Snider Enfield Range Report

stevejones

stevejones

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Courtenay, BC
So I took my Snider up to the range last weekend. I have been attempting to find an accurate load and have tried various minnies and a short Maxi type projectile that is very short but have had nothing that could be described as accurate. At least up till now. My latest load was developed with the thought that as the Snider's rifling has a very slow rate of twist it would seem obvious that a round ball was the answer. My load consists of 55 grains of Pyrodex RS, a .040 cardboard wad, a charge of cornmeal, a thin carboard wad, and then a blob of beeswax/crisco. The reason for the lube is that my .575 roundball would not stay in the case so the lube serves double duty as a "glue" and then a lube.
My first 3 shot group was 2 1/2 inches! Maybe for you seasoned musket veterans this is normal but it it was very impressive as far as I am concerned. I continued to shoot but without a rest with my elbows on the bench. I ended up with the rest of the shots sitting inside a 6" group and this was with no cleaning of the bore between shots. It seems that the cornmeal cleans the fouling every time you shoot.
The load seems safe as far as pressure is concerned. Recoil is not harsh and the cases are not showing any signs of high pressure. I will post some pics of my mighty musket later.

Steve.
 
You can't criticize success!

I have since sold my Snider Enfield, but I shot 0.600" balls in mine. My bore groove size slugged out to 0.590", and while 0.010" oversize sounds like a lot (and it would be for a slug), with a round ball, it's only the "edges" of the ball that get forced down. If yours slugs "fat" (i.e. 0.590" or so) it might be worth a try. The challenge to do this in yours might be to chamber a ball that large.
 
Snider Accuracy

Part of the problem with the Snider's accuracy has to do with the slow twist rate of 6'6" (1x78") in the 3 bander. Shooting the shortest projectile possible is the way to go.

With the faster twist rate of the Short Rifle (1x48"), you get the option of acceptable accuracy with both patched RB and Minies.

How are you reloading your cases?
 
I shoot my Sniders often. I have both slow and faster twist rifles. I use .590" balls and .590" conical bullets only. I must say that the round balls shoot very well in both rifles. I tried to use the old standard .575" hollow base conicals but they shoot all over the place. If you want some very interesting reading try the "British Militaria Forum". They have a wealth of information available in their archives area. Fun to shoot. Pyrodex doesn't give much fouling as it is not black powder. I always use BP in a duplex load with SR4759 as it shoots clean. Have fun.....Dave
 
Reloading?

Sharps '63 said:
Part of the problem with the Snider's accuracy has to do with the slow twist rate of 6'6" (1x78") in the 3 bander. Shooting the shortest projectile possible is the way to go.

With the faster twist rate of the Short Rifle (1x48"), you get the option of acceptable accuracy with both patched RB and Minies.

How are you reloading your cases?
Click to expand...

I'm not too sure what you mean but I am not resizing the cases. The load is as I stated earlier so my apologies for the confusion (it does not take much..) but a load 0f 55gr pyrodex rs,thick .040 cardboard wad, cornmeal, thin cardboard wad, and a blob of sticky beeswax/crisco.
 
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