Question about Farmer 1863 Cal .54 three band rifle

[mark76]

Hello, I am new to blackpowder shooting. I´ve read a lot in the last 2 weeks in this great forums.

Last week I´ve got a fine Cal. 54 Farmingdale 3 Band military rifle from 1977, and now I am searching for a good bullet mould.

Searching this forum I read a lot about Rapine and NEI molds, but I don´t know which is the right one. Maybe you can help me to find the best one, please

I slugged the barrel and measured the slug.

The groove diameter of my farmer is .540 and the lands diameter .528.

Now the question, Which bullet from NEI moulds will fit best?

NEI - SHARPS RING TAIL BAND DIAMETERS

#382 540-475-SH .550 .540 .535 NEW PRODUCTION
#383 54-490-NS .541 .532 .522 NEW PRODUCTION (TIGHT)
#384 54-490-OS .557 .536 .518 OLD ORIGINAL SHARPS
#385 54-515-RT .550 .542 .542 USE CHARGING TUBE
#388 544-525-SH .552 .545 .534 SHARPS FULLER METHOD
#390 56-500-OS .561 .548 .538 OLD ORIGINAL 56 SHARPS

Personaly I think the NEI #382 is good, because it´s oversize. Maybe it shoots better than the #383? (like Rich´s oversized .557 Rapine I´ve read about?)

The #383 bullets first ringtail is smaller than my bore / lands diameter... maybe its calibration while shooting is not the optimum?

And which Rapine mould (christmas tree) is recommended for me? The .544475 or the bigger .557475 ?

Sorry about my newbie questions, but I ´d like to find the right one, shipping and freight to germany is very expensive

[snapcap14]

I switched to a mold I had Steve Brooks make for my based on his 63 mold. only slight modification to the base and inlarged grease groove. The bullet drives tacks at 100yrds w/ 44 grn 3fffg. bullet weighs about 430 I also have a NEI 383 that works as well weight is about 490.
They shoot in both my Shiloh 63 carbine and an armi sport 59 carbine.
I will say as of late I am losing my fondness for NEI products. Myself and others have been seeing problems w/ there quality control. I had one mold that has been back to them twice still waiting for it to get back.
Seems they do not inspect them or cast from them after they are made.

[mark76]

Thank you Snapcap14,
especially for the NEI Quality hint..

Maybe it´s better to buy a custom mould, that´s made for my bore.

It´s a pity.. where the devil is this old shiloh -trash can- or -buffalo slug- bullet mould that comes with my farmer

[1stregtengr]

Mark, check this out.

viewtopic.php?t=10208