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Thread: .577cal Pritchett rifle comes home with me today!

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  1. #1
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    TAC. Among my varied collection of 'useful things' I have a nice original .577 mould which I'm told makes a Prichett bullet, I wouldn't mind casting a few for you to try if you wish. I do have the measurements somewhere, they're under .577 . The downside is that the only lead I have is old scrap stuff.

    This is not a disguised 'selling' post

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by mel h View Post

    The downside is that the only lead I have is old scrap stuff.
    Almost the only 'pure' lead available nowadays is old scrap lead pipe and roofing lead . It is perfect for making Muzzle loader ammo. Just cut any solder joints out and water that down with pure lead to make smokeless cartridge bullets. Only problem then is guessing the hardness.

    Salvaged range lead should be sorted before use and often is only fit for plinking ammo

  3. #3
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    I'm just curious as I've never used wooden plugs. Didn't they decide that the gas pressure alone was enough to expand the skirt into the rifling? I have access to a longer range to play in now so would like to try my 577 ph musketoon out to 300+ and will experiment.
    [I]DesG
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by DesG View Post
    I'm just curious as I've never used wooden plugs. Didn't they decide that the gas pressure alone was enough to expand the skirt into the rifling? I have access to a longer range to play in now so would like to try my 577 ph musketoon out to 300+ and will experiment.
    Most folks of my acquaintance, me included, would be loathe to waste precious lead by sending it downrange at 300 yds from a Musketoon. Still, you never know until you try, right? Good luck with that.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by tacfoley View Post
    Most folks of my acquaintance, me included, would be loathe to waste precious lead by sending it downrange at 300 yds from a Musketoon. Still, you never know until you try, right? Good luck with that.
    I’ve got plenty. The locals in the village all seem to have kept their old lead water pipes and lots of stuff from the coal mines. A lot of that came my way. We also have a very active airgun section in the club which I clean out from time to time. Lovely soft lead in airgun pellets. I’ve had a lot of success with 22rf lead as well. The 50/100 yd is 22 and airgun only and is due deleading soon. Lots of lovely soft lead there!

    I think I have a good few hundred 1lb ingots tucked away.
    [I]DesG
    Domani e troppo tardi

  6. #6
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    Smile Lead Pipe

    Quote Originally Posted by DesG View Post
    I’ve got plenty. The locals in the village all seem to have kept their old lead water pipes and lots of stuff from the coal mines. A lot of that came my way. We also have a very active airgun section in the club which I clean out from time to time. Lovely soft lead in airgun pellets. I’ve had a lot of success with 22rf lead as well. The 50/100 yd is 22 and airgun only and is due deleading soon. Lots of lovely soft lead there!

    I think I have a good few hundred 1lb ingots tucked away.
    My next door neighbour in Resolven is in the process of building an extension on his house and the last time I was there he had chucked all his old roof flashing and lead water pipe over my wall! Now that's the sort of neighbour you want!

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaskervilleDog View Post
    My next door neighbour in Resolven is in the process of building an extension on his house and the last time I was there he had chucked all his old roof flashing and lead water pipe over my wall! Now that's the sort of neighbour you want!
    Report him for illegal disposal of hazardous material and fly tipping. That should be worth a few bob!
    [I]DesG
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by mel h View Post
    TAC. Among my varied collection of 'useful things' I have a nice original .577 mould which I'm told makes a Prichett bullet, I wouldn't mind casting a few for you to try if you wish. I do have the measurements somewhere, they're under .577 . The downside is that the only lead I have is old scrap stuff.

    This is not a disguised 'selling' post
    Mel, 'old scrap stuff' is exactly the right stuff to use. Especially if it is pre-Atomic age - ie, before 1945, as most of it is. My hoard of scrap is from a Victorian shop canopy and, legally-acquired, from a church re-roofing. The old stuff having been relocated by a bunch of itinerant lead re-locators, the parish council took the bold decision to stop funding the care-free/tax-free travelling lifestyle of the thieves by installing this new frawk 'lead' substitute. It is totally useless for anything else other than making into thin sheets of waterproof roofing, as it has a melting point even lower than Cerosafe.

    I'd be VERY grateful to see a couple of your bullets - .577" is the nominal size anyhow, as they get paper-patched when making them up into the official Enfield cartridge.

    You might even have my address? If not, please PM me when convenient.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by tacfoley View Post
    Mel, 'old scrap stuff' is exactly the right stuff to use. Especially if it is pre-Atomic age - ie, before 1945, as most of it is. My hoard of scrap is from a Victorian shop canopy and, legally-acquired, from a church re-roofing. The old stuff having been relocated by a bunch of itinerant lead re-locators, the parish council took the bold decision to stop funding the care-free/tax-free travelling lifestyle of the thieves by installing this new frawk 'lead' substitute. It is totally useless for anything else other than making into thin sheets of waterproof roofing, as it has a melting point even lower than Cerosafe.

    I'd be VERY grateful to see a couple of your bullets - .577" is the nominal size anyhow, as they get paper-patched when making them up into the official Enfield cartridge.

    You might even have my address? If not, please PM me when convenient.
    I'll make a few up for you when I get some time. I've just had a look at some notes I made a while since and they measured up at .565 which seems to be three thou less than the specification size for the Pritchett of this style with the radiused concave base as opposed to the plug base.
    Mel.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by mel h View Post
    I'll make a few up for you when I get some time. I've just had a look at some notes I made a while since and they measured up at .565 which seems to be three thou less than the specification size for the Pritchett of this style with the radiused concave base as opposed to the plug base.
    Mel.
    The radiused base is a correct Pritchett-form design. I look forward greatly to seeing them and trying them out - say, five hundred to start with, eh?

    Just joshing.

    Ten will be just fine.

  11. #11
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    I remember from a long time since when I first had an interest, reading American magazines ( no WWW in the seventies) and the lead mix for printer's type seemed to be a popular choice.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by mel h View Post
    I remember from a long time since when I first had an interest, reading American magazines ( no WWW in the seventies) and the lead mix for printer's type seemed to be a popular choice.
    Linotype was very popular with practical pistol shooters in the eighties and nineties as it was easily available. It was very hard alloy though to give crisp clean printing. Excellent metal for crisp clean moulding as well. Great for pistol and u/l but no use for muzzle loaders.
    [I]DesG
    Domani e troppo tardi

  13. #13
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    This is a lump I was given last year. It was used for something down a coal mine. The lads down the club had tried to cut it into bite sized pieces for making fishing weights, with no success. They gave it to me to try so I just melted it and made ingots. Lots of cudos for being a clever git and browny points for giving them some nice lead, not to mention lots of very soft lead for me.

    https://i.postimg.cc/gjdZpt5S/DSC-8258.jpg
    https://i.postimg.cc/26d10F64/DSC-8260.jpgimage free hosting
    https://i.postimg.cc/RFvSZrSH/DSC-8263.jpg

    https://i.postimg.cc/j2PYHZSb/DSC-8264.jpg
    [I]DesG
    Domani e troppo tardi

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by tacfoley View Post
    The radiused base is a correct Pritchett-form design. I look forward greatly to seeing them and trying them out - say, five hundred to start with, eh?

    Just joshing.

    Ten will be just fine.
    TAC.

    PM sent.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by mel h View Post
    TAC.

    PM sent.
    Mel H - PM Resplone.

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