Springfield 1863 barrel rebore to smoothbore!

[Treestalker]

Well I just received my Springfield barrel back from Mr. Hoyt and am really pleased and excited about it. He bored it from .58 rifled to .60 caliber smoothbore. I didn't know how large a bore would be feasible, and I don't know exactly what 'guage' .60 caliber is, but it looks great! I'm hoping to build a Civil War era percussion Indian trade gun out of it, suitable to shot or ball, or both. An Englishman named Hollis made some that look to be made out of Enfield parts after the American CW. If anybody has ideas to share, or have experience repurposing a musket barrel, I'd like to hear from you here. The barrel is 40" long, tapered round with bolster, and the military front sight. Do you think an Enfield lock could be fitted, or should I hold out for a Springfield or civilian lock? Thanks guys, Geo.

 

[Cruzatte]

Twenty gauge is usually .615", although some folks call it .62. So .60 is just sub-20 ga.

 

[Treestalker]

Thanks Cruzatte. If .58 is a 24ga, and .61-62 is a 20ga, then .60 must be a 22ga, lol. Bound to be an adventure!

 

[Zonie]

Thanks Cruzatte. If .58 is a 24ga, and .61-62 is a 20ga, then .60 must be a 22ga, lol. Bound to be an adventure!

Yup. Pretty close to a 22 guage.

According to my roundball trajectory calculator on my computer, a .600 diameter lead roundball weighs 324 grains.

7000 grains per pound / 324 grains = 21.60 balls per pound.

 

[gemmer]

Well I just received my Springfield barrel back from Mr. Hoyt and am really pleased and excited about it. He bored it from .58 rifled to .60 caliber smoothbore. I didn't know how large a bore would be feasible, and I don't know exactly what 'guage' .60 caliber is, but it looks great! I'm hoping to build a Civil War era percussion Indian trade gun out of it, suitable to shot or ball, or both. An Englishman named Hollis made some that look to be made out of Enfield parts after the American CW. If anybody has ideas to share, or have experience repurposing a musket barrel, I'd like to hear from you here. The barrel is 40" long, tapered round with bolster, and the military front sight. Do you think an Enfield lock could be fitted, or should I hold out for a Springfield or civilian lock? Thanks guys, Geo.

Assuming you already have a Springfield stock, you'll need a Springfield lock. The Enfield lock plate has a much different profile.

 

[Treestalker]

All I have is the barrel.

 

[gemmer]

I’d stick with springfield parts. Easier to get, original or repro. If you use an Enfield lock, you’ll need an Enfield stock.