1842 Springfield

[gemmer]

The 1842 Harper's Ferry is the favorite piece in my collection.
My is rifled.
It shoots round and minnie pretty well but don't expect perfect groupings.

My rifled '42 will put all of my Rapine minie balls in a 4" square at 100 yards with issue sights.

 

[gemmer]

In a smooth bore, the dimpled round ball allows the outer fringe of the ball to be near or actual bore size while giving the ball a means to hold some lube. It has noting to do with the aerodynamics of the ball itself.

 

[oldwood]

Bought a rifled 1842 Springfield reproduction .69 rifled musket 'bout 20 years ago in the remote chance , it might shoot Lyman .69 cal. minies . The Lyman minie's were too small. So , not to be deterred , I found a small shop in Virginia , that machined and rifled the correct .69 cal. rifling in a "drop-in " Springfield barrel. Success. The rifle is one of my prize possessions. It is accurate to a fault , and extremely fun to send the bigger than life .69 Lyman minie balls down range. A low velocity minie of that size makes a distinctive "hissing" sound in flight accompanied by a distinctive slap when it strikes meat. Had to install a taller , slightly thicker front sight on the front barrel band , so it would be better for my old eyes to shoot at 100 yards. ............oldwood

 

[Fire-Steel]

Just curious, what does the weight of the gun in comparison to other non civil war guns as a reference.
I have wanted to get one of these for years. But never had the opportunity.

 

[dave951]

In a smooth bore, the dimpled round ball allows the outer fringe of the ball to be near or actual bore size while giving the ball a means to hold some lube. It has noting to do with the aerodynamics of the ball itself.

That’s only if the ball has too much windage to the bore. I use a 685 ball in my 42 in N-SSA competition. Load is 65g 3f Old E, RWS caps and dip lube the ball in musket lube. Out of my 42 Macon, that’s a one hole group at 25yds and can shoot until I run out of shoulder or ammo whichever comes first

 

[Sam squanch]

The terms army and foresight definitely do not go together.....

 

[gemmer]

I'm going to try that load in my flint 1816. Are you dipping the ball while it's in the tube?

 

[gemmer]

The terms army and foresight definitely do not go together.....

That was my thought, too.

 

[gemmer]

That’s only if the ball has too much windage to the bore. I use a 685 ball in my 42 in N-SSA competition. Load is 65g 3f Old E, RWS caps and dip lube the ball in musket lube. Out of my 42 Macon, that’s a one hole group at 25yds and can shoot until I run out of shoulder or ammo whichever comes first

Here’s my version of a rifled Macon. It won’t get a SAC card but it’s nice hunting rifle.

 

[dave951]

I'm going to try that load in my flint 1816. Are you dipping the ball while it's in the tube?

Put charge in tube, plug tube with ball, dip exposed part of ball twice in musket lube. To fire, pop out ball, charge musket, ram ball lube side down. I have found sprue up or down doesn't make a difference nor even removing the sprue. This load in my 42 is seriously accurate.

 

[griffiga]

I have a 42 Smoothie as well. I have tried those minies and they sure make a whooooosh sailing down range. Beyond about 25 yards or so, they would probably miss a man sized target. Like Zonie said, the minies were made for those brought back into the arsenal and rifled and rear sight added. I like to shoot mine with buck and ball loads.

 

[toot]

Here’s my version of a rifled Macon. It won’t get a SAC card but it’s nice hunting rifle.View attachment 50058

nice! I like it!

 

[toot]

I have a 42 Smoothie as well. I have tried those minies and they sure make a whooooosh sailing down range. Beyond about 25 yards or so, they would probably miss a man sized target. Like Zonie said, the minies were made for those brought back into the arsenal and rifled and rear sight added. I like to shoot mine with buck and ball loads.View attachment 50073View attachment 50074

OH YES-BUCK & BALL! used by the OLD IRISH BRIGADE, in there smooth bores. mowed down the REBS' like a SYTHE CUTTIN THROUGH WHEAT!!

 

[griffiga]

OH YES-BUCK & BALL! used by the OLD IRISH BRIGADE, in there smooth bores. mowed down the REBS' like a SYTHE CUTTIN THROUGH WHEAT!!

The Civil War unit we portray is the 81st Penn. even though they had the option to swap out their 42’s for the newer 61’s, they chose to keep the .69 caliber buck and ball. Devastating up close in the thick stuff all right.

 

[nightwolf1974]

What would be a good BUCK N' BALL load for a 1842 smoothie?

 

[Britsmoothy]

What would be a good BUCK N' BALL load for a 1842 smoothie?

One with buck shot and a ball

I tried 11 .35" balls in old bessy yesterday but it needed more wad than four cards!

I don't get the fascination myself. Just use a ball or bird shot if hunting small game.

 

[Zonie]

I think buck & ball was used for hunting man sized animals, not rabbits and squirrels and the plan was to kill or maim whoever was the target.

 

[Bob McBride]

I think buck & ball was used for hunting man sized animals, not rabbits and squirrels and the plan was to kill or maim whoever was the target.

Yep, and if it was a man, you would get your man and probably wing his buddy. A great equalizer.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I think buck & ball was used for hunting man sized animals, not rabbits and squirrels and the plan was to kill or maim whoever was the target.

I understand that but I never realised that was still a pastime in parts of the world.

 

[griffiga]

What would be a good BUCK N' BALL load for a 1842 smoothie?

I use one .662 diameter round ball rolled in a paper cartridge with three .31 caliber balls or buck (I can't remember if it's OO or O) on top. Charge is 80 grains FG.