What is the best best Minie' ball mold for live firing of Pedersoli 1861 Springfield?

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Originally Posted by JDBraddy

I'm new to all this, just bought a used 1858 two band Enfield from a club member, and a lee .575" mini-ball mold was included as part of the sale. Cast about 70 miniballs and went to the range. Went to load the first one, it rattled down the bore to the powder, turned the gun over, and it rattled back out into my hand. No rod required! I loaded and fired about ten anyway. Group size was about a foot at 25yds, about 1in5 keyholed and went through the backer sideways. I slugged the barrel, and it measures .585" noticed the rifling was 5 groove, then noticed it has a barrel liner installed. Don't know the history there, but still want to participate in club skirmishes, so need to find a mold that will work for it.

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Was that .585" the bore or groove diameter? For muskets you need to know what the bore is. As mentioned, pin gauges are the tool to use. Whatever it is, find yourself a way to produce bullets no more than .001" under bore size. Cast them from pure lead, make some good appropriate lube, use good 3f powder and you'll be up and running. BTW I've never seen those Lee bullets shoot well in anything.

The best one Ive found is the Parker Hale style Lyman ........cavity has a flat ...........doesnt look authentic for the purists ,buy it shoots good with all kinds of impure lead ,and Ive never had a fail with it in numerous rifles.