Trouble with Springfield replica

[rusty from italy]

Hi all, i have a springfield 1864 know also like 1863II it's made by euroarms in two years of test i'm not been able to find a no longer than decent accuracy, sit on the rest at 50 mt is difficoult to hit the target, in this two year i have tested 5 different kind of miniè ball with ffg and fffg with load fron 30 to 60 grains, the best group was a 5" lower bull eyes made with a heavy 640 grains miniè from a Pedersoli mold.
Saturday i have tested two new stile of bullet from Lyman, the light 405 miniè, is a semi wad cutter designed for target, and a "original" miniè always from Lyman.
It's my 5° .58 cal rifled musket and i have find the right loading recipe far all except this last one
I thinking to sell it, eventually to a reenacter, he don't need to have a live fire musket
But before this.....any idea? something to adjust in the musket fitting?
Any positive feedback on euroarms (years ago i had a enfield musketon from E.A. and i wont forget it)
:banghead:
ciao
Rusty

 

[DrLaw]

Have you tried a newer design from Lee molds? A Minie ball depends on soft lead, really soft lead, to get the skirt to engage the rifling. Using soft lead? (Pure Lead)

The Doc is out now.

 

[rusty from italy]

I have tried: Lyman 578-675, 575-213, 575-213OS; Lee 575-500M, 575-472; D.Pedersoli 309-580 (640 grais) 309-577 (620 grains)
I have several .58 musket, some better, some less, but every one hit the target with close groups, this springfield is a junk rifle?
I'm thinking that's a poor quality in euroarms
Obviously i cast my miniè with pure and soft lead.
ciao
Rusty

 

[Hellgate]

Try a patched round ball. Maybe the rate of twist is not best for minies. As a Civil War gun it ought to be the right twist but maybe someone goofed up and it is rifled inappropriately (wrong).

 

[rusty from italy]

Well, looked to the catalogue the springfield have a twist rate of 1:72, all good .58 shooter i have are twisted at 1:66, this may be the starting point, longer twist rate mean shorter bullet, it's true?
R.

 

[sackettboys]

rusty -
You might want to check out the N-SSA (North-South Skirmish Association) website, these guys have years of experience shooting CW arms. http://www.n-ssa.org/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=4

 

[DrLaw]

Rusty,
I was not meaning to insult your intelligence, but you would be amazed at the number of people who get into this without knowing what they are doing. Sometimes (most times) it is the simplest of answers.
I also agree with Sackettboys to contact the N-SSA people. They have a forum there and the answers are plentiful from those with experience.
The Doc is out now.

 

[rusty from italy]

OK good advice with N-SSA forum, now i'll go to read that board, sometime the answer at your question are already write in the web ocean
Thank's folks
Rusty

 

[Acorn Mush]

Rusty have you measured the bore of your musket, and the diameters of the bullets you shoot? The bullets should not be more than .002" smaller than the bore diameter or accuracy will suffer.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Check the muzzle for nicks and dents. If there are any, it must be crowned to correct your poor groupings.

 

[Hawkeye748]

Rusty,

Many things could cause your problem. The N-SSA board has had this subject brought up for discussion many times. Go there and sign on as a guest. They will be happy to assist you.

www.n-ssa.net