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Absolutely incredible - what a wonderful SCORE!

The mould pictured is a bit longer in the nose, but typical
"PICKET" bullet shape, meant for a cloth patch. The rounded base and VERY short, almost non-existent bearing surface shows this.

As thus, it will be difficult to load squarely, so a short starter cupped to fit both the bullet's nose and quite close to bore size will be necessary for accurately loading the bullet. The end of the loading rod used to push the bullet down on the powder charge, will also need to have am almost bore riding nose, with a hollow to also fit the bullet's nose.

You should attempt to measure the rate of twist - if 48" or slower, a round ball loading, say a .490" ball and .020 patch might be easier to get good accuracy. Special bore riding noses on starter and loading rod are then, not necessary.

I am either seeing evenly spaced lint in the muzzles or what looks to be the ends of lands. If lands, it is not oval bored, but has more standard rifling.

.535" groove with .490" bore, shows VERY deep rifling for a bullet - ie: .0225" deep per side. That is even deep for patched round balls, the norm being .010" to .016" at the deepest.

This depth of rifling definitely mandates a cloth patch and a thick one at that. A

Accuracy might be difficult until the muzzles are smoothly crowned as well. They may already be relieved by deliberate filing, as were many German rifles meant for patched balls or bullets.

Please keep us posted on developments.

The "tubes" as they were wont to call nipples, will most likely need to be replaced. Please be careful in their removal. Many of these guns had poorly designed nipples, with oversized inner holes. This lets too much pressure back out the nipple and is shocking for the lock, not to mention cap fragments flying about your shiny eye-ball/s.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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