Baker Rifle

[Piotr20]

Hey Im new to this forum I have some questions about the British Baker Rifle. Im thinking about buying one and the Rifle Shoppe seems to offer the best ones for the money. Can anyone vouch for this?
Also, how would a Baker perform at 100 yards? Ive seen lots of conflicting reports on accuracy but I figure that since it is a military rifle designed for accuracy and is infact famed for it, it should do fairly well provided consistent loads. Anyone have any experience with these? Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance guys

 

[rabjr]

Welcome to the forum.

There are a few who shoot the Baker including originals. I know Squire Robin has done a lot of work with an Original and if he does not see and post here, you might want send him a pt. If I remember right he did some work with goat hide as patch material.

TRS makes great parts unfortunately you maybe in for a long wait for parts if they are not in stock or if you have them build the gun, they are notoriously slow but most people think worth the wait. It just could be a long wait. So good luck on that. :v

 

[BrownBear]

Go back a year or so in the archives of the hunting section and there's a great account of an elk hunt with a Baker. It's more about practical results than theory and history, but that's good. If you think you want one bad right now, wait till after you read it! It will make waiting a week to get your own seem too long.

 

[Trench]

Keep in mind that the barrel on your new Baker will probably be more accurate than an original. That said, there was a publication of a full-sized man target shot by Ezekial Baker himself at 200 yards. He hit all over the entire length of the target, but he hit it. I imagine that doesn't really speak to the accuracy of the rifle but to the skill of the shooter and everything a round ball has to deal with when flying out that far.

 

[Trench]

Well, I found the target Baker shot in 1803. Boy is my memory bad. This is actually a 100yd target. I don't know if he shot it off-hand or at a rest.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

That's not exactly what we today would call an impressive group is it?

 

[Sharps1863]

It looks like Old Man Baker was not a very good shot. Here's an account of a marksman.
quote-"The accuracy of the rifle in capable hands is most famously demonstrated by the action of Rifleman Thomas Plunkett (or Plunket) of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, who shot French General Colbert at an unknown but long range (as much as 800 yards according to some sources) during the retreat to La Coruña during the Peninsular War. He then shot one of the General's aides, proving that the success of the first shot was not due to luck" It seems Plunkett used a reclining hold sitting on the ground reclined back with the rifle to his shoulder and the barrel resting between his crossed feet. http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/biographies/c_plunkett.html

 

[Trench]

That's not exactly what we today would call an impressive group is it?

What's wrong with a 4' group at 100yds? :grin:

 

[robinghewitt]

I know Squire Robin has done a lot of work with an Original and if he does not see and post here, you might want send him a pt.

My Baker Blog is still on the web if you can find it, but last time I gave the link Claude complained because I was directing folk away from his site.

It was written for the original semi-circular groove Baker rifling which has great potential for blow-by if you get it wrong. Not really relevant if the gun has shallow grooves.

OTOH Baker's are short, chunky and extremely pointable. I tried one and had to have one :thumbsup:

 

[rafterob]

What's wrong with a 4' group at 100yds?

Heck, it took me a year to get that good of a group at 100 yards. :surrender:

 

[Piotr20]

Thanks for the great answers guys I just gotta finish up some training with the army to get the funds I need and from what it sounds like, the rifle shoppe is the way to go for a good quality baker even if it will take the better part of my youth to get it

 

[sheba]

Talk to Doc White he will build a Baker for you from RifleShoppe parts price for the Baker $2000.He built one for me and I am real pleased with it

 

[Shine]

God I spent my first enlistment bonus on beer and women. The rest I wasted.

 

[Piotr20]

The rifle shoppe website says the parts with assembled lock is right around 1k? At least thats what I understood lol How do you sight in a baker since it has fixed sights? Ive been wondering that, do you file the front sight??

Havent gotten my bonus yet but I have 3 months of active duty pay coming up in aug so thats my Baker fund

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

This target was at 200 yards and Baker shot all 32 shots offhand with out any cleaning between shots. The target is six feet tall.

I ran a one time only match at Friendship based on this target. I made a similar target and we placed it at the end of the bench gun range which has 45 minute relays. the rules were simple 32 shots offhand at 200 yards with no cleaning between shots. Only six people showed up for the match so it was the only time I ran it.

A couple of years after this I got a reproduction Baker rifle, I wished I had it a couple of years earlier because with the 200 yard flip sight I would have done much better With the Baker!

:thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Ah. The good 'ol days. When "One-minute-of-heathen" was good shooting.

 

[Sharps1863]

You also have to remember that your target was formed in line of battle, shoulder to shoulder in ranks and big slow moving lead balls done a lot of damage to flesh and bone. Kill shots were not as important as putting a man out of action, you got hit in the arm or leg and the ball struck bone you could kiss that part of your body goodbye. Most mass firing took place at a range of 50 to 100 yards. If you could start dropping men at 200 yards well then that was a real shock to morale, especially if the shooter took out the officers. with no officers the ranks fell apart. It looks like the Baker rifle could do that with no problem. If you like Baker rifles go on you tube, there are several videos on there on Bakers being shot and check out the Sharpes Rifles series that is posted on there.

 

[Piotr20]

I love the Sharpes Series Im reading the books as well, which are AMAZING!!!

 

[Trench]

This target was at 200 yards and Baker shot all 32 shots offhand with out any cleaning between shots. The target is six feet tall.

I ran a one time only match at Friendship based on this target. I made a similar target and we placed it at the end of the bench gun range which has 45 minute relays. the rules were simple 32 shots offhand at 200 yards with no cleaning between shots. Only six people showed up for the match so it was the only time I ran it.

A couple of years after this I got a reproduction Baker rifle, I wished I had it a couple of years earlier because with the 200 yard flip sight I would have done much better With the Baker!

:thumbsup:

Okay, so I remembered correctly. It seems like a 200 yard group...which would make it pretty decent. Here's what the footer said underneath the picture: "Rifle Made and Shot by Ezekiel Baker; 34 Shot at 100 Yards" (Plate 6)

I just can't see a guy who had 20+ years of rifle experience shooting a group like that at 100yds. It must have been a typo.

 

[nkvd]

Ouch!!!!!

Lots of moola, hey but who said collecting/
shooting in this here economic crisis would
be simple and or affordable?

Rob