1842 Smoothbore

[AFMSgt]

I have an 1842 Springfield smoothbore musket on its way and am looking for some load guidance. .69 cal round ball, maybe even buck and ball just for fun.

 

[varsity07840]

If It's an Armi Sport report, you may find that the bore is oversize, maybe as big as .696. Measure your bore in order to determine best
patch and ball combo if that's what you intend to shoot. In my original 1816 with a .687 bore I use a .662 ball, .022 patch and a lubed 14 ga
cushion wad over 80 gr 2F GOEX.

 

[tenngun]

For speed it’s loaderd with s paper cartridge ball. 80-100 grains 2f should work well. Tight ball of .670 or .675 might give you your best accuracy. You can load over a fiber material wad like wool hemp or tow worried apart. Lastly a patched ball just like a rifle. Patches do not seem to be used for smoothies in the old day. However they can give you good accuracy. With the fiber you nest the ball into the wad. Last choice would be a bare ball of .68 or .685 loaded like a shot gun load, a solid wad ball then an over ball wad. That often shoots as well as a patched ball.
Smoothies are forgiving and you can shoot all sort of stuff well. You can find plenty of loads.

 

[AFMSgt]

Might end up as a skirmisher and that would prevent any patch or wad being used other than aluminum foil. Have heard of that and also rasping the ball and dipping in some kind of lube. All new to me.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Tenngun is right, each gun is kind of it's own case and what works well in one may give you barely minute-of-circus-tent accuracy in another. Smoothbores are a little less so but there's no telling what combo it'll like best. Try patched and unpatched ball with combos of wads and cards. Buck & ball will probably work best as a rolled paper cartridge but you can certainly load with fiber wad and card on top. They ball above and bellow buckshot, you just never know! Besides, it's a good reason for, "Sorry dear, have to do some more load work at the range!" :wink: :haha:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Keep in mind during the war, in closer battles the buck and ball load was considered even more effective than minie balls. The smoothbore '42 is not to be underestimated.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Keep in mind during the war, in closer battles the buck and ball load was considered even more effective than minie balls. The smoothbore '42 is not to be underestimated.

12th New Jersey used a buck & ball on top of their monument at Gettysburg.
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/NJ12-4c-448-049.png

90th Pennsylvania did a couple. Here's their 'Eagle' monument.
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/90Pa-eagle-4c-451-048.jpg
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/90PV-Cal69-S.gif

Their Cemetery Ridge monument has an embedded buck & ball representation in it's side.
http://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/90PA-boulder_0893.jpg

 

[Wes/Tex]

Not buck & Ball! :wink: :haha:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/11/article-2454851-18AE936500000578-337_634x461.jpg

 

[tenngun]

:rotf:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

HA! Now who taught him that trick? :hmm: