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Ok, due to a variety of circumstances I found myself the owner of one.
I reload for 5 different calibres, but not black powder.
That was a rabbit hole I promised myself not to go down. Bugger.
So questions, lots of them
Are all percussion caps the same ?
Whats the best ( mildest ) BP. Punching paper only.
Where to buy projectiles ?
Any help greatfully received, cheers :thumbsup:
Not much info to go on their. Percussion caps come in 2 sizes #10 Normally for revolver pistols, #11 Most rifles and muskets, Musket caps or Top hats for larger muskets and usually military type firearms.
Calibre is a biggy : 50, 54,58cal 60-100 grains 2f or 3f powder. If rifled round ball and Ticking patch dampened with olive oil. Swab with spit patch between shots. Yes its a big Rabbit hole you just fell into.
Thanks guys
Sorry, more info on the rifle
Its a 58 cal, smoothbore
Pattern 53 percussion
Isn't Robert on this forum?Quote:
Originally Posted by muzza
The first time you clean it will make or break the habit!! The best cleaning tip I ever saw, was to hang it on the rose while taking a shower!
There’s some funny folk shooting that black stuff!
Are you sure it's smoothbore? P53s 58s 61s etc were usually a rifled musket.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frogfeatures
Projectiles - I have a correct Lyman minie mould but got good results using Lee moulds. Lee moulds = cheaper and cast quicker ie warm up and produce nice projectiles a lot quicker than the steel moulds like Lyman.
I used to shoot a traditional Lee Minie and a Lee flat nosed minie (almost like a wadcutter). The Lee flat nose was incredibly accurate but back in the day when I was shooting, at most comps they would not let you use it as it was not "traditional'.
A photo of your smokepole would be helpful.
Ball and patch then and use FFG Holy smoke powder from Mr Van Teil in Taupiri,Quote:
Originally Posted by Frogfeatures
Ha ha, when I used to trip around to the comps (Whangarei, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Waiouru) the motel shower was exactly where I used to clean my guns.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maca49
Once you go black, youll never go back. Photos would help, especially of the nipple and muzzle. Trying to get a no 10 or 11 cap on a musket nipple ends in tears.
60 to 70 grains was regulation charge but 50 works ok in my zouave repro with a mine ball.
Musket cap, Assuming its 58cal a .562 or .570 Patched round ball (made from any lead) sitting on 60-80gr powder should get you started. Try Track of the wolf, Dixie Gunworks or Cabelas for Moulds. You can change the nipple to #11 caps.
Once you have dropped the powder down the hole give the gun a slap on the side of the lock to make powder go into the flash channel.
Another thing and we have all done it at some stage if you forget to put the powder in before the ball. Unscrew the nipple and dribble some powder down the nipple hole, it doesn't actually (take much to remove the ball) then insert nipple and fire.
Silly question, does that mean it doesn’t currently take a # 11 cap ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tasbay
very nice....one day I WILL own something like that....one day.
Looks like you have one of these..https://tinyurl.com/yxn7lzor
I have it's "Big Brother," the three band. Are there any markings anywhere on it?
Don't use smokeless powder or FFFg. the first will blow your barrel apart at least and the second is too "hot"( fast burning.)
FFg is my recommendation, GOEX or Hodgdons and I suspect it takes the "Top Hap" caps.
My current first port of call for consumables is www.beavergrease.co.nz
Looks to me it has a nipple for a musket cap which would be correct for the firearm. My Zoil Zauave I run on #11 caps and a #11 nipple. The Zoil actually came with both nipple sizes when new. The Musket caps have a bit more authority when igniting but the #11 caps are cheaper. That said most of the time I use a #11 nipple and toy cap gun caps on all my percussion guns $1 for 72 shots is hard to beat in percussion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frogfeatures
@Frogfeatures, you'll be doing plenty reloading now. Nice rifle. I assume it's at least as powerful than a .222 for use on DOC land. (<:
I just cast some 577 projectiles for a fun shoot hopefully coming up
Minie's and Lee REAL
Attachment 153707
The flat nose Lee minnies on the left in your photo cast up very nicely and shot extremely well in my 2 Parker Hales. The REAL projectiles not so good.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
I know a guy with a heap of Parker Hale's and I cast these to lure him into getting them out and letting me run some shots through themQuote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
P53, P58 and some P61's
Hopefully I can twist his arm and get him to part with one
In the very back of my safe and unfired for many years (no, not for sale) I have a PH P58 and a P61.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
If chasing one the P58 Naval Rifle is the pick. Rifling is progressive depth, something that the non PH replicas didn't do, nor the P53s. And it certainly makes a difference to accuracy.
I would have difficulty now, with aged eyes, shooting the P61 Musketoon with its rear sight pretty dam close back on the barrel. The P61 was my choice though for bush hunting.
@zimmer the P61 is the one I like and he has multiples of that model
It looks like a handy bush stalking gun for hand to hand combat
I doubt he would part with the 53 or 58
The P61 is the first one I got and it shot very well. They came with a Sergeant's multi tool. If you twist arm, see if he has one for the rifle.Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
but she not rifled bud...so is classed as shotgun,therefore not legal......Quote:
Originally Posted by Cordite
Not rifled makes it a musketQuote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Then came the rifled musket. Which wasn't a musket at all
so if a fella can use a "musket" on land under docs control...he should be able to use a smoothbore or other type.....cause you can load up #7s and shoot pigeons wif your musket bro dont ya know????
You would use round balls and cotton patch for that one then and ffg powder and the large percussion caps great fun to shoot
95%-meplat and 100% exposed lead. I have a repro medieval handgonne / pole-cannon shooting .58 cal, still haven't had the brass (!) to bring her to the range.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
Photo not me:
Attachment 153731
Dang! But doubt anyone would care. DOC does give SG permits though. Guess one would just have to undertake to DOC not to take long-range shots. (-:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
Now we know it's a musket, there were specially made bullets made for smoothbore muskets, the Nessler bullet, and the related Chase bullet made about the time of the civil war, to extend range further than the standard round ball. They are shorter than the typical Minie so their skirts make them more stable in flight without benefit of imparted spin. Actually many modern SG slugs look the same and those shorter, flatnosed Minies are in that direction.
