progress with the Bess

[engravertom]

I have made two trips to the range recently, working on getting my Pedersoli Bess to shoot to point of aim.

The first pic is a target shot with the barrel still bent, as it was when I received the gun.

The three red circles show the 3 shots which were .690 RB with a patch, a combo of a .020 and a .010 patch for each shot. My patches are too small for this bore, which caused problems. I was standing at 25 yards, and aiming below the black square. I put a red circle there to show the AP.

The pale blue circle shows 1 shot which was a .715 RB, .020 patch, same range and aim point. All shots were 70 grs. FFG.

The pale yellow circle was .690. 70 grs FFG at 50 standing, but the AP was the lower square. About 20" high!

At this point, i was ready to try straightening the barrel. After work one day, a friend and I got out two V blocks, and made use of an arbor press to straighten the barrel. I feel much better about the gun, now that the barrel is straight. It was quite a pronounced bend, near the middle of the barrel.

A few days later, back to the range for a few more shots.

Different range, 40 yards sitting this time. Yellow shots are .690, same 70 grs FFG. Most times, the balls were slipping off the patches, or getting jammed up. Shot 1 was encouraging, right elevation at 40, not far off to the side. Shot 2, way down low. Shot 3, concentrated on elevation sight picture, but things got jammed up, so I really had to pound the ball down. way to the left. A bit discouraged now. i tried a shot , purple #1, with the .715. ball slipped right off the patch, so I put a fiber wad in to hold it down on the powder. Shoot looked great, but it one doesn't prove anything, as the first group showed very well. Shot 2 I just skipped the patch, bare ball with fiber wad to keep it down again. 4" to the left, same elevation.

feeling much better now.

I need to get patches big enough not to slip by the ball, so i can see what a truly well patched ball will do. I'll keep trying the bare ball loads also.

FFG in the pan for all shots, new flints from Track, quick ignition for every shot.

haven't tried shot since straightening the barrel. That will be on the docket very soon also.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice!

take care,

Tom

 

[J.D.]

I wouldn't bend the barrel until you are shooting consistent groups. At this point, just get the correct patching and work on shooting consistent groups.

IMHO, the .715 ball and a .020 patch should shoot very well with 80 gr FFG. I have won my share of smoothbore matches using that load.

I suggest going to a local fabric store and buying a yard of. 018-.022 thick cotton fabric. Cut the fabric into 2 inch squares, lube 'em up and get to shooting.

 

[bebloomster]

Yes, a .715 ball with a .015 patch should work out very well with 70 - 80 gr FFg or FFFg. I personally prefer loading with paper cartridges but that is just me.

I'd work more towards coming up with a ball/patch combination that gives good groups before I would do any barrel tweaking.

 

[Rebel]

Try some blue jean denim for patching with the .690's and see how that works for you. Easy to come by, and thicker than what you have.

 

[engravertom]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I was not clear in my post. The barrel was bent already by the previous owner. It was a noticeable bend, and it bothered me. This wasn't the first shooting session trying to determine if it was shooting high. I did STRAIGHTEN the barrel, and now it seems to shoot very close to POA at 40 yards. I will do any further regulation with load development, or muzzle filing, should that ever become necessary.

Thanks for the patch recommendations. That info will really help.

Thanks again,

Tom