I left the long guns at home and made a pistol safari this afternoon. I wanted to work on some patterns for squirrels with my J. Brown flintlock smooth 20 ga. pistol using tow and shredded cedar bark, and I had a hankering to shoot my Remington 1858 .36 caliber Navy. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon, I love shooting pistols of any kind for any reason.
I was able to shoot some acceptable patterns with the flintlock, both tow and cedar bark gave me patterns that will take squirrels out to 10-12 yards. The best load was 30 gr. 3F and 35 gr. #6 shot with the tow, 35 gr. 3F and 35 gr. #6 with the cedar bark, but the difference wasn't great. I shot about 20 times with never a misfire or a hang fire. The pistol has a large Siler lock, and has always been 100% reliable and easy on flints. Can't remember when I last changed one.
I also don't remember when I last fired the Remington. When I was bitten by the flintlock smoothbore bug in 1997 everything else took back seat, and it has been at least that long. The gun was made by Uberti, imported under the Lyman brand, and I bought it in April 1972, 40 years ago. I doubt I've put 100 rounds through it. The only #11 caps I had were some Dixie Gun Works brand which must be near 20 years old, but I did not have a single failure to fire all afternoon. Most of them didn't split and they were the dickens to remove, but they were still hot. I fired 30 shots, grinning and drooling all the way, and was pleased by the accuracy of the gun and the old man behind it. I guess shooting pistols is a bit like riding bicycles and kissing girls, once you learn you don't forget. I should do this more often.
Five shot group, standing rest, 20 yards, 2" bull.
Spence
I was able to shoot some acceptable patterns with the flintlock, both tow and cedar bark gave me patterns that will take squirrels out to 10-12 yards. The best load was 30 gr. 3F and 35 gr. #6 shot with the tow, 35 gr. 3F and 35 gr. #6 with the cedar bark, but the difference wasn't great. I shot about 20 times with never a misfire or a hang fire. The pistol has a large Siler lock, and has always been 100% reliable and easy on flints. Can't remember when I last changed one.
I also don't remember when I last fired the Remington. When I was bitten by the flintlock smoothbore bug in 1997 everything else took back seat, and it has been at least that long. The gun was made by Uberti, imported under the Lyman brand, and I bought it in April 1972, 40 years ago. I doubt I've put 100 rounds through it. The only #11 caps I had were some Dixie Gun Works brand which must be near 20 years old, but I did not have a single failure to fire all afternoon. Most of them didn't split and they were the dickens to remove, but they were still hot. I fired 30 shots, grinning and drooling all the way, and was pleased by the accuracy of the gun and the old man behind it. I guess shooting pistols is a bit like riding bicycles and kissing girls, once you learn you don't forget. I should do this more often.
Five shot group, standing rest, 20 yards, 2" bull.
Spence
