Buck n ball loads

[Enfield1]

I am considering purchasing a repro 1842 Springfield smoothbore musket. Can anyone speak firsthand as to the ballistic effectiveness of buck and ball loads? What size patterns can I expect at 50 to 75 yards? Penetration? Thanks in advance.

 

[faw3]

What size buck you thinking about? Im not sure about this , Ive tryed #s 2 and 3 buck and at the range your talking about youd be lucky to hit something the size of a truck + scratch the paint, this was just my 62/20g bigger might do better, Ithink people get a idea that buck can do it all, Ive seen a highway police report about keeping your leather jacket on because 00 wouldnt go in at 18 yds, right or not. Fred :hatsoff: Now the ball is another story..

 

[musketman]

Buck and ball loads were used during the Civil War for close rangs fighting, 50 yards or less, I wouldn't recommend beyond that for a "humane" kill...

The diagram shows placement of the buck on top of the ball, although I have seen it reversed...

One additional note: If this is for hunting, please check your state's game laws, some states do not allow the use of buck and ball loads...

 

[Rebel]

No way it would be effective for hunting at those ranges. I have tried it in my .62 smoothbore and it doesn't pattern well much past 25 yds. I used #4 buck. I also tried the buckshot with no ball and it still don't pattern well. If you just want to try it out and have some fun go for it. If you want it for hunting you will be Much better off with just a well placed rd ball.

 

[Enfield1]

Thanks, fellas. I appreciate your input. No, I would not consider this as a hunting weapon or load. I am just one of those weird people that likes to shoot different rounds into different mediums to see what happens. Any hunting I do is left to me and my Lyman GPR .50. Thanks, again.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Buy the '42. It is one of the most versatile guns you will ever own. And virtually indestuctible. Do not bother with the buck and ball load--except as a way to pass time. Used as a straight shotgun or with a patched ball, it will serve you well. And get a good sling for it. That way you can carry it all day long and barely know it's there.

 

[Wes/Tex]

FWIW: There's a monument at Gettysburg put up by a Wisconsin regiment. It's an obelisk with what is basically three smaller balls with a larger ball sitting on top...basically, your typical buck & ball load. They carried '42s there and did some serious close work during Pickett's Charge.

Also, when Gen. T.F. Meagher formed the Irish Brigade he had all rifled muskets turned in and armed the entire brigade with '42s. He believed his rowdy little gang should rely on 'cold steel' and only shooting a close range. They also did a fair job when the ca-ca hit the fan!

 

[CrackStock]

Mike Nesbitt has written some articles in MuzzleLoader Magazine about buck and ball. You might look up the articles and request a back issue.

CS

 

[TN.Frank]

I kicked around the idea of pickin' up a '42 a year or so back but I wanted a flintlock musket first. Now that I have one I might get a '42 now, if I can get over having to buy caps for it. That's why I love flintlocks, no caps required. Still, it would be a versitile gun to own, plus there's the War of Northern Aggression part of it too.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I've never regretted buying my '42. I've seen one that had its barrel cut back to around 30 inches or so and the stock was cut off in front of the lower band retaining spring. The owner said it had barrel damage out towards the muzzle and he got it cheap. It made a nice and light shotgun or so he said, and I had no cause to doubt him.

 

[Le Mamou]

I have shot B&B from my .66 Fusil, at 16 Yd. ball hit center, OO buck hit evenly spaced circle about 15 inches to the outside of center. Interesting, if you have to clear a Baygaul.

Avant Jour

 

[faw3]

Now ya should tell them about what Terrys Texas Rangers did with 12 or 10 bores chargeing Yank lines and unloading 18 Double ought from both barrels with a big ball on top! Id rather have a 500pounder land on me thank ya. :shocked2: Fred

 

[Wes/Tex]

Yessiree! But the shotguns had only buckshot, the ball on top would most likely have split the barrels. J.K.P. Blackburn of nearby Fayette, County wrote:

"In a twinkling of an eye almost, both barrels of every shotgun in our line loaded with 15 to 20 buckshot in each barrel was turned into that blue line and lo! what destruction and confusion followed. It reminded me then of a large covey of quail bunched on the ground, shot into with a load of birdshot: their squirming and fluttering around on the ground would fairly represent the scene in that blue line of soldiers on that occasion. Every man nearly who was not hurt or killed broke to the rear, most of them leaving their guns where the line went down, and made a fine record in getting back to their reserved force several hundred yards to their rear."

For those not familiar with the event, it occured on the Confederate retreat to Corinth after the Battle of Shiloh, when the 8th Texas rode with Forrest's brigade as the rear-guard. Chasing Federal regiments of infantry got spread out and the lead one was charged by Terry's and had assumed the standard position of two lines to repel cavalry...the front line kneeling with bayoneted muskets butt on the ground and the rear line standing with bayonetted muskets held up. This was supposes to keep cavalry from getting to the double line with sabers. Terry's troopers charged up to within "twenty steps" of the line, reigned up and let fly with "blue-whistlers"! "Not good Kimosabe"!!!!!!!!!!!! :shocked2: