First time shooting Brown Bess with live ball

[krasnayaznamya]

Just shot my Brown Bess for the first time with ball this past weekend at Ft. Frederick range. What an experience! Had no clue how much damage those .75 balls can do to a target. We shot from 50 and 25 yards...could hit a head shot from 25 yards...Shot a whole cartridge box with no foulups or misfires...way cool.

 

[Many Klatch]

I have had the same experience with my Bess. After years of experts telling me that a Bess couldn't hit anything, I find that they are good shooters if you take the time to aim.

I don't do cartridge loads, I just use a .010 linen patch and 90 gr FF. She bucks pretty good, but I have hit what I was aiming at at 100 yards.

Many Klatch

 

[trent/OH]

After your first shot the point of impact changes a little, due to the pressure on the stock from the big grin on your face!

You can sure use up a lot of lead in a short time with it!

 

[J.D.]

My friends and I consistently hit an 18 inch dia gong at 100 yards, off hand, so yes, those Besses shoot very well. That big ball does a LOT of damage to deer sized game at 50 yards too.
J.D.

 

[JeffinNZ]

A gentleman from my club, whom I might add should know a lot better, suggested that those big heavy balls are moving so slow that at beyond 100m they would likely bounce off a man.

We invited him to test the theory. He decline.

:rotf:

 

[Many Klatch]

I was shooting at the NMLRA range in Friendship on the plinking range behind the blockhouse. The farthest out target is a 100 pound oxygen tank that has had the bottom cut off. This target is at the top of a very steep hill and is reckoned to be about 130 yards.

I aimed at the top of the tank and hit it 4 out of 7 times. People watching said, that of all the hits that they saw that day, my Bess was the only one that caused the tank to swing. So yeah, there is still a lot of oomph in the ball at 100 yards.

Many Klatch

 

[krasnayaznamya]

We do cartridge loads as we're RevWar reenactors. The live fire was actually set up to allow us to see/feel/experience what it was like to use live ammo (vice the big blank cartridges we use in reenactments), as well as see what the weapon can really do. It was a great lesson in the whole process of handling the cartridge thru firing with a "live" round.

I was also surprised at being able to hear the ball hit the target...could hear a distinct "pop" as it hit, wasn't expecting that.

 

[musketman]

A gentleman from my club, whom I might add should know a lot better, suggested that those big heavy balls are moving so slow that at beyond 100m they would likely bounce off a man.

We invited him to test the theory. He decline.

:rotf:

Even if they did bounce off, that would hurt enough to make your eyes cross, ever get shot before with a slingshot's stone? I have, it's not fun, even at the slow speed it was going...

 

[Pigman]

I have a Middlesex Bess and find it fires very good for not having a rear sight. I shoot as good with it as I do with my Armisport 1842 springfield in .69 cal. It also has no rear sight.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Puffer]

WELCOME to the "REAL WORLD" :hatsoff:

Out here in the PNW, we do very little Re-enacting. I have shot very few "blank loads".The ones I have shot were for "public Demos, where live ammo would be a hazzard or illegal.

@ our Rondys we have matches that are called "Trade Gun" You do not have to use a "trade gun" BUT it MUST be a flintlock, smooth bore, no rear sight & pre 1840s. I use my Ped. Mortimer w/ it's 13ga. bbl.( appox. .72 cal.). We see "Besses" also.

Are these "smoothies accurate ?? YUP. They are not "target guns" & even my BAKER is more accurate, but up to 100 yds they get the job done. ( note there are several shooters, that reg. participate, that reg. hit @ 200 yds.

As to the impact, with a "battle charge, they will lay a 1" thick gong out horizonal.

As to damage to the human body, read the grievouse injuries , that got hit by a "Bess" ball.

IMO, ANYONE who doubts the effect is an IDIOT, IMHO

I HOPE you will get to continue to Put your Bess through it's paces with LIVE Ammo.

Puffer

 

[Zonie]

The nearest thing to the Bess that is listed in the Lyman Black Powder Handbook is for a 12 guage shooting a round ball.
Using it as a ballpark guess, the 90 grain powder load would be less than the 992 FPS they list for Elephant FFg so let's guess it is around 850 FPS.

That would give the .75 cal Bess ball a velocity of 707 FPS at 100 yards along with 706 Ft/Lbs of energy.


Even if the old Mr. "bounce off of him" would have stood at 120 yards "just to be safe", he would have been hit with over 600 grains of lead flying at 680 FPS with an energy of 654 Ft/Lbs.
Good thing he decided not to chanch it.

 

[krasnayaznamya]

I was told there'd be no math involved...kidding. :winking: