The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hi all.

Got an 1862 springfield civil war musket converted to .58 Berdan. (Needham rifle)
Managed to work a case out of magtech 24g shotshell by trimming , annealing, then running through a snider die.
I have to then gently bump the shoulder with a 577/450 die and the case chambers.
The issue is the firing pin strike is not deep enough thus no ignition.
The firing pin is fine, I have tried a shorter spring to enable more protrusion - no change.
I tested this theory with an empty case and not seating the primer entirely flush, and it works - but this is not a fix.

So I would appreciate any possible options from your great selves (if any) please.

Thanks in advance

You could try soldering a ring of copper wire to the front of the rim to increase the rim thickness and bring the primer bcak to the breech face.

Is it a headspace issue or a short firing pin issue?

If it is headspace then a robber "O" ring slipped over the case and snugged up against the rim will take up the slack.

What primer are you using?

dromia wrote:Is it a headspace issue or a short firing pin issue?

If it is headspace then a robber "O" ring slipped over the case and snugged up against the rim will take up the slack.

What primer are you using?

Hi - its a headspace issue for sure as I have been in contact with a guy in the U.S and he gave me the measurements of the early type and the later type firing pins. The later type (pin) is way too long and would act like a chassepot if used, the early type (mine) is bang on.
Primers are CCI magnum large rifle.
The O ring idea sounds like a good idea

Yes the "O" ring would seem to be the best option.

dromia wrote:Yes the "O" ring would seem to be the best option.

Excellent thanks both for your help.
Ordered some of flea bay that should be a nice tight fit.

Will get hold of some pictures , this is sure a nice rifle.