...sort of. I got an antique James Purdey English Sporting Rifle recently. I have its history, and it started life as a flintlock fowler. It was later converted to percussion and later still converted to a .58 caliber rifle. The original load data from the rifle is hard to read but we thought depending on the actual number in drams, it would be 60 or 80 grains. I had an 80- grain measure so I started there. .570 ball, .018 pillow ticking patch cut at muzzle, lube is 7:1 ballistol/water soaked and dried on patching material. Caps were home-made from a kit and the cups were formerly a Dr. Pepper can. The maker was very optimistic with the sights. There is a standing leaf and a folding leaf. The literature shows them as
0 (fixed) and 200 (folding). The question is zero and 200 what? Steps? Yards? Meters? I set up at 50-yards and fired 3-shots sitting in a chair resting the rifles fore-end on a leather block. The groups was about an inch low and an inch left. I then tried 100-grains and the shots landed about an inch over the black bullseye about 2.5-inches higher than point of aim.
I then shot the fixed blade on the 100-yard target. The group was around 3-in for the 3-shots, however they landed 6.5 inches low with the 80-grain load. I tried the 100-grain load and it picked up the point of impact about 2-inches. I switched to the folding leaf and 80-grain load and it hit about 7-inches high. The 100-grain load hit 8.5-inches high. So at 100-yards there's around a foot of difference between the 2 rear sight settings.
The tiny little "V" notch on both rear blades are narrow and shallow and pretty hard to see. I might open up the fixed blade notch before the next outing and also try a 90-grain charge to split the difference and she how she does. Regardless, I was pretty impressed with this 186-year old rifle. I checked patches and they are pretty good overall.
The barrel is 31.5 inches octagon to round with a double wedding ring and the damascus pattern still showing clearly. There is a single trigger, half-cock notch and a weight of 6 pounds 4 ounces. Its lovely and shapely - easy on the eyes and easy to get along with.
0 (fixed) and 200 (folding). The question is zero and 200 what? Steps? Yards? Meters? I set up at 50-yards and fired 3-shots sitting in a chair resting the rifles fore-end on a leather block. The groups was about an inch low and an inch left. I then tried 100-grains and the shots landed about an inch over the black bullseye about 2.5-inches higher than point of aim.
I then shot the fixed blade on the 100-yard target. The group was around 3-in for the 3-shots, however they landed 6.5 inches low with the 80-grain load. I tried the 100-grain load and it picked up the point of impact about 2-inches. I switched to the folding leaf and 80-grain load and it hit about 7-inches high. The 100-grain load hit 8.5-inches high. So at 100-yards there's around a foot of difference between the 2 rear sight settings.
The tiny little "V" notch on both rear blades are narrow and shallow and pretty hard to see. I might open up the fixed blade notch before the next outing and also try a 90-grain charge to split the difference and she how she does. Regardless, I was pretty impressed with this 186-year old rifle. I checked patches and they are pretty good overall.
The barrel is 31.5 inches octagon to round with a double wedding ring and the damascus pattern still showing clearly. There is a single trigger, half-cock notch and a weight of 6 pounds 4 ounces. Its lovely and shapely - easy on the eyes and easy to get along with.
