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- Jan 31, 2009
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I wonder if Val Forgett insisted on the right diameter bores.
Speaking from the limited experience I have with my rifle, -.002” loads MUCH easier after a string of 10 shots than even -.001”. My rifle would balk like a mule at an interference fit. It’s neat that muzzle fed loads are just as customizeable as cartridge loads.You want a push fit to a Minie. Not a drop in. A friend had one and could not hit a barn wall if shot inside one. I lapped the mold for a push fit and then he could hit a 200 yard steel swinger. Seems it took a long time for the ball to reach 200, funny as all get out
It's a quite addicting type of competition. We're the Palmetto Sharpshooters, in the Central Virginia Region of the N-SSA. Look us up at Nationals sometime.Thanks Hawkeye2. Actually my neighbor here in Surry recruited me and he is attached to the Richmond Volunteer Militia so I am gray all the way . I have no issue with travel to Winchester, it is not that far, maybe 3.5-4 hours +/-. I am really excited about this, I told the wife I am probably too excited. For some reason it just struck me as the right thing to get into at this time, and if I go, I go all the way, limitations of work and all that notwithstanding of course.
I got to see those little plastic shotgun shell type "paper cartridges" they use, very cool and reusable too. I have to get leathers, pants, shirts, the whole thing mostly.
My wife is interested too, she wants to go but not in participating at this time, we both love history and all that goes with it. I am looking into tents...in the event that I get into living history down the road. We have a few travel limitations with our dogs and chickens so there are times when it will just be me, but that is what it is. I appreciate being able to PM you with questions, and I likely will do just that.
Shoot, I am already thinking of the pistol and carbine stuff too, no cannons though!
being a hobbyist/machinist I always wondered why nobody every uses a pin gauge block they are fairly cheap. or a transfer punch set for determining the bore diameter my set is 1/16" to 1"@Surrywoodman, I can't tell you. Your Zouave is the source for determining the size of the Minie' ball you need. Bore diameter of the lands varies quite a bit between manufacturers. The bore must be measured. That can be quite the trick with the three groove barrels of many of the reproductions. Using the inside tips of a vernier caliper measure the diameter from the lands to the bottom of the groove on all three flats. Since these are round barrels, measure from the land to the outside of the barrel for all three lands. Do the same for the grooves. Subtract the average of the three groove measurements from the average of the three land measurements. Now you have the groove depth. Subtract the groove depth from the average of the three land to groove measurements to get the land-to-land bore diameter. Buy a mold that is 0.001" to 0.002" smaller than the land-to-land diameter. You may want a larger diameter mold and an exact diameter sizer sleeve to form your Minie' balls.
If you have one of the Zouaves with a 0.580" bore none of the molds you found will work. Maybe @dave951 will chime in.
my brain fart it should have read pin gauge ( old age the kids say I have some timers.......some times I actually say what I'm thinking)@Rebel bull, the plug gauge set is not calibrated fine though to measure the difference between 0.575 diameter and 0.580 bores.
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