My P1853 Enfield - Range pics

[dromia]

Pics would be great, thank you.

[Tower75]

As per your request. The tallow I got off of my mate has been confirmed as plumber's tallow he had to order from a plumber's merchants.

And here's the mould.

This is the only mark I can find on it.

Pritchet-style straight-sided bullet for paper-patching/catridge-loading

Regards
T

[ResearchPress]

I believe the chap lives in Lemmington Spa.

That's a Charles Higginbottom mould. I have a couple of his moulds for my muzzle loading match rifles.

David

[Tower75]

Hi guys and girls.

Right, I know this is gonna open a can o' worms.

I took the Enfield down-range the other day. I'm getting better. It was 300 yards again, I took 30 rounds and only 5 missed the board completely, that'll be the fault of the Tommy behind the rifle, the rest hit the board constantly. However, they were *scattered* to say the least.

As above, I'm loading them "the proper" way - from a paper-cartridge, when loaded the bullet is rapped in a lubed patch.

Now, what I've been doing is dipping the cartridge into melted beeswax and tallow - this creates a nice coat of lube, but I also *think* that the patch is sticking to the bullet upon firing.

After the day's events had finished I side-stepped the blackened scorch mark in the grass and inpected the field of paper I had created... yeah, the MoD are gonna love me

The paper *seems* to be shredding and leaving the muzzle, but I'm not sure if it's every shot.

Now two questions arise:

1) Should I stop whinging and be happy that my 160 year old girl can put a lead brick on the board at 300 yards, as that what she was supposed to do.

1a) Maybe it'll improve if I don't dip-lube. Would it help if I just rubbed some dry lube onto the paper?

2) Or, should I stop trying to do it "the proper way" and get the *right* paper, the *right* lube etc. I don't really want to do that, but if I have to, what is the *right* paper? I'm not buying another custom mould. Mine cost £120!

Hope that makes sense.

Regards
Andrew

[Tower75]

Hi Guys, anyone got an opinion on the patch and lube at all? :?

[Mike357]

You should give Dromis the hurry up like he gave you :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[dromia]

Have you read Bill Roberts articles over on David Minshall's Research Press.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/shooting/index.htm

Loading for Target accuracy is different than loading for miltary accuracy, the Enfield rifle wasn't used as an individual weapon, it allowed the miltary to do at 800 yrds what the smooth bore did at 80 yrds. Volley fire was still the main infantry fire tactic of the day.

I get the best accuracy from my P53 using tight fitting flat based bollits over a grease cookie, I can do this because I can clean out the fouling 'tween shots. The military didn't do this that is why the undersized Minie type was so revolutionary.

This my favourite boolit for medium range shooting even although it is described in the context of reloading for the Snider.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthr ... ht=Paradox

[dromia]

BTW, ask and ye shall receive.

[dromia]

Sorry I forgot the link to Bill Curtiss' excellent series of article on "Managing the Enfield".

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms ... gement.htm

[Tower75]

Sorry - not sure how I missed this post.

Thanks for the links. I'll check 'em out