are bores tapered ?

[andy2175m4]

my new rifled musket muzzle loader seems to have a tapered barrel, the 58 caliber minie balls are snug for the first 12" or so, then they slide down easily to the bottom of the barrel (32"), I am getting ready to take it apart and do some measurements,

seems odd to me, are rifled musket barrels supposed to be the same diameter all the way thru ? are center fire rifle barrels the same dia all the way thru ?

 

[andy2175m4]

I was suspicious because it shot an 12-18" group at 50 yards

 

[deerstalkert]

that is normal. as the ball/bullet is engraved with the rifling, the friction decreases.
most barrels are uniform bore, but,,,,,,,,, never say never!

 

[Buckskinquin]

my new rifled musket muzzle loader seems to have a tapered barrel, the 58 caliber minie balls are snug for the first 12" or so, then they slide down easily to the bottom of the barrel (32"), I am getting ready to take it apart and do some measurements,

seems odd to me, are rifled musket barrels supposed to be the same diameter all the way thru ? are center fire rifle barrels the same dia all the way thru ?

Since it’s a minie and doesn’t engage rifling (theoretically) until the powder charge explodes, I’d be suspicious. Try different powder grade and grain. I use 50 grain of 3F for Hodgkin and 585213 at 50 and 100 yds. I’ve found more powder does not improve minie accuracy. Try patch and ball also. Many of my friends swear by it.

 

[64Springer]

You're better off with a lose chamber and tight muzzle than to have that reversed.

And an 18 inch group is something you're doing wrong. Sighting. Flinch. Projectile choice. Powder charge. Etc.

There are many original military barrels that tapered from breech to muzzle. So the bullet can expand and get squeezed into the rifling before being spit out.

And tearing the rifle apart is a bad idea.

What kind of 32" rifle. Zouave? Enfield?

 

[Scota@4570]

Taper or choke is good. Making it deliberately is expensive.

I am struggling to get a PH 2-band to shoot accurately. There is an art to it, apparently.

 

[dave951]

Taper or choke is good. Making it deliberately is expensive.

I am struggling to get a PH 2-band to shoot accurately. There is an art to it, apparently.

There is no rocket science in getting a Parker Hale to shoot

 

[Scota@4570]

I forgot my original point, PH used a hammer forged barrel with tapered grooves. They are known to shoot great.