.451 Whitworth rifle and mold

[dromia]

The three section hexagonal mould pictured is a Leo Krannen, I have one and it is indeed a fine mould.

However the Whitworths shoot just as well with a cylindrical bullet which makes hexagonal holes on the target.

The Lyman 457121PH is claimed to be made for the Whitworth but I get better results with the Lyman 451114 cast with plumbers lead and a smidgeon of tin. 70 gns of Swiss No 3 ffg, a card wad and the sized 0.451" and BP lubed bullet, it should just slide down the barrel under the weight of the ramrod alone, cap and shoot. Any lack of performance after that is operator error.

The originals were swaged.

 

[Pb2au]

Pedersoli just put onto the market there repro of the Parker hale Whitworth rifle this year, complete with the proper whitworth rifling.
From the reviews I seen thus far, it appears to be a fine rifle. Pedersoli (in my experience) makes fine barrels, and this apparently is up to the same quality.
I have this rifle on the radar for next year I think......

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=17279&osCsid=apo4au5d5dqe4ssvdli5vcrn50
Heck, you can even buy the mold there too, but I am not to clear on who exactly is making it.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=12126

Best regards,

 

[dromia]

The moulds are made by Peter Dyson, he is a well respected gun smith. However unless he has improved his hex mould design which isn't obvious from the linked advert then I couldn't recommend it, I have one of his moulds and it has to be the worst Whitworth hexagonal bullet mould I have come across to date, awkward to use, casts over size and very difficult to hold any casting consistency with.

 

[Pb2au]

That is good to know, thanks for letting us know. I can definitely appreciate the fact that a mold to produce such a projectile is no simple undertaking.
When I get serious about acquiring the rifle, I am anticipating some deep research into the bullet selection.
Thanks!

 

[dromia]

As I said in my previous post my bullet of choice is the Lyman 451114, there is no benefit from shooting a Hexagonal bullet. I have been shooting PH Whitworths for decades and have five different Hexagonal moulds and have shot hexagonals from paper patched to grease grooved and the cylindricals shoot every bit as good. Even in Whitworth's day cylindrical bullets were recommended for the gun.

Rather than trying to cast hexagonals load a cylindrical bullet and it will leave the muzzle a hexagonal bullet, simplest way I know of getting hexagonal bullets to best fit the rifle.

The fiddliest bit is filing down an hexagonal jag to fit the bore with a patch, the trick to accurate shooting is wiping the bore each time you load, I run a damp not wet patch down when I seat the card wad followed by a dry patch. They need to get into the corners of the bore because once they start fouling accuracy drops off.

An hexagonal wad punch is well worth getting, Dysons do a good one. When shooting long strings of more than half a dozen shots I put a 1/4", bees wax soaked felt wad over the card wad seated with the dry patch wipe. I use a stiff surgical felt that really helps keep the corners of the bore clean of fouling.

 

[Pb2au]

Thanks for sharing your experience on this Dromia, it is definitely appreciated sir.

 

[quicksylver]

Same way they used to blow bottles ...3 piece mold..sweet...now I'll back track and watch the video....

 

[fiver]

I would make Note when Dromia gives directions and follow them.

 

[Pistolero]

Yes, Keith, I was thinking that a EDM would be the way to go. I haven't slightest idea how one
could be made otherwise.

Bill

 

[Pistolero]

Dromia! From Scotland, IIRC. Welcome!

Fascinating learning about shooting a hex bore muzzle loader from a century and a half back.
So the very best way to make a hexagonal bullet is to swage it to the bore with a stiff
charge of BP. Makes perfect sense once someone explains it.

Bill