.535" in a 58cal?

[frontier gander]

what do you guys think of a .535" ball wrapped in .018 pillow ticking being shot out of a .58cal?  I bought a new barrel a couple weeks ago and do not have a .570 ball mold yet * cant find one made by Lee  *  and i'd really like to get out and try this barrel.

[Roger Fisher]

Yes, double or triple the patching I do believe you will like the results!

[Daryl]

We tried using a .575" BRB in Taylor's .62 which has the identical .045" windage to the ball. We tried doubling up on patches, using buckskin and a couple other ventures - to no avail. It did allow Taylor to shoot his new .62, though. We ended up making molds (more than one, I think) out of maple and I think we somehow made one out of aluminum - pretty fuzzy on that, and cast enough balls to get by with until his .615" RB mould mould came in. 

Your results may differ- of course, depending on your accuracy requirements.

[Harnic]

If you have any spare hide from the past season's buck, that would be about the right thickness.  Even tent canvas would be much too thin for that task f/g.

[frontier gander]

i think i will hold off for now. I am still working on getting my 54 redialed in with .018 patches.

Where can i get a .570 mold? I was hoping lee would have them but they only list .562 and .575

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

Ray Rapine.

[Dphariss]

what do you guys think of a .535" ball wrapped in .018 pillow ticking being shot out of a .58cal?  I bought a new barrel a couple weeks ago and do not have a .570 ball mold yet * cant find one made by Lee  *  and i'd really like to get out and try this barrel.

I would buy a Lyman. I like the balls they make better.
Lee is OK but you need to keep them doped with mold prep.
Lymans last forever. I have had a couple of Lees die on me when the sprue plate stated pulling grooves in the aluminum.
TOW has Lee and Lyman.
Dan

[jim meili]

Try this place, they have good prices on Lyman and Lee equipment.

F&M Reloading Equipment,Inc.
P.O. Box 13086
Hamilton,Oh 45013

Good luck!

[Harnic]

Lee molds last very well if sprayed with silicone lube when cool.  It acts as a great release agent, doesn't build up, & lubes the sprue plate so the lead doesn't stick cutting those nasty grooves in the top of the blocks.

[Daryl]

I used nothing but a Lyman .575" mould in my .58's - even the tight .577's & I used .020" denim for patches.  To my way of thinking, a .570" is small, but would be OK I guess with a very heavy patch- maybe .023".

Lyman rocks in RB moulds.

[frontier gander]

lyman does look good but jeez! They cost almost as much as the barrel i put on it.

A .570 ball is to small with a .018 - .020 patch?  I dont swab between shots so i'd like to be able to get at least 3 shots minimum down on a dirty bore.

Its $#*! loading a .530 ball with a .018 pillow ticking patch into my .54

[Dphariss]

lyman does look good but jeez! They cost almost as much as the barrel i put on it.

A .570 ball is to small with a .018 - .020 patch?  I dont swab between shots so i'd like to be able to get at least 3 shots minimum down on a dirty bore.

Its $#*! loading a .530 ball with a .018 pillow ticking patch into my .54

The Lyman will still be casting bullets 200 years from now with decent care.
I consider Lee's to be throw aways. They make decent bullets, they heat up fast but they are not even close in durability.
I do not like the flat spot on the ball much either. The Lyman's just make a better ball to my eye.
I routinely buy used Lyman moulds, Ebay etc. They have good resale value.
I would never consider buying a Lee in this manner. The primary reason is I think most of the bullet designs, including the RB stink.
I have a Lee right now for a 44 mag bullet. It has held up so far. Bought it new from Midway.
But I have pretty well settled on the Lyman Keith bullet for the 44, from a mould I bought used on Ebay.
Good stuff always costs more.
Dan

[Mike R]

lyman does look good but jeez! They cost almost as much as the barrel i put on it.

A .570 ball is to small with a .018 - .020 patch?  I dont swab between shots so i'd like to be able to get at least 3 shots minimum down on a dirty bore.

Its $#*! loading a .530 ball with a .018 pillow ticking patch into my .54

Depends on the barrel I guess--I used to shoot .565 ball in my .58 [Green River] barrel with good results and a denim patch.

[frontier gander]

  Roundball has done lost his marbles.

