Long range shooting a Model 1853 Enfield.

[Adam Helmer]

My neighbor just finished plowing his sidehill adjacent to my farm. He is a muzzleloader and we decided to try some long range fire with our Civil War rifles from my hayfield. I put a white plastic 5-gallon bucket, filled with rocks, in the plowed field and then we shot at it from 300, 400 and 500 yards (lasered with rangefinders) with my .577 caliber M1853 Enfield and his .58 caliber M1855 Springfield.

It was an enlightening Saturday afternoon shooting Minie bullets and various charges of 2F Goex at the bucket. The dust clouds helped us set our sights. I began with the "GI" charge of 60 grains and found acceptable hits around the bucket. I ended up shooting my accuracy load of 70 grains and my cast Minies. Both rifles easily put the bucket in a "cone of deadly fire" at 500 yards.

Many gun clubs will not permit shooting at buckets. I suppose our event was one more joy of country living.

Adam