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  1. Many Klatch

    Any substute for lead?

    If you shoot a smoothbore, ball bearings are shootable. I load them just like lead ball, same patching same powder. My .60 with a ball bearing seems to hold dead on at 200 yards. I find that they shoot a lot flatter and the wind doesn't seem to affect them as much. Just don't dryball. FWIW...
  2. Many Klatch

    2 quick question about an issue for someone who just bought his first BP revolver

    Make sure that the caps fit tightly and be sure to use an overpowder wad between the lead ball and powder. That will reduce the chance of a chainfire (more than one cylinder goes off at once). Throw away the nipples that come with the pistol and get some new stainless steel ones from Track of...
  3. Many Klatch

    Early 18th Century Hand Mortar

    The Hessians used those during the Siege of Charleston. Shooting it was a two man job. One man aimed and shot the weapon. The other lit the fuse. There was a rope tied to the gun. If the fuse was lit and the gun misfired, they tossed the weapon out of the trench and waited for the...
  4. Many Klatch

    Where to Shoot Hand Guns?

    BTW, most if not all indoor ranges no longer allow the use of blackpowder or blackpowder alternatives. The new regulations require that there be so many air changes in the shooting range to cut down on lead inhalation. That requires a lot of expensive filters in the HVAC system. They would...
  5. Many Klatch

    What's the farthest you've ever shot with a long rifle?

    The reason I stepped the charge down to 90 is that the accuracy was the same and I got more shots per pound of powder. According to various sources I have read, the British Army charge for a Bess varied from 120 to 90 grains. So I have tried them all. I'll still double charge if the range...
  6. Many Klatch

    What's the farthest you've ever shot with a long rifle?

    I was shooting 120 grains as a normal charge so I double loaded it. I have since backed my load down to 90 grains. However, everyone in camp jumped when I touched her off.
  7. Many Klatch

    Buck or shot from a Brown bess

    If you read Grant's Memoirs you will find him mentioning a battle behind Vicksburg after the Federals had managed to cross the Mississippi. The Federals were armed with smoothbores and the Confederates all had new Enfields. In one battle the two lines were about 50 yards apart. Grant gave the...
  8. Many Klatch

    Video - Flintlock Upside Down Shooting With Swiss Null B

    I have been shooting upside down off the top of my head for years. It is a really great way to psyche out opponents on a woods walks. I did learn not to use my Bess. I couldn't hold it in place when it went off and the hammer scraped a shallow groove in my scalp :(
  9. Many Klatch

    What's the farthest you've ever shot with a long rifle?

    I hit a plywood cutout of a British Officer at a measured 235 yards with my Brown Bess. Loaded it up with 240 grains of 2F held high and let her go. Got one hit in the ankle out of 3 shots. With my .54 flint rifle I got 3 hits out of 20 shots at 400 meters at a plywood target that was 2' wide...
  10. Many Klatch

    Buck or shot from a Brown bess

    The only way I know that would deliver an effective charge of buckshot at 100 yards would be to encase the balls in a pouring of hot wax. Probably have to make a paper cup, fill it with buckshot then with wax. Load in the usual way. I have seen videos of one hole groups at 50 yards with such...
  11. Many Klatch

    BP Revolvers....What Am I Doing Wrong??!?!

    Put white lithium grease on the arbor before you shoot. Once blackpowder crud starts building up on the arbor the cylinder can get almost impossible to turn. Either that or take off the cylinder each time you reload and clean the arbor.
  12. Many Klatch

    Best Way to Clean a Brown Bess

    If you use steel wool for the first couple of swabs down the barrel it will speed up the cleaning. I couldn't improve on anything else already written.
  13. Many Klatch

    FREE TARGET STANDS

    I have a small collection of campaign signs. I have several that are used as target stands. I also have cut up several for use as heavy wire for various projects. Real handy for hanging bird feeders or making shop fixtures. Today will be a good day to collect them.
  14. Many Klatch

    Centennial Colt

    I had a table at a Trade Fair this weekend. The table next to me had lots of knives and pouches and horns. They also had an 1860 Colt at a low price, they priced it based on the sticker on the box from the 1960's. Things were slow so I picked it up and looked more closely. The top of the...
  15. Many Klatch

    Jeff Tanner RIP

    I just got word that Jeff Tanner the English Mould supplier has passed on. His son has been working beside him for 10 years and will carry on the business. I always enjoyed my interactions with Jeff. He was always prompt and accurate in anything he provided me.
  16. Many Klatch

    Charles Gourlay coach gun

    A similar charge was used by Hessian troops during the Rev War. Double charge of powder, and 15 or 20 .50 caliber ball I recall was one load. This is not fired from the shoulder but from the hip. Often they would have two of them issued to patrols. If they were ambushed, the men with the...
  17. Many Klatch

    Anyone here using a bag mould

    Try straightening the handles and then sliding a corncob over them. That really helps protect your hands from the heat.
  18. Many Klatch

    Round Bottom Rifling?

    My .54 has round-bottom rifling. It shoots just as well dirty as it does clean. I can put 20 shots through it without wiping. Since you are going to have a .40 the round-bottom rifling is probably a smart choice. The smaller calibers get dirty fast so you may be able to avoid some of the...
  19. Many Klatch

    Progressing to a flintlock

    Shooting with a flintlock will improve all your shooting skills. Follow through, breath control, trigger control all become very important. Also consistency in loading and care of the flinter comes into play. Probably the biggest lesson will be patience. :wink:
  20. Many Klatch

    new horn

    The powder horn is dangerous as is and needs to be reconfigured. The plug should not be the point of support for the front of the horn. The way it is right now, if the plug falls out all the powder will dump on the ground. You need to fasten a thong to the horn itself. That way if the plug...
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