely loved the nostalgic shooting experience of the 1861 , I really struggled with the super long sight radius (I have extremely poor eyes). My buddy is just a master at all aspects of shooting antique military muzzleloaders and he advised me to look into the 1858 Enfield. Better (more forgiving) sights, and a shorter sight radius. By pure luck I actually found a used / unfired '58 Pedersoli at one of my somewhat local larger gun shops, so after some easy haggling I own it ! Really happy with the excellent build quality of the Pedersoli. Very nice fit and finish. Really looking forward to learning how to load authentic paper cartridges and mini balls.


Keep in mind that the P58 has a 1:48 twist which should prefer a heavier, thereby longer bullet.
The most important thing you can do is determine your bore size. Don't assume that it's .577
 
Keep in mind that the P58 has a 1:48 twist which should prefer a heavier, thereby longer bullet.
The most important thing you can do is determine your bore size. Don't assume that it's .577

I do CNC machining by trade and have access to a .500 - .600 gauge pin set. I plan on "pinning" the bore and i'll be able to identify the exact diameter.
 
The P61 Musketoons are the neatest thing ever :)

So much easier to load, I made a YouTube video of myself loading it with Pritchett cartridges one handed , that thing is so short you can just grab the barrel and dump the powder/flip the cartridge/put the bullet in the muzzle like it's nothing.

No wonder guys like JEB Stuart fell in love with these things and wanted as many as he could get.
 
Some mass produced repros and even originals have bore variance throughout the bore.

I have a Zoli Buffalo Hunter with a tight spot halfway down the bore.
 
Keep in mind that the P58 has a 1:48 twist which should prefer a heavier, thereby longer bullet.
Doesn’t need to be longer and may not stabilise; using a bullet with a shallow base cavity will increase weight without increasing length.

David
 
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