Brown Bess Accuracy

[Enfield1]

What kind of accuracy are you guys getting from your Brown Bess? I purchased a Pedersoli 2nd model Brown Bess as a Christmas present to myself back in December. I was frustrated after my first range session because I could not hit the proverbial "broad side of a barn". Now, I can hit virtually point of aim at the 25 yard line and I can consistently keep the balls on the chest of a police silouette target at the 50 yard line. I think that that is a pretty good improvement. My load is a .735 ball cast from a Lyman mould "dry balled" over 70 grains of 2FG.

 

[Shine]

Try 90 grs 2f and a snug fitting greased patch.

 

[wulf]

I use 80 with a naked ball and reach out to 200
yards with witnesses.I have shot against rifles
and held my own and sometimes wining..It can be
done. When I had trouble with rifle sights i
went to muskets..I shot nothing but muskets for
ten+ years..Now i have new glasses and am back
to rifles...should have stayed with the musket.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I had a Kit Ravenshear 1756 Light Infantry (0.66") and that would keep to 6" at 50 yards. At 75 yards mine started to "knuckle ball" so I didn't shoot much her past 60. I most often used paper cartridges (ball end dipped in wax) and they were none too tight in the bore (0.610" cast). With .650" and cloth patches I could do better but invariable got flyers, so the groups stayed at 6" . . . but I had enough three-shot cloverleafs to know she had great things in her.

 

[Many Klatch]

My Bess Carbine with 90 grains of 2f and a .010 spit patch over a .715 ball will keep them in one big hole at 25 yards and will ring a 36" gong at 100 yards 3 out of 5 shots.

Try the .010 spit patching with your load and bump up the powder a bit.

Many Klatch

 

[J.D.]

This combination of a .715 ball with a .020 spit patch and 80 gr FFG has won several smoothbore matches.

On a good day, I can shoot 3" or so groups at 50 yards off hand and hit an 18" gong at 100 yards.

On a bad day....it ain't pretty.

 

[robertdale]

you really should try a heavy card over powder and thin card over ball, might help.
the advice about patched ball and 75-80 grns. is also very good place to start.
just my 2 bits worth

 

[MSW]

i am given to understand that, in its intended use, the Brown Bess was considered an effective weapon system if it could hit a four or five foot high by zillion foot wide target (i.e. the mass of enemy soldiers).

so, all things considered, minute of bambi is pretty darned good.

 

[Enfield1]

I appreciate everybody's responses. I have tried to patch my ball, but the tolerance is too tight, even with a .10 greased patch. In order to patch it, I would have to drop down to a .715 ball. I am pleased with my improvements and I seem to do a little better with each trip to the range.

 

[riarcher]

I'm a firm believer in heavy patching.
My .751 bore loves a .715 ball. .022 denum patch w/ olive oil & bee's wax. I also use 100 gr. 2fg.
Can shoot all day without cleaning bore.
A good day will put them into a 5" group at 50 yds. (lets not talk about the bad days - :redface: )

I also believe all guns (same make / model) have their own likes and dislikes for whatever reason.

 

[Wes/Tex]

Your bare ball method is a good option. With balls that close to bore size it's about your only choice. You might try making a papr cartridge and dip the ball end in lube before adding powder. To load, pour the powder in and then insert the lubed ball just into the muzzle and tear off the rest of the paper.

The method of using a card over the ball is also a good option. Try them all, the gun will tell you what it likes best.

 

[JackAubrey]

Greetings Mr. Minieball,I have the same Bess as you.As to the .735,I was able to use a patch however was compelled to use a rubber mallet to get the little cocker seated on the powder.I did dry ball them a few times but did not feel comfortable doing so in that keeping the ball on the powder is a priority of mine.I honestly have'nt tried to find a thinner patch and don't know if one so thin could stand the pressure.I do like the ideas I have heard expressed about the paper patching although one may have to be watchful for starting a brush fire,possibly.I did notice after the first fire, the fouling build up in the barrel seemed to take up the windage.I still rather err on the side of safety.It is for that reason I began using the patched .715.It goes down without a struggle and stays put.Accuracy is good.At 25 yards I'll clover.It opens up at 50 yards, yet I can still keep it in a paper plate.Quite good enough to pop a deer,I should think.I have not had the opportunity to fire beyond 50 yards,as my home range only extends as much. I have my doubts as to how accurate she would be.One thing I did do, more in the name of consistancy than anything else, was to set a brass tack as an anchour point in the stock where the corner of my mouth falls.I took this idea from archery and thought it may have a suitable application with musketry.Knowing my eye is the rear sight and using the bayonet lug as the front aimpoint,I wanted my eye to fall in the same place as much as was possible.This seems to do it right.As to powder,80 to 90 grains 2f,prime with same.Hope that helps,Best regards,J.A.

 

[slowpokebr549]

A good way to paper patch is to wrap said minnie in as many layers of medical tape as is required for a tight fit.It has a nice smooth outer texture and does not fly off causing fires. This works well with my .69.

 

[flintlock75]

Minnieball,
Have you used a micrometer to measure your bore size? My Pedersoli Brown bess carbine has an undersized bore. The barrel is marked 75 caliber but the bore only measures .725 dia. I had a mould made by Dixie gun works in .705 cal. This has alowed me to use a .020 patch and 90 gr of 3F. This load will shoot 4" groups at 50 yards all day. This combo has worked on Moose very well. I shot at 100 yards just to see what it could do, on the 200yard single bull target I placed 3shots out of 5 in the scoring rings and 2 at the edge of the paper, Not bad for a smoothbore musket. My gun also has a rear site instaled and the front lug was replaced with a tradegun turtle sight.

 

[mikee51848]

Some guys in my Rev War unit have no problem hitting a steel drum at 130 yds using a traditional rolled cartridge.

 

[bebloomster]

Personally I prefer the traditional paper cartridge rather than separate powder, patch and ball. The paper cartridge and Bess just naturally go together.

I use a .715 round ball with 85gr GOEX FFFg. The paper cartridge is rolled 2 wraps thick from recycled newsprint and the ball end dipped in melted Crisco. I've noted a definite "shelf life" on these... after about 4 months the Crisco has weeped through the newsprint and contaminated the powder.

Have tried several different lubes but so far Crisco seems to work the best. The fouling remains soft enough that I can fire 25 to 30 consecutive shots before having to run a patch down the bore. Accuracy offhand is quite acceptable to me... 6" groups at 60 yards.

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

If you are going to shoot a bore sized ball with no patching, put a wad column under the ball. I used to do this with a Brown Bess, a smoothbore fiber cusion wad and then the bore sized ball.
This shoots fine, but with no patch it leads up the bore fast. Google Jeff Tanner ball moulds, Jeff will make you ANY size mould you want at no extra cost. Jeff's moulds are made of brass and you have to buy a set of double cavity mould handles for the mould. :thumbsup: