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Posted: 9/22/2005 9:18:48 PM EDT
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I just had one of these ordered in at my local Cabelas store: 1861 Springfield Musket Anyone here ever have any experience with these things? Are these good quality or junk? I am a beginner at the black powder stuff. |
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I own an 1861 Springfield from "Armi-Sport". I think that is the same model that Cabelas is offering. Be prepared for some "learning" if you decide to get one. I spend a day at one of the "NSSA" North South Skirmish Association event and learned ALOT, but still only barley hit the surface of what shooting this gun is all about. You need to size and lube your Mini Balls, usually 460 grain if you want to shoot what was really shot in the 1860's, along with a 60 grain charge of FFG powder. That was the standard load back then. The NSSA has their own board which would yeild you with much more help that you can get here. I love mine. I shoot it at very close range, 25 yards and enjoy every minute of it. It is quite fun to literally go back in time and shoot a gun like this. As for the gun iself, here are my opinions; 1. The trigger pull is honestly terrible. It is about 12 pounds, and that may throw off your shots. 2. The ignition is delayed by the smallest amount. This can add to troubles. 3. Kick is very light even when shooting what is called by NSSA shooters as a heavy load; "460 grain + 60 grains of Goex FFG" 4. Accuracy is great. At 25 yards I have no trouble at all in keeping my groups at about 3 inches. The key to getting accuracy out of our gun is consistancy. You need to have your barrel sized, then get a sizer for the Conical Mini Balls, and make sure your powder charges are the exact same every time. Different size bullets will shoot differently in every gun. I find that my musket doesn't like small light rounds, such as ones in the 360's. My gun likes the 500's grains, with about 60 grains of poweder. This is really a huge hobby all in iself. But if you like going back in time without having a time machine, then this is it. www.n-ssa.org/bb/index.php |
I'm saving up to get a 1861 to have fun with and possibly go deer hunting in NY with this fall. I've noticed that the Fort Worth Cabelas only has Pedersoli's. Very nice looking guns for sure.
I'm pretty new to Muzzleloading. Could you explain what 'barrel sizing' is? I was planning on buying one of these and casting my own minie balls. |
Sure, no problem. In order to get your barrel "sized" most NSSA shooters use brass tubes whose width is already pre-determined. In order to get the most accuracy from your Mini Balls, get your barrel sized. This is accomplished by obtaining a set of these brass sizers and placing a sizer into your barrel until you find which has the best fit. Once you get the ones that has the best fit, you will need to buy a sizer. A sizer is a metal tube which you push your Mini Balls through, forcing the lead to compress to the correct size. To gain the most accuracy from your Musket, you should get one that is 0.002-0.001 smaller than your barrel size. Mine is a .599 so I use a .557 sizer. This makes my Minie Balls easy to load whehn my barrel gets cruddy, and give me the most accuracy out of my musket. As you very well know, the skirt of the ball expands to the barrel wall, engaging the rifling. Easy loading, but yet your still get great accuracy. Perhaps the best round ever developed.  yugosksfan, make sure you get soft lead for your mold. Soft lead allows the round to expand easily, while harder lead makes for innaccurate rounds. Although I have never done it, I have heard that the .58 drops deer like rocks. As for what to look for, my Armi Sport had loose barrel bands, but I easily tightened them up. Hope this helps. |
Just went to the Ft. Worth Cabela's on Thursday and put a 1861 on layaway. I'm going to pick it up on Sunday. Upon first inspection, I was wrong, these are not Pedersoli's, they are indeed Armi-Sports. The bore had some crap caked inside it toward the muzzle, but it looked like it was just from storage and would clean up nicely. The wood and finish of the metal was wonderful. It looked great. My only complaints were these: 1) The trigger is very stiff. At least a 15 pound pull. 2) The flat springs that keep the barrel bands on seemed a little weak. Unlike my Mauser and my Mosin-Nagants, I could push these in very easily. I think they should be stronger. Besides that, it appears to be a very nice gun. Nice enough that I'm forking down some cash for one. |
Your gonna love it!!!!!!! Please post some pics and a range report when you shoot it! |
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