Range Report TOW Fusil de Chasse

[Cruzatte]

I finally got a target that doesn't embarrass me, shot with the Track of the Wolf fusil de chasse above.
The target was shot off-hand at 50 yards. It won't win any awards, I know. But I'm satisfied. The two wide shots were made as I was figuring out where to put the sight. I'm not sure if the drop on this gun is representative of the originals. There isn't much drop at all. And that has been the most difficult thing for me to adjust to. From previous experience, I've learned that patching the ball, using a .580" ball and a .020" patch will yield tighter groups. The idea here was to see how well I could do with a bare ball load.

 

[Kansas Kid]

See you next weekend for some smooth bore fun?

 

[granth]

What stain and finish did you use? Stock looks gorgeous.

 

[Cruzatte]

See you next weekend for some smooth bore fun?

You bet! I'll be there.

 

[Cruzatte]

What stain and finish did you use? Stock looks gorgeous.

Birchwood Casey walnut stain and finish. Thanks.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Good for you! It takes some patience to figure out a good load. Yours is looking good

 

[Cruzatte]

Good for you! It takes some patience to figure out a good load. Yours is looking good

Thanks. I've wanted to find two loads that would work; a traditional load using wads of some sort, and just under bore size ball, and a competitive load using a patched ball like a rifle. I think I've found such at last.

 

[Patrick Thomas]

Does a fusil normally have more drop than that? Beautiful fusil

 

[Cruzatte]

Does a fusil normally have more drop than that? Beautiful fusil

I don't know. Having only limited experience with them, all I can say is that of the two that I own, the TOW French fusil has less drop than the Caywood Wilson model I own. My hunch is that my fusil de chasse is a reasonable copy of the originals, which were made to a similar, but scaled down pattern of the Tulle fusil grenadier, a military musket. At least in the photos and drawings I've seen the stock architecture looks identical. This makes sense as a cost saving measure during the 18th century.

The Northwