Identify this mystery Dixie bullet mold

ndnchf · September 28, 2015, 12:49:59 PM

I picked up this Dixie mold, but am not sure what rifle it was designed for. Years ago Dixie sold many of these scissor molds cut for Civil War era guns. I have a few of them. They still list some, but others were discontinued. My Dixie catalog shows photos of some scissor mold bullets. It looks similar to the Colt Root. 56 cal bullet, item CA0109, but I'm not sure. What do you all. Think?

I cast a few bullets with it today using 96/3/1. It is. 875" tall, .574" wide on the bands. It has a very short heel that measures. 550" diameter. Maybe someone has a Dixie catalog from 20 or 30 years ago that can identify what it's for?

mold

bullet

Sagebrush Burns · September 28, 2015, 09:58:02 PM

What does the bullet weigh?

wildman1 · September 29, 2015, 03:49:42 AM

Maybe a Spenser bullet? I have one round and it looks pretty close to that. wM1

ndnchf · September 29, 2015, 04:48:30 AM

It weighs about 450gr. It's way too large in diameter to be a Spencer bullet.

pony express · September 29, 2015, 07:06:49 AM

NDNCHF, you do realize, if you figure out what it fits, then you're going to have to go find the gun it fits now......

Blair · September 29, 2015, 07:08:01 AM

ndnchf,

It reminds me of the early style .562 dia. Pritchett bullet that was used by the English, that has been modified to .570 dia.
Perhaps for the US post civil war 58 cal. rim fire cartridge?
Just a thought on my part.
My best,
Blair

cheatin charlie · September 29, 2015, 11:25:39 AM

I think you hit it on the head. From my 2005 cat. the picture for the root looks close and they called .566 dia. 425 g.
Looks like you will be looking for an expensive rifle !

Delmonico · September 29, 2015, 01:31:23 PM

Could be used in the 58 Miller, 58 Berdan, 58 Roberts or 577 Snider, or other possible rounds I can't think of based of of a converison of a 58 Claiber musket.

ndnchf · September 29, 2015, 04:21:50 PM

Well the closest thing does seem to be a Colt Root revolving rifle. I'd love to find one of those to go with it, but my wife would kill me. I happen to have a lot of experience wit the 58 Roberts cartridge which I documented here:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,50010.0.html

But this bullet it too small also. I've been shooting a .590" minie in the .594" groove size barrel with good success. But this one at .574" would just rattle down the bore.

dusty texian · September 29, 2015, 05:29:12 PM

ndnchf could that be a .577 Snider bullet ? Its kind of close.,,,DT

Delmonico · September 29, 2015, 06:03:27 PM

It is the size listed for the old 58 Conversions no matter what the name. dosen't mean that is what would work the best, just means what was listed. Cactually a lot of them like thr 577 Snider used a hollow base, however that can't be done with those cheap moulds Dixie used to sell.

BTW those were cut into what were intended to be a tool heated and used to straighten hair.

ndnchf · September 30, 2015, 07:29:13 AM

There were quite a few different 58 cal cartridges in the post-war years. Most were pretty similar except for case length. Bore size varied considerably too. If this were a hollow base, it might work...sorta. But as you said, these Dixie molds only cast a sold base slug. Just to check, I dropped this bullet down the bore of my 58 Roberts rolling block. It was a close fit, but it dropped right through. I could try paper patching a few of them up to 594" and see how they shoot. But I'd be surprised if they group under 6" at 50 yards.

DTS · November 06, 2015, 08:22:36 PM

Appears to be a HEEL bullet. One designed to fit inside a case mouth that is the same size ourside, as the groove diameter of the gun, just like many of the early RF rounds, as well as the present day .22 rimfire.

Delmonico · November 06, 2015, 10:30:50 PM

Funny I always thought heel bullets were smaller in the lower section.

ndnchf · November 07, 2015, 12:25:20 PM

Yes, as I described in the original post, it does have a short heel type base that measures .550". But the heel is very short, not much surface area for crimping in the case. My best guess is still that it is for a 56 cal Colt revolving rifle.

Delmonico · November 07, 2015, 12:36:30 PM

Dixie even used to sell those as blanks.

DTS · November 07, 2015, 06:47:07 PM

Quote from: Delmonico on November 06, 2015, 10:30:50 PM
Funny I always thought heel bullets were smaller in the lower section.

it is.

DTS · November 07, 2015, 06:50:05 PM

Quote from: ndnchf on November 07, 2015, 12:25:20 PM
Yes, as I described in the original post, it does have a short heel type base that measures .550". But the heel is very short, not much surface area for crimping in the case. My best guess is still that it is for a 56 cal Colt revolving rifle.

Yes the heel is short, like a gas check bullet but of course, that isn't the case here. Entirely possible for the .56 - forgot about the Cold revolving rifles. It would be perfect in a paper ctg., but would expect it to have a groove for the string tie- but then, it is a DIXIE mould.