Brown Bess shoots low - any "good" solutions?

[Hugh]

I've got a Brown Bess. It shoots about 10 inches low at 25 yards. Anyone have a good solution that doesn't involve the crotch of a tree?
Before anyone freaks out - we're talking about a 30 year old reproduction, not an original. It was made from a kit, by me; and looks it, too. But, it's fun to shoot and I'd like to get a bit closer to point of "aim."

 

[Stumpkiller]

Welcome!

First thoughts: Don't use the bayonet lug as a front sight, Besses are pointed like a shotgun or an arrow from a sightless bow and not aimed.

Concentrate on the target 100% and let your edge vision handle the "corrections". Left eye does elevation, right eye does windage (if you are right eye dominant).

Don't lower your head as much to look down the barrel. Shoot from an upright, unhunkered stance. This will raise the point of impact.

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Hugh]

Stumpkiller
You must have been looking over my shoulder these last 30 years. You know EXACTLY how I shoot the thing. I "use" the top edge of the tang as a rear sight and put the bayonet lug on the target. I guess I'm the idiot people have always told me I am. Obviously the thing is more of a 12 guage shotgun than a rifle yet I shoot it as a rifle. Wonder why that is? I've never fired it with both eyes open and not hunkered down. Thanks! My neighbors won't know what they've missed not seeing me bending the barrel in the forks of the tree in the front yard. If it wasn't nighttime now I'd head for the range and give it a try! Thanks!

 

[Stumpkiller]

For 15 years a Bess was my primary shooter. When I started treating it like a traditional bow and concentrating fully on the target I started getting results.

It's mighty, mighty hard to ignore the bayonet lug.

 

[mike alexandre]

What Stumpkiller says is bang on, I cant shoot my Bess using the bayonette lug as its off set. Also- just two questions, are you flinching and does it shoot straight from a rest - some barrels are bent.

 

[Hugh]

I won't say I never flinch but I'm considered a good offhand shot with a flintlock. Off a bench it shoots low. The 8 inches low at 25 yards I'd mentioned in first post was off a bench, sighting low over the tang, using the bayonet lug as a front sight, top of the tang as a rear right. Actually, my eye is the "rear sight" and getting low I can always get my "eye-is-sight" in the same place repeatedly.

 

[Rat]

I put old timey fixed rifle sights on mine...aims and shoots like a rifle now, good 70 yard paper plate killing range. 3" groups at 50 yards.

Rat

 

[mike alexandre]

Then assuming the barrel isnt bent its the postion of your head as Stumpkiller says - what powder load are you using

 

[JackAubrey]

I shoot mine as if she were a rifle.I close my left eye,using only my right.I use the bayonet lug as an aimpoint reference.Borrowing from archery,I found where my eye(the rear sight,as it were)gave me the "sight picture"I wanted then tapped a brass tack to correspond to the corner of my mouth.Borrowed the idea from archery, an "anchour point".Now, by placing the corner of my gob on that tack I have a consistant sight picture from shot to shot.I am putting balls consistantly in a 3" group @ 25 yards and as RAt said.killing paper plates @ 50 yards.Haven't tried anything beyond that though.

 

[Hugh]

Jack,Mike and Rat,
You guys are shooting it like a rifle. That's the way I have been doing it. I use .69 roundball with paper cartridge - it's easier/faster than patch/ball. When I shoot patched ball I use .735 ball. 100 grs. 2F in both loads. I'd thought of putting a rear sight on it but wanted to "play the game the way the game is supposed to be played" as much as I could. I guess if I could consistently park my "eye-ball rear sight" a tad higher all would be well. Looks like I need some sessions at the range - keeping an open mind to different approaches; and write down what I'm doing and where it went. As far as accuracy goes the Bess surprises me. The shots are just low. It it were 5" high at 25 yards for example 50 yards would be practical. Now, 8" low at 25 makes holding over at 50 pretty rough. I really appreciate your help.
PS to Jack. Be sure to look to Stephen's flints.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Borrowed the idea from archery

You do what works for you. Consistancy is the important thing.

I "borrowed from archery" and ignored any sight reference at all. I have three bows, and not one of them has a sight of any kind on it. Just some serving where the nock point is for consistancy. :: My anchor point is the tip of my right middle finger touching the gold tooth behind my upper right canine. It's on me, not the bows.

Better be careful marking the stock that way. If you get the drop on a 12-point, your big grin will have you overshooting by yards. :winking:

 

[RunningBear]

Do you need the front lug?I have a brown bess from dixie that was too tall for me to load with the 42inch barrel!lucky for me it was a kit,and they took too much wood off the front of the stock for the nosecap to fit correctly.So I
cut-off about 8inches of barrel and soldered my own new front sight.And by removing some wood from the stock at the ramrod I have a trade gun that shoots great!Try moving the lug or put a new sight on about 8inchs back and then shoot her again.RunningBear.

 

[big bore 75]

Hello Greybeard first off were in Georgia are you located?
I'm in the Milledgeville area, and I was shooting me Bess carbine at the range, I removed that darn bayanet lug long ago, and today she started printing at 50 with nice tight groups ( I put a rear site on her too) and it will shoot. hey get a hold of me off line.
Kevin

 

[JackAubrey]

Well said stumpkiller!