Enfield 58 balls...?

I am going to order some roundballs for my Euro Arms Enfield and was wondering which size folks have the best results with...? :hmm:

Couple things to note here:

The Original Enfield was .577 caliber. The Euroarms are 'close' to .58. What you need to do is get your bore size determined, first. You could do this with a caliper (how, I'm not exactly sure, but I'm sure someone here will tell) or have someone with a set of bore gauges do it (gunsmith, etc.). I'm assuming you're going to be using Minie Balls? If so, you need to buy (or have cast for you) balls that are about .002 under bore di. For example, a musket that has been sized to .578 or .581 would take a .576 or .579 ball, respectively.

Hope this helps,

_Chris T.

.
. oct 26 / 15:45


hi paul,

i have the euroarms jp murray which is also ".58" nominal and was told to use regular conicals from a .575213 Old Style Hollow Base mould or .570 ball with .010 lubed patch.

on dixie's site, look for PR0340 Dixie Three-Band Enfield Rifle (assuming you have the 3 band version - ?) and there is a paragraph of info with the company spec's - rifled .006" deep, 1-72" twist, 3 lands measure .577" and 3 grooves measure .589" - which you can download.

i've used both conical and ball without any problems with a 60g FF throw.. should be ok for you, at least to start with...

have fun,

:hatsoff: ~daniel~

Thanks for the input Gents...
:hatsoff:

Misplaced Rebel said:

I'm assuming you're going to be using Minie Balls?

Click to expand...

The OP said 'roundballs'.

tac
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund

Yep, tac's right, roundballs are my first choice to shoot. I shoot the mine' balls at times but roundballs are more... "pleasent" to shoot. :wink:

Any tips or input tac...? :hmm:

I shoot a .570" ball with .018" ticking patch from my .58 Zouave three groove barrel. It's pretty hard to measure a 3 groove, you'd need hole gauges or plug gauges but start with a .570" ball and try a variety of patch thicknesses. My Zouave likes 80 grains of 2f.

PaulN/KS said:

Yep, tac's right, roundballs are my first choice to shoot. I shoot the mine' balls at times but roundballs are more... "pleasent" to shoot. :wink:

Any tips or input tac...? :hmm:

Click to expand...

Who me?

Nossir. I'm a traditional old fuddy-duddy, me.

I have only two .58cal guns and shoot Minies in both - 535gr Lyman over 65gr of FFg in the three-bander and the same bullet over 50gr in the musketoon. The first is good for 100m and the second for 50m. Hawkeye I ain't fer sure.

However, I occasionally let loose at considerably longer range with the three-bander - up to 600yds, albeit with more commotion than accuracy. I then use 75gr.

I wouldn't dream of offering any more 'advice' than that, I'm simply not knowledgeable enuff.

tac
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration fund

Well, any advice or tip from you I consider useful tac. Methinks thou art just being modest Sir... :hmm:
Thanks for info, I have some mine' bullets around and shall be giving them a try soon.
Paul
:hatsoff:

I shoot regularly at rondevous and I mould my .570's and use pillow ticking patches in my .58 63 model springfield and they work well. One of the guys in my unit has a new euroarms .577 1858 enfield and those balls and patching work just as good. You will find it stiff at first if its a new gun.My springfield I'd bought off a fella who went cavilary and he'd fired only blanks it took a couple hundred shots to get her broke in proper and I hunt with it. last time out with patched ball took a 210 lb 8 pointer at 75 yards and didn't have to chase him down. As I said 570's will work try ticking if it feels loose you may have to go to a little thicker patch. Good luck and happy shooting

PaulN/KS said:

I am going to order some roundballs for my Euro Arms Enfield and was wondering which size folks have the best results with...? :hmm:

Click to expand...

Buy a box of 570s and try them with heavy cotton pillow ticking or cotton "drill" from a fabric store. If they don't work you will need a mould and can recast the 570s.
Many things will work for lube.

Dan

Thanks for the info on the .570 balls. Two votes for them so far, sounds like the way to go based on the results...
Thanks :hatsoff: