I have been MIA on the forum of late. I did finally order some .600" round balls from Dixie. Ball size selection was limited. I figure if I have to go smaller, I can double patch, it will only help keep lead fouling down, and allow for more of my special top secret, bore fouling softener, goo tamer mix. LOL
What about blank firing? Do I need a wad, or can I just pour the powder down the bore and keep the muzzle elevated like I see so many reenactors doing? I could put a ball of tow over the powder I guess, since I'm just shooting for fun, no fire danger, and if I did get a smoldering ember I'll just stomp it out.
Also got some patch material, a bronze brush .69 caliber. I will probably buy other size round balls as well, and experiment with what shoots best. As it is my first smooth bore, and flintlock, I am not expecting rifled barrel accuracy out of this musket! If I can hit AR500 target plate with any regularity at 40-50 yards I will be pleased. It is the ease of loading, fun of belching flame and smoke, and quick bore clean (for a muzzle loader), that I'm looking forward to with this piece! Nice to not worry about rod guide and buggering the muzzle rifling too. That will be a change. Another reason why smoothies were so fast to reload in combat as well. Bugger that exit rifling, and along with fouled grooves, there goes the accuracy, and bugger the rifling up bad enough and at minimum lapping the muzzle to get accuracy back.
Also, for almost a month now I have had the dowel rods to pursue that avenue of rapid loading. Just too busy here of late, and truth is kind of pooped out form the Holidays, sickness in family, family fighting cancer et al. Warmer days, a New Year, and boosted confidence from what I'm learning both here and elsewhere on the web will get me the smoke pole fever soon enough. I do intend to lightly polish the bore. I've done that with all my shotguns as well. It makes cleaning so much easier! It has warmed to the 50's here in Ohio today, but as usual in winter the wind has been howling with flat land and crops down.
I did clean the bore with some old tow wrapped around an .58 caliber worm from my 1861 Springfield. I'd had that baggie of tow for probably 40+ years. Left over from my amateur taxidermist days.
I also got the gum erasers to dry fire safely. I didn't really want to do that till I spark test, or shoot a blank load though.
Here is a link to a great web site by a fellow enthusiast named geojohn. A lot of good info here!
Knowing me I will get a 18th century cotton twill hunting shirt of some kind, maybe a flop/flap hat, and possibles bag. Just to feel the part. Will it be totally PC/HC. Maybe, but probably not. Still, I'm keeping an open mind. And, here all you have to do is ask, and someone will tell you what you need ITHO!
I just know there is a thread here about what members use for possibles bag. I've got so much reading I've been doing of late, I just haven't taken time to really get into the PC/HC threads as much yet. Still, figuring out basics. Hey, I've been laughed at before for posting a picture someone thought was pretty lame, for proper BP shooting kit! I'm not blind sided by it now, and often, it is tongue in cheek anyway!
Oh, any suggestions on where to get an adapter for the Pedersoli ram rod threads? I haven't found a good carbon/goo scrapper for .69 caliber. I can get by with .58 worm.
Good shooting lads! I'll be back!
http://www.geojohn.org/BlackPowder/Musketoon/ShootingTheFlintlock.html
What about blank firing? Do I need a wad, or can I just pour the powder down the bore and keep the muzzle elevated like I see so many reenactors doing? I could put a ball of tow over the powder I guess, since I'm just shooting for fun, no fire danger, and if I did get a smoldering ember I'll just stomp it out.
Also got some patch material, a bronze brush .69 caliber. I will probably buy other size round balls as well, and experiment with what shoots best. As it is my first smooth bore, and flintlock, I am not expecting rifled barrel accuracy out of this musket! If I can hit AR500 target plate with any regularity at 40-50 yards I will be pleased. It is the ease of loading, fun of belching flame and smoke, and quick bore clean (for a muzzle loader), that I'm looking forward to with this piece! Nice to not worry about rod guide and buggering the muzzle rifling too. That will be a change. Another reason why smoothies were so fast to reload in combat as well. Bugger that exit rifling, and along with fouled grooves, there goes the accuracy, and bugger the rifling up bad enough and at minimum lapping the muzzle to get accuracy back.
Also, for almost a month now I have had the dowel rods to pursue that avenue of rapid loading. Just too busy here of late, and truth is kind of pooped out form the Holidays, sickness in family, family fighting cancer et al. Warmer days, a New Year, and boosted confidence from what I'm learning both here and elsewhere on the web will get me the smoke pole fever soon enough. I do intend to lightly polish the bore. I've done that with all my shotguns as well. It makes cleaning so much easier! It has warmed to the 50's here in Ohio today, but as usual in winter the wind has been howling with flat land and crops down.
I did clean the bore with some old tow wrapped around an .58 caliber worm from my 1861 Springfield. I'd had that baggie of tow for probably 40+ years. Left over from my amateur taxidermist days.
I also got the gum erasers to dry fire safely. I didn't really want to do that till I spark test, or shoot a blank load though.
Here is a link to a great web site by a fellow enthusiast named geojohn. A lot of good info here!
Knowing me I will get a 18th century cotton twill hunting shirt of some kind, maybe a flop/flap hat, and possibles bag. Just to feel the part. Will it be totally PC/HC. Maybe, but probably not. Still, I'm keeping an open mind. And, here all you have to do is ask, and someone will tell you what you need ITHO!
I just know there is a thread here about what members use for possibles bag. I've got so much reading I've been doing of late, I just haven't taken time to really get into the PC/HC threads as much yet. Still, figuring out basics. Hey, I've been laughed at before for posting a picture someone thought was pretty lame, for proper BP shooting kit! I'm not blind sided by it now, and often, it is tongue in cheek anyway!
Oh, any suggestions on where to get an adapter for the Pedersoli ram rod threads? I haven't found a good carbon/goo scrapper for .69 caliber. I can get by with .58 worm.
Good shooting lads! I'll be back!
http://www.geojohn.org/BlackPowder/Musketoon/ShootingTheFlintlock.html
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