best ammo for 1861 Springfield?

[DavidB2]

I am thinking of getting an 1861 Springfield. What is the best round for this weapon which can be purchased off the shelf rather than ordering? Does Hornady make .58 minnie balls or perhaps Speer?

 

[Hawkeye748]

No. None of the big boys make precast minie balls.

They can be bought but the best method for consistency and accuracy is to cast your own out of pure lead.

 

[Hawkeye748]

Should add, a patched .570 round ball works fairly well and are available from Speer, not sure about Hornady. Not all stores will carry them though.

 

[4v50 Gary]

For fun, I tried roundballs in my Parker Hale Enfield musketoon. It shot poorly. I'll stick with the minie balls casted from my Parker-Hale mould. Never tried those same minie-balls in my Springfield (I have an Armi-sport) though.

If you want advice from the experts on minie-guns, go to the North South Skirmish Association Website. Those guys shoot competitively with those guns.

 

[mykeal]

PRB's worked very well in my .58 Zouave, but articap is right about getting advice from the practitioners.

 

[Hawkeye748]

If you are interested in minie balls, the New Style Minie is probably the best all around bullet for you to start with. One thing you will need to do is make sure you find the right size Minie ball to shoot. You will need a bullet that is no more than .001 to .002 under the bore size between the lans. This is critical for consistent accuracy. With pure lead, this will allow you a variety of levels of loads from plinking to competition, to hunting. The most accurate load is most often not the heavy loads.

If you can get an accurate measurement of the bore between the lans, this fellow can supply you with bullets.

Patrick Kaboskey,
S. 80 W. 30650 Medowlark Circle
Mukwonago, WI 53149
262-363-4625

[email protected]

 

[Hellgate]

For minies you need to keep in mind that a heavy hunting load will flare the thin skirt of the minie and ruin accuracy. For heavy hunting loads get a thick skirted minie like the Lyman 575213-OS, 577611 or else go with working up a patched round ball load. Otherwise the thin skirted minies can achieve excellent accuracy with modest loads.