Went to the Range.577

[seawolfjack]

Hello, took my snider to the range today with a new load. What a disappointment!!! Couldn't hit the broad side of the barn--any barn. Did the big NO-NO, I changed bullet size and powder charge and paid the price for doing it. Was shooting 2-3 feet high at 100 yds and was very irradic. I think I do need to go to a different bullet also. Oh well back to the drawing board. Hey dromia, the Snider I have has this on the side plate; Manufactore Liebloise
Dearmesatlu
Societe Anony
LIEGE
I'm not sure but I think it might be Belgium, Its rear sight is 4and one eight inches foward of the reciever. Has that mark that I think is a cyrsanthimum and behind it there seems to be a Japanese figure in a circle like on the 38s and 99s. Big bore also, 583-585. I have another Snider conversion that was one of those Zulu shotguns, that's the one with no markings at all. looks like someone put acid where the name was. Have fun

[dnepr]

this sound like the typical first outing with a Snider. Mine is still a safe queen so I haven't been through this yet but I have looked into it a bit. Here is a good website to find ideas for making thing work with the Snider.
http://p223.ezboard.com/bbritishmilitariaforums
I have learned a lot by reading what is there .

[JeffinNZ]

Let's have some numbers.

Powder granulation and charge.
Bullet pattern, diameter and alloy.

They can do OK but the wrong combination will have you removing your hair.

[seawolfjack]

Hey guys thanks for the replies. I'll look up that site dnepr for sure, can't learn enough. I was loading 55 gr of Pyrodex Cartridge powder and increased it to 70gr. was shooting 585 bullet but i went today with a 583. I'm using a 20 Ga shotgun slug. It does keyhole with either powder charge, nice round holes. I guess thats why we all do this stuff; if we ain't already crazy this sure can make ya that way. Have fun

[martinibelgian]

If you're shooting a 3-band, 3-groove, slow-twist snider, then your bullets are way too heavy - you will need something shorter and lighter, in the order of 400 - 480 grs. some even use a round ball at around .590 - .595 with fair success. Which brings us to bullet diameter: most sniders shoot best with .590- .595, unless you use a Minie with plug to expand the skirt. But get over to that site, you'll learn whatever you need in short order...

[seawolfjack]

Thanks guys, I have a 2 band short rifle I didn't think about the rate of twist thanks Martin. Have Fun

[JeffinNZ]

Now why would you shoot a 20g slug in a Snider?

The Sniders that I have seen shoot the best are loaded with a big FAT minie. By fat I mean .580-.585. Martin has the right idea. Fat is better.

Also the heavier the charge the thicker the skirt on said minie needs to be as a thin shirt with blow almost inside out on exit from the barrel over a big charge. Lyman have numerous variations.

55-60gr of 2Fg should be fine for most minies.

Much debates exists over lubing either the hollow base or the grooves or both of minies. I say try it and see.

Best of luck.

[seawolfjack]

Hey thanks Jeff. I've been looking around on the Snider pages and have read most every post thats there. A lot of good info. I'm not a black powder shooter, just stating out but I enjoy shooting old military rifles, so this 2 band snider is really my first military bp. I have shot ml bp before but not a lot. I'm going to keep going with this till I get it to shoot the way I want it to.
Have Fun

[seawolfjack]

Hello, I also have one of those Zulu Shotguns that I fixed up. I'm thinking of putting a 45-70 barrel inside the shogun barrel and having a 45-70 snider action. Got nothing to loose. Have Fun

[fourarmed]

One of the strangest shotguns I ever saw was in Lindy's Army Store in Manhattan, Ks. back in the 60's. It was a Zulu trap gun. Somebody had taken a Zulu and installed a vent rib, built up the comb of the stock, put on an adjustable recoil pad, and blued it. IIR, they wanted $100 for it. At the time that would have bought a new 870.

[seawolfjack]

This thing was in real bad shape so my friend had two and he gave it to me. A lot of rust and a broken front part of the stock. I had a 45 cal. bp barrel I was going to turn down on my lathe and put it inside the shotgun barrel and have myself a Zulu 45-70 breech loader, but maybe the bp barrels twist will be to slow so i need to investgate a lot more. To me it's just a lot of fun. Have Fun

[macvcallsign]

Regarding the CYRSANTHIMUM proof mark on your snider, there were a large number of them exported to japan in the 1880's I believe. I have seen a number of them but not with the Belgium markings on the lock. I own a 2 band with the japanese proofs and it does have a smaller bore than the usual .590/.595. I would find some .585Minie's and try those. Lyman use to make a 585213, RCBS makes molds in the .580/584 range but they are pricie. Good Luck

[seawolfjack]

Hey thanks for the info Macvcallsign. I think there is a Japanese Number behind the flower. I've slugged the bore and I was shooting .585 but now I'm going to try .583. I was wondering how these other fellows were shooting .590's. They wouldn't go down my barrel. Like I said earlier I only paid $20 for it and I'm really having fun shooting it. It's not the prettiest one out there but it shoots. Have Fun

[Baron von Trollwhack]

Some of the 20 gauge currently loaded "Foster" type, "ballet" looking hollow base, dimpled round nose shotgun slugs measure .575". Shoot pretty good in a XX full .580 constricted choke too. BvT