I just put everything onto my .58cal barrel. After breaking the ramrod on the .54 i got fed up and decided to put it to the side until i can figure something out with the patches.

i used a 531 ball wrapped in a .040 patch *2 patches* and 80gr Pyrodex RS.  I was 4" low @ 25 but dead center and i came up with a 2" group. I think once i hit the 100gr charge area it will tighten up a lot.  Sure loads smooth!

[frontier gander]

Update!!  i shot 3 shots with 100gr RS and my 2" group shrunk down to 1/2 center to center    I still have to adjust the sights up to get it where i need but it looks like i may be ready for 100 yards tomorrow.

[T*O*F]

I was in a Woodswalk once and drew a penalty.  Had to surrender all my balls to the observer.  I was using a .58 smoothbore.  Another member of the team was shooting a .54, so his ammo kept me in the match.  I patched his .530 roundballs with greased buckskin (buckskin in sewing kit to patch mocs and grease in small tin for greasing mocs).  The next target was an Indian standing behind a woman, with a knife at her throat.  Only part of his head and shoulder were visible.  Shot had to be fired in less than 5 seconds.  I plugged him thru the brainpan.

[straightshooter1]

Rapine Moulds ph # 215-679-5413
Just ordered a .590 rd ball mould for my heavy bench gun from him.
GREAT moulds!!

[frontier gander]

whats a Rapine Mould cost these days?

[tg]

I have shot .535, .550, .562, .570 from My .58 bore French fusil I used a combination of wadding, cards, and some with patches, some of the .535 and .550 balls were cards only and no patch, I think a thick patch like from blur jeans or similar would work well with the smaller balls I justhave not gotten back out and done a lot of bench work the below paper plate was shot at aboput 45 yds or a little less as I recall every ball I shot hit the plate, undersize balls can work at closer ranges I used 80-90gr 3f if I recal,l correctly, this little test pretty much falls in line with records of balls shipped from France in the early 1700's when several sizes of balls would be sent in the same barrel, the guns of the time had a pretty wide range of windage and were still considered the same "caliber"I suspect they were not as picky about the fit of the balls when they loaded back then and still got accuracy acceptable for Deer/Elk / Bear/and warfare.

[frontier gander]

this is a cva mountain rifle. Still have the .54cal barrel for the other one i am building. This 58 was made on deer creeks rifling machine with is the Douglas machine. 1:70 twist with looks to be very shallow rifling. Loading it is just so Smoooooooth.

i'll see tomorrow how 70 yards is and then 100 yards.

[tg]

I was using a smoothbore, I have never really tried ultra small balls with a rifled barrel, I don't know if that would make a difference or not.

[J.D.]

I was in a Woodswalk once and drew a penalty.  Had to surrender all my balls to the observer.  I was using a .58 smoothbore.  Another member of the team was shooting a .54, so his ammo kept me in the match.  I patched his .530 roundballs with greased buckskin (buckskin in sewing kit to patch mocs and grease in small tin for greasing mocs).  The next target was an Indian standing behind a woman, with a knife at her throat.  Only part of his head and shoulder were visible.  Shot had to be fired in less than 5 seconds.  I plugged him thru the brainpan.

That wouldn't have been at Ft. DeChartre, would it? Sounds like a target we set up, not to mention taking things away from competitors.     Scoring that woodswalk was more fun than shooting. 

God Bless,
J.D.

[T*O*F]

That wouldn't have been at Ft. DeChartre, would it? Sounds like a target we set up, not to mention taking things away from competitors.     Scoring that woodswalk was more fun than shooting.

JD,
It was, and you were the guy who assessed the penalty on me, but I did manage to make it to the end alive.  That particular shoot has to rank among the best I ever attended.  You guys did a great job!!  I think we took the spam that year (good shots.....lousy time management skills).

We learned to spot potential ambushes by scanning ahead for cleaning patches on the ground left by those guys who felt the need to swab between shots.

[J.D.]

Thanks for that compliment. We worked for several weeks, prior to the woodswalk, survival walk for you easterners, clearing trails and preparing targets. Scoring was a hoot. You wouldn't believe the things people did, or didn't do, that resulted in losing items. One team became so gun shy that they almost refused to approach obvious targets. It was hilarious.

I have, BTW, to keep the thread on course, used 45 and 50 cal balls in a 54 cal rifle, with so-so results. Double patches were used with decent close range accuracy with the 50s, but don't remember any details with 45s.

God Bless,
J.D.

[straightshooter1]

Rapine Mould in .590 with handles was $89.95 shipped.