Correct Miniball and Round balls for 1853 Enfield

[Pvt_Davis_20th_Maine]

I have just purchased a Euroarms 1853 Enfield and I want to go shooting this weekend. I dont know if I should get .575 miniball bullets or a different size and I wanted to buy some lead round balls...should those be .570? Thanks for the help.

[Michael McComas]

Re: Correct Miniball and Round balls for 1853 Enfield

Michael,

First, the cardinal safety precaution of reenacting is don't shoot live rounds with the same gun you plan to reenact with.

The short answer to your question is, it depends on your bore size. Euroarms barrels could be anywhere from .577 to .582. You want to use the minie that best fits your bore, usually one that is .001" or .002" below bore size. The gun shop you're buying your minies from may be able to help you measure your bore size. They can do it with a brass shotgun muzzle gauge or inside dial caliper, but because there is an odd number of grooves in your barrel, you will have to subtract the groove depth from the measurement. If memory serves, that would be about .003". So if it reads, .580, you really have a .577 bore, and you'd want .575 or .576 bullets. If you're only firing a few rounds and you want the best accuracy (such as for hunting), I'd go with the tighter fit. Lube well with a lube that is made for black powder.

For roundball, the equation is:

Ball Diameter + 2(Thickness of Patch) = Bore Size + Groove Depth (for odd number of grooves)

The patches will usually have a nominal thickness stamped on the package. Use a lubed patch to save time. Personally, I've never bothered with RB in a rifled Enfield, but I guess it depends what you're planning to shoot with it.

The original round for the Enfield was a smooth-sided Pritchett ball wrapped in lubed paper. The paper acted as a patch, and there was a boxwood plug in the hollow base to aid obduration into the grooves when fired. If you do a google search, you'll find more info on the original Enfield musket cartridge than I could give you here.

If you ask your question at this site:

http://www.n-ssa.org/wwwboard/wwwboard.html

you will probably get a whole plethora of answers from guys who have been shooting Enfields longer than I've been walking.

Good luck,

Michael

[JimKindred]

Re: Correct Miniball and Round balls for 1853 Enfield

"First, the cardinal safety precaution of reenacting is don't shoot live rounds with the same gun you plan to reenact with."

This rule comes about because average reenactors are notorious for not cleaning their muskets properly. For some reason they take better care of their hat than they do their musket. A properly cleaned and cared for musket presents no problem. Over my years in the hobby I have seen more injuries directly related to excessive blank powder charges or firing blanks too close to another’s face than anything else.

Just remember, a musket is only as smart as the one shooting it. Unfortunately some units do not take intelligence in to account when recruiting. :wink_smil

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Correct Miniball and Round balls for 1853 Enfield

Hallo Kameraden!

Indeed!

The problem and danger comes from three areas:

1. Newcomers, wanting to avoid the expense of a mold, often buy their "bullets" from blackpowder shops or vendors. These commercial ones are sometimes poorly cast and not inspected. Generally, the first few rounds a "cold mold" throws are often not solid but actually made up of layers of lead.
These "segmented" rounds can have their bases separate upon firing, with the bulk of the bullet being expelled out the muzzle, and a portion of the skirt pushed towards the breech where it remains (if the gun is not properly cleaned- a longer post).
If a "blown skirt" remains in the breech, and the gun next used at an event, the "blank charge" can fire the bullet fragment/skirt as a lethal projectile.
2. Newcomers, unaccustomed and inexperienced when it comes to lead casting and molding, as well as what to look for in a properly cast bullet, often
cast layered or segmented bullets as in No. 1.
3. Newcomers often use modern "cleaning jags" to clean with, which can push any lead fragments/partial skirts against the breech- thus setting the gun up as a lethal weapon the for the next blank round at a reenactment.

Curt-Heinrich Schmidt