Looking for Charleville Shooters...

[Gus]

A few years ago I aquired a .69 cal. 1763 Charleville Flintlock Musket and matching pistol. I need some help with it finding the right balls, patches, loads, etc.

If you have one or references for one, please post here or feel free to contact me.

Thanks.

gus

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

Gus, Check my new post on my range trip today. The 1816 US Musket is a very near copy of the Earlier French muskets. In fact who ever built mine used a barrel the same length as the Charleville! Without the US Markings on the lock mine is a Charleville!!

Here are some basic tips, find out the inside diameter of the bore. I use dial calipers for this. Get a ball mould 15 thousands smaller than the bore. This will offer you a range of patch thickness for your tests.
Type in Jeff Tanner in your search engine he makes custom round ball moulds from brass. He lives in England. When you land on his site you can order any sized ball mould you need. For the large bore moulds he charges $45. You will need to get a set of double cavity mould handles as this is what his mould uses. The rest is powder patch and practice. I have been shooting smoothbores for 30 years and today was one of the better 1st trips I have ever had! :thumbsup:

 

[Many Klatch]

Hey Grizz, are you practicing up with your musket so's you can compete against my Bess?

Many Klatch

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Hey Gus,

Probably a good idea to post questions about smoothbores in the smoothbore section instead of the flintlock Rifle section. :v

Good luck!
Twisted_1in66 :hatsoff:

 

[Timothy Gregory]

Hey Gus,
I have been shooting a Navy Arms Charleville for a couple of years now. Love it! Just some thoughts;

"Here are some basic tips, find out the inside diameter of the bore. I use dial calipers for this."

In my opinion, an absolute must. When I first started out with it, I bought a pais of scissors moulds for it. It made balls that were actually .69 cal and would not fit down the barrel. When I finally did caliper the bore, it was somewhat smaller than .69 (.650 I think). I have tried various patch/ball combo's. {By the way, Track of the Wolf offers a wide variety of ball sizes.) Finally hit on a .648 ball with a .010 patch. Could probably go thicker on the patch but this combo seems to work good as far as ease of loading and accuracy. All this on top of 90 grains of FFFg Goex. One other thing I did was to put some thin weather stripping down the barrel channel of the stock. This gave a tighter stock to barrel fit. Enjoy your Charleville, once you figure what works best, they are wonderfull shooters. Would take one over a Bess any day!

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

I won't be tuning up for our He Man Military Smoothbore shootout at the Widowmaker Frolic and Friendship at this time. Before hunting season in November I will break it out and after the first of the year I will go into full training so I can defeat the infamous Firemaker!

 

[Wes/Tex]

Both Dixie and Track of the Wolf sell pre-cast balls, etc. for muskets. It will probably be the best way to go by trying a few different ball sizes to see which your Charley likes best. Be sure to try patched and unpatched balls with an assortment of patch thicknesses, again to see what works best. Remember tht military muskets are basically big shotguns and will also shoot about anthing you can get down the bore...with certain restrictions, of course! :haha: