Fraged by My Musket

[Flash Pan Dan]

Howdy All,

It is good to be back on the board. I bought a used Zoli Zouave from a skirmisher. The wood to metal fit is bordering on horrible the front sight is bent to zero but this thing can shoot like I've never seen. With 42 grains of 3F and a Lee .578 460 grain Minnie bullet it shoots cloverleafs at 50 yards, Not kidding it will do it all day long.

The guy I bought it from had the lock and trigger tuned. The trigger is crisp and light. So, I took it out today to shoot it and after 12th shot I got a cap fragment to the forehead. Not painful at all and I started to reload for the next shot but the blood got in my eye and I kinda freak out a couple of guys around me at the range. Glad I was wearing shooting glasses.

Does anyone make one of those brass guards that go around the nipple that will fit a musket nipple?

 

[SDSmlf]

Does anyone make one of those brass guards that go around the nipple that will fit a musket nipple?

Something like this? For what these cost you could try and make one fit. Flash Cups, for percussion nipples - Track of the Wolf

 

[Griz44Mag]

Howdy All,

It is good to be back on the board. I bought a used Zoli Zouave from a skirmisher. The wood to metal fit is bordering on horrible the front sight is bent to zero but this thing can shoot like I've never seen. With 42 grains of 3F and a Lee .578 460 grain Minnie bullet it shoots cloverleafs at 50 yards, Not kidding it will do it all day long.

The guy I bought it from had the lock and trigger tuned. The trigger is crisp and light. So, I took it out today to shoot it and after 12th shot I got a cap fragment to the forehead. Not painful at all and I started to reload for the next shot but the blood got in my eye and I kinda freak out a couple of guys around me at the range. Glad I was wearing shooting glasses.

Does anyone make one of those brass guards that go around the nipple that will fit a musket nipple?

A common risk that anyone that shoots cap guns takes. I have several times been informed that my flintlocks "spit" stuff out the right side that hits them 2 benches away.
I just set up a brass deflector on my right side and keep shooting. It happens, but I have never been hit by a cap frag that made the blood flow....
Did you get any pictures? That would be kool.....

 

[user 36911]

Just tell the guys it's no big deal. It does that all the time.

 

[ord sgt]

Direct pressure on the wound, then return to shooting. Not enough of an injury for a Purple Heart medal.

 

[hanshi]

I've never lost blood to a percussion but I have been hit by fragments and nearly set on fire from them. Flinters are safer but I still like and own both.

 

[user 36911]

I've never lost blood to a percussion but I have been hit by fragments and nearly set on fire from them. Flinters are safer but I still like and own both.

Safer? Stand next to the touch hole when the gun fires.

 

[wb78963]

too far from the heart to be fatal.
Bunk

 

[toot]

I've never lost blood to a percussion but I have been hit by fragments and nearly set on fire from them. Flinters are safer but I still like and own both.

never stand on the right side of a flinter when a guy is about to shoot. now that blast out of the priming pan setting off the pan charge will hurt you!! ask me how I know? ben there done that, once!

 

[wb78963]

there is an astonishing amount of manure (Carbonized Randomly Accelerated Particles) flying around when shooting long or short either cap or flint guns.
When I see people being "PERIOD CORRECT". something I do not like, shooting without ear or eye protection it gives me chills. When adults allow young people to shoot with out that protection it amounts to child abuse.
You can shoot deaf
You can't shoot blind
See Center
Hold Center
Hit Center
Ain't that fun
Bunk

 

[hanshi]

Safer? Stand next to the touch hole when the gun fires.

Honestly, I've never managed to get that far around my rifle when I shoot it. No matter what I try I can't get where I can stand beside that lock.

 

[Tasbay]

If your Zoil is using the original nipples they have quite a large hole. I used the #11 nipple but the musket one would be worse. With the original Zoil supplied #11 Nipple the hammer would reset on mine with anything over 60gr powder and blow crud in your face. Got some replacement nipples from TOW and that fixed the problem. Now will take 120gr powder with no issue. Mine loves a .562 ball from wheel weight, ticking patch and 80gr powder.

 

[Grenadier1758]

I would have hoped that the skirmisher would have replaced the nipple. That kind of blow back and cap fragments would indicate as @Tasbay suggests that the flash hole in the nipple is too large. That was a problem with original nipples. Replace the nipple.

 

[springfield art]

A common risk that anyone that shoots cap guns takes. I have several times been informed that my flintlocks "spit" stuff out the right side that hits them 2 benches away.
I just set up a brass deflector on my right side and keep shooting. It happens, but I have never been hit by a cap frag that made the blood flow....
Did you get any pictures? That would be kool.....

Yeah, in re-enacting it's a requirement to have a flash guard on your flintlock. The eye injuries back in the real historical days must've been frequent, if you've ever stood next to a guy whose guard was missing, you know! (Such guys were immediately stood down!). That only really happened early in the re-enacting days. Vendors sell brass flash guards for the Besses, etc.

 

[user 36911]

Honestly, I've never managed to get that far around my rifle when I shoot it. No matter what I try I can't get where I can stand beside that lock.

You knucklehead. I was talking about someone standing next to you.

 

[AFord]

I would like to ask a 'dumb' question. I was told to only use 'pure lead' balls in BP Rifles. It has at times been difficult to get lead to cast balls. There have been more than one statement about using wheel weights to cast balls or minie' balls from. Is it OK to use WWs in BP?

 

[user 36911]

I would like to ask a 'dumb' question. I was told to only use 'pure lead' balls in BP Rifles. It has at times been difficult to get lead to cast balls. There have been more than one statement about using wheel weights to cast balls or minie' balls from. Is it OK to use WWs in BP?

No, it's too hard. Lot's of soft lead for sale on this forum. Check the classified section.

 

[hanshi]

HA! I got you on that one!

 

[AFord]

No, it's too hard. Lot's of soft lead for sale on this forum. Check the classified section.

So I am doing it correctly.

 

[user 36911]

So I am doing it correctly.

If you're using soft lead, then yes.