Looking to build a Minnie rifle

[ayetter2003]

In .45 or .50 what rifling twist and depth will work and a source for 1" across flats barrels thanks for help

 

[nwtradegun]

do you mean a small rifle or one for shooting minie ball type bullets

 

[ayetter2003]

Minie ball

 

[nwtradegun]

I suggest you confir with bobby hoyt. Bob Hoyt
700 Fairfield Station Rd
Fairfield, PA 17320
717 642 6696
he is a master barrel smith

 

[Zonie]

I agree. Talk to a barrel maker who has a lot of experience.

Also, because you mentioned .45 and .50 caliber combined with Minie' ball, be sure to check if bullets of that style exist.

I say that because in my mind's eye I picture a Minie' ball as the big hollow based bullets that were made for the rifled muskets, usually in .577 or .58 caliber.

I can't say I've seen any .45 or .50 caliber slugs that I would consider to be "Minie' Balls".

Anyway, the rifling depth is the thing that changes if one is making a barrel for round balls (usually .005-.015 deep rifling), lead slugs (usually .003-.006 deep rifling), Minie balls (often around .003-.004 deep rifling) and those plastic things we don't talk about (depth about .002-.003). (Depths are rough guesses on my part).

 

[sc45-70]

Lee makes minie molds in .450 and .500 diameter

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1201/2/LEE-90467
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1201/2/LEE-90472

SC45-70

 

[sc45-70]

Don't know if this helps but I shoot a rifle with a custom 58 cal. minie barrel. It is 1 in 38 twist, 4 thousandth deep rifling with 8 lands and grooves. It shoots very well.

SC45-70

 

[ayetter2003]

Thanks I will talk to Hoyt, Lee makes moulds I have some some from Lyman and one branded TC, I shoot minies in my current roundball guns with success I just want to build one that is dedicated for minies

 

[ZUG]

Back in the late 70's (78-79) my buddy had a Minie ball mold for .40 caliber Minies. It produced a Minie with a hollow base and had a more rounded nose that the .575 Lyman Minie. I cast a bunch from his mold and ask him if he would want to sell it as I liked the bullet. Alas he did not want to sell the mold and I don't know where he got it from. I still have some of those Minies - I will dig them up and take a picture of them if I can find them. :wink:

 

[BigBoreBLR]

There's compatible barrels.

However, if you want to use a dedicated barrel. It would be best to pick what minie you'd like to shoot. Being there's a big weight difference amount the same caliber sizes.