Army smoothbore

[Mathias]

Hi
I just got my hands on a old 1815-49 Swedish musket i was was planing on using as a shootgun (someone else also thought that was the vay to go senes it was still loaded when i got it)If it checkes out all right, was planning on holding the charges on the low side. It would be a 12ga (18,55mm bore)In 1849 it was converted from flintlock to percusion by plugging the hole in the side and borring a new hole a lttle of center 12 a clock for a nipple and changing the hammer. What do you think it the tread on the brechplug are good can i start whit regular start loads for 12ga?

 

[CoyoteJoe]

I'm afraid you'll find that very few old ML shotguns are still in safe shootable condition. Most likely you will find the breech end of the bore is eaten away by corrosion. I've tried to restore a couple, including an Austrian musket similar to yours, by reaming the bore back to smooth. I soon found I'd have to ream the barrel away to nothing at the muzzle and still not have reached the bottom of the pits at the breech.

 

[Mathias]

Hi CoyoteJoe

Yes there is a big chance that it vill never be a "smoothbore" agin . But if so are the case the old girl still looks great on the wall :grin: How do you think that charge that was left in the barrel for god knows how long will havw affekted the chamber, i mean can have done something more then just hold moisture and so aided corrosion

Happy shooting
Math

 

[Many Klatch]

I have known several people that shot originals like yours to great effect. With smoothbores, the barrel doesn't have to be perfect. This is with roundball of course. Most of the muskets that I have seen are too heavy to make a good shotgun.

Clean it up, shoot it. Don't use a full charge like 90 grains of 2F, try 75 grains instead for a starter.

Many Klatch

 

[Carteret Kid]

Why risk it ? IF you happen to be around when tube faliure finally occurs , you cannot buy a new body . Old guns do not have "WArning Barrel Bursting Imminent " light .

 

[paulvallandigham]

Matt: If you really want to shoot the gun, why not have somone like Bobby Hoyt put a new, steel liner in the barrel for you? That will give you a new, strong barrel, and the outside will still reflect the age of the piece, with all its battlescars. There are other smiths around the country who insert liners in old barrels. They do have to bore out the old barrel to make room for the new liner, but the liners are next to impossible to see where the seams meet, and the only way you know there is a liner is by the condition of the bore.

Its a way to save what otherwise will become only a wall hanger.

 

[59sharps]

its amasiming what bobby Hoyt can do w/ a barrel.
that is the way to go if you want to shoot it. :hatsoff:

 

[Mathias]

Hi paulvallandigham

Yes lining the barell would take care of the strength problem The only trouble whit lining is that it would render it slighty ileagel to owne where i live (Sweden). There are ways to do it leagly but i don't know if it worth the troubble. Last time i made a application for a licens it took 6 months and it didn't come tru, ended up selling a rifle before i got the license. You can only own 6 rifles as a ordenary person her . Ther is a but luckily if the gun was made before 1849 and is muzzleloaded they are free from licens. But then there are few guns from that age that dosent show wear and tear.

Best regards
Mathias

 

[paulvallandigham]

Math: It helps to know when a new member lives in another country. You might add that information to your profile so that we can better advise you.

I am of the opinion that nothing ventured, nothing gained. What can it hurt to apply for that permit? If you can put an old gun like this back into functioning condition, Why not? I doubt that it has much collector value in the condition you describe. lining the barrel, and having the breech worked on, or remade will only increase its value as a historical piece.

My father's mothers parents came from the Varmlad region of Sweden back in the 1870s, and settled in Chicago. The surnames are Nilsson, and Sandberg, which is the equivalent of being named " Smith ", or " Jones ", here. My great grandfather was a carpenter who built homes on the NW side of Chicago. I know less than 10 words of Swedish, so don't every apologize about your English. You are doing great! Welcome to the forums. :thumbsup:

 

[Mathias]

Hi paulvallandigham

I will certanly think about it but i will wait and see how the barrel really looks whit the breechplug removed before a decide what to do.

I will have a look at my profile and add some info

Thanks
Mathias

 

[oldarmy]

Every Swedish weapon that I have seen and shot were beautifully built.
With good steel and craftmanship.
I would shoot it.Just be carefull about your loads..
The less the government knows the better. :blah:

 

[Joe Wolf]

If you ever try it, do what the oldtimers did. Tie the gun to something strong and tie a long string to the trigger, then find a big tree to hide behind. Don't even look at it until after the smoke clears. They loaded up a double or triple charge, but I wouldn't start there....maybe a half charge with nothing but a wad....and work your way up. If the threads are bad the nipple might make a serious bullet!

 

[Mathias]

Well i have already concluded that i have to change the nipple and that means rethread it to 5/16-24. About shooting it i have a freind who is a gunsmith so he will have a say in what is safe or not.
Math

 

[Mathias]

Today i got the breechplug out, nice looking threds so there is nothing to worry about there some corrotion has taken plce in the chamber area but overall it's not that bad. And whit the nipple changed the only thing left is to take it to the range and try it :grin:

Math

 

[Mathias]

Hello

Had the chance to shoot it today and all i can say it is FUN!! I don't know what sorts of presicion one can expekt whit a smothbore but i was able to keep all my shots whitin a 5.5 inch circle at 45meters whit 82gr rs pyrodex a .69 roundball whit denim patch. It was so mutch fun that i runed out of balls, think i have to get me a .69 mould :grin:

Mathias

 

[paulvallandigham]

Tanner, who is in Great Britain, can make you that .69 cal. mold out of Brass. No sprue cut-off plate, but these are the classic " scissor-style " molds and produce good balls.

 

[Mathias]

paulvallandigham
Does he have website or mail ?

 

[paulvallandigham]

Yes. But I just re-read his ad in Muzzle Blasts, and he makes molds up to .599, not .699 as I thought I had read last night. I used my good eye and good daylight today. You might want to communicate with him anyway.

[email protected]

Track of the Wolf sells .69 caliber RBs for $9.95 USC for 25 balls. http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(k...atId=2&subId=25&styleId=58&PageSize=25&Page=3

Track also sells a minie ball for .69 caliber guns, that is .585" in diameter.
http://www.trackofthewolf.com/(S(k...atId=2&subId=25&styleId=65&PageSize=25&Page=2

Lyman still makes the .69 caliber mold.

MidwayUSA has the Lyman mold in stock for sale.
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Br...70&categoryString=685***8657***8664***9258***

I hope this helps.

 

[Mathias]

Hi paulvallandigham

Yes it helps alot, many thanks.

You see there is not that many that thinkers around whit bp and old guns where i live so this forum is great and so are the people here.

Mathias

 

[Many Klatch]

Smoothbores are addicting. I like the fact that you don't have to clean after every shot and that they are a lot easier to load. They are also fun with buck and ball or just buckshot. Next thing you will need is to make some shotgun wads so you can do bird shot and buckshot.

Many Klatch