what kind of molds and sizes should I buy for .58 minis new caster

[Bad Pete]

I got my relined 1853 Enfield 3 band musket back from Hoyt. Has a .577 barrel. I'm looking to buy my first molds. Need some advice. One approach I've heard about is to use a larger mini bullet mold, then size down to the diameter you want to shoot. In this case I'd get a .578 or larger mold and use a sizing die to get it down to .575 or .576. Or should I just get a .575 die and see how that works.

The other issue is what kind of die should I get ie Lee (aluminium) or a Lyman (steel). Of course where ever I look things seem to be out of stock. I know the Lee molds run hot but a friend say they work you just have to cool them down after 15 rounds or so. Custom molds seem very expensive. Not sure I want to get into that right now.

I'm thinking of joining the N-SSA so I want to be fairly accurate. Thanks for the advice

[Nobade]

I have struggled with Lee minie' moulds in the past, and even though they are inexpensive they were just not worth the frustration. They make good looking bullets but their designs just don't fly very well. For standard minie's, actually Burton bullets, the Lyman old style and the RCBS Hodgdon are pretty much the standards. Moose Moulds also make several very good designs and his molds are top quality.
Now, shooting an Enfield you have some choices. Proper Enfield ammo uses a smooth sided paper patched bullet with a base plug called the Pritchett. You can shoot them either by themselves, or make them into cartridges. They are the best and most accurate. But they are not allowed by the N-SSA because of the paper. Only lead and lube allowed. So if you're competing, it is going to be with the Burton bullets. But if you really want to see what that rifle will do, and realize just how good they were when they were issue arms, try some Pritchett bullets. You can buy them from Brett Gibbons, papercartridges.com, or you can get a mold from NOE to make them.
Enjoy your new journey! And stock up on 3F Swiss powder if you don't make your own.

[Bad Pete]

Thanks. I'm starting with Burton, Prichett is for a later day. And recommendations on the size of the die I should start with?

[Nobade]

.576". You want bullets .001" under bore size so they will load easily but bump up for good accuracy.

[Bad Pete]

Problem is when I try to buy a mold nothing is in stock. Or nothing is instock for .58 minis except Lee. No Lyman no RCBS no Hodgdon in the sizes I want. broke down and bought a Lee at least its inexpensive.

[Nobade]

Problem is when I try to buy a mold nothing is in stock. Or nothing is instock for .58 minis except Lee. No Lyman no RCBS no Hodgdon in the sizes I want. broke down and bought a Lee at least its inexpensive.

I recently was playing with a Lee mold for a 50 caliber inline. As is, it didn't work all that great. But when I sized it down enough to paper patch it back to size and made epoxy base plugs like the Pritchett bullets, they shot really well. Hopefully yours will work just fine as is, but if it doesn't that is something to keep in mind for future use.

[Bad Pete]

We'll see the one I bought a .578 I'll size i down to .576 or .575.

[barnabus]

u need to pin gauge that barrel first regardless of what bobby told you he sleeved it at. ..his prices are reasonable but he uses extremely old equipment and sometimes it aint exactly right...just saying

[Bad Pete]

I hear you loud and clear. One of the problems I'm finding is I cannot buy good molds anywhere.used market us not great.

[Nobade]

Have you checked with Moose? His molds are top notch. Not cheap, but they are designed just for rifled muskets like yours.
https://moosemoulds.com/

[Bad Pete]

Thanks I'm considering moose but I'm going to check the bore first and fire some .575s first before I go that route. I bought a .578 lee because it was cheap and available. Seems no. Lyman no rcbs available.

[Green Frog]

The RCBS Hodgdon mould, #580-416 is very popular among the North -South Skirmish Association folks. I pan lube mine then size them to .576”. The design is such that a lubed bullet should drop freely into a clean barrel. The skirt of the hollow base expands when the powder charge ignites to fill the lands and grooves.

The reason I like the RCBS over others is the captive hollow base spud. When the mould is opened, the mechanism tends to pull the bullet away from the mould surface, leaving the bullet on the spud. When all is right, the mould is inverted and the bullet falls off of the spud. I’ve never found a faster, more efficient system for casting hollow point or hollow base bullets.

Froggie

[Bad Pete]

Excellent plan Froggie but rcbs stopped making that mold. Used market not great or non existent. What kind of sizing die do you use?

[Green Frog]

Pete,
RCBS still lists it on their web page. I don’t know anything about them being sicontinued. When I bought my Zouave musket from another N-SSA member, he included my RCBS Hodgdon style mould and a .576” sizer from RCBS in the deal for their or Lyman’s Lubrisizer press, however I prefer to pan lube and after trying several different systems I got a Lee type threaded die to fit a standard loading press. It was custom made by atom Crone.
More later,
Froggie

[Rapier]

I have an old zlyman hill base mini mould that throws great 58 cal 505 grain mini cast with pure lead. I have shot hard alloy, but they shrink plus do not expand the bullet skirt as they do with pure lead.

I have a 1862 Springfileld rifle repo by Navy Arms of Italy, LOL.Looks good and shoots good with 75 grains of FFF real BP. Use Crisco for target shooting, and modeling clay for hunting. do everything the same for best accuracy.

[Bad Pete]

Pete,
RCBS still lists it on their web page. I don’t know anything about them being sicontinued. When I bought my Zouave musket from another N-SSA member, he included my RCBS Hodgdon style mould and a .576” sizer from RCBS in the deal for their or Lyman’s Lubrisizer press, however I prefer to pan lube and after trying several different systems I got a Lee type threaded die to fit a standard loading press. It was custom made by atom Crone.
More later,
Froggie

you are right the picture is still on the web site but in the small print it says .576 discontinued. They have the .580-500gr in stock but i'm nervous about sizing that down to .576.

PS my buddys fishing boat is named "Green Frog". I don't know about all these frogs.

[405grain]

Back in the 1980's I used to have a 58 caliber Zouave. I cast 510 grain Mini balls for it with a Lyman 575213 mold. These are still in stock at Midway. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/10...u2a&pid=592352

The rifle that I had was a really good one. The first shot out of a clean barrel would go who knows where, but after that first fouling shot I could hit soda pop cans at 100 yards. (apparently my eyes were a lot better back then) I would melt together equal parts of crisco and bees wax for the bullet lube. I would cast the bullets from mostly pure lead, with just a tiny amount of tin to help the molds fill out. I didn't size the bullets; if they fit down the barrel the powder going off will size them for you. After I got married I gifted the Zouave to my brother-in-law along with the mold, powder horn, etc.. He passed on years ago, and I have no idea what became of the rifle after that.