1853 Enfield Question

[johan_steele]

Update, I got the ramrod to go back in, I made sure that it was free from obstruction and put a little lubricant in the slot and gradually inserted the ramrod until I worked it in. It goes in as it should now and I am able to remove it without having to pull like my life depended on it. Thanks for all the help....
My next question , I was doing some research as far as maintenance of the enfield and I seen where the nipple was removed and after cleaning it , they placed Teflon tape around the threads before reinserting and tightening. I was told to use Bore Butter on the threads , but either way what I gathered was that either one ultimately stops the nipple from seizing and being a pain to remove.
What is recommended is what I am getting at, Bore Butter? Teflon Tape? Or something else??
Thanks

Don't go the teflon tape route. Enough oil to coat the threads is ample and remove and clean after every shoot/event. If you ever live fire you'll discover there is a major difference in fouling. There is considerably more fouling in blanks than live fire. I can clean a rifle after a shoot w/ 5-8 patches but after blanks it takes more. Most people use far more oil than they need to. If you can see the oil you've used too much. And too much oil may be as bad as none.

 

[LESullivan]

Don't go the teflon tape route. Enough oil to coat the threads is ample and remove and clean after every shoot/event. If you ever live fire you'll discover there is a major difference in fouling. There is considerably more fouling in blanks than live fire. I can clean a rifle after a shoot w/ 5-8 patches but after blanks it takes more. Most people use far more oil than they need to. If you can see the oil you've used too much. And too much oil may be as bad as none.

Thanks, I appreciate all the info, I am new to the hobby and trying to absorb as much as I can

 

[captaindrew]

Thanks, I appreciate all the info, I am new to the hobby and trying to absorb as much as I can

Always feel free to ask anything, there's a lot of experienced guys on here happy to help. We were asking the same things when we started and continue to learn from each other. Welcome to the hobby, always happy to see new guys getting in. Hope you have many years of great experiences in it as I have.

 

[LESullivan]

Always feel free to ask anything, there's a lot of experienced guys on here happy to help. We were asking the same things when we started and continue to learn from each other. Welcome to the hobby, always happy to see new guys getting in. Hope you have many years of great experiences in it as I have.

I sure hope so, I'm looking forward to it all and hope to grow within the hobby

 

[CowCavalry]

@CowCavalry could you elaborate? I don't quite follow what "it" you refer to. If you mean cleaning the stock with water then I understand. Otherwise I'm confused. Thanks.

Referring to a disassembly of the rifle to clean; removal of the barrel from the stock.

Bedding the Parker-Hale

It is perfectly possible to clean a muzzle loading Enfield type of rifle thoroughly without ever taking the barrel out of the wood.

www.researchpress.co.uk

 

[Craig L Barry]

My Pedersoli Enfield ramrod got very tight in the channel like that last summer after a day of doing programs at the battlefield park. After it cooled down I cleaned the ramrod with steel wool and gave it a shot of Ballistol but it was still a bit tight. I think, as someone else posted, the humidity caused the wood to swell slightly. Nothing to be overly alarmed about. If the problem persists you can purchase a slightly thinner replacement ramrod from Dixie Gun Works which has the added benefit of being of one piece construction. Hence the tip will not separate from the ramrod during use as two piece ramrods will do sometimes. I think for that reason alone the change to a one piece ramrod was worthwhile.

Regarding the cone threads, yes a little dab of grease or oil and tighten it no more than thumb tight. You want that particular part to be easily unscrewed from the bolster for cleaning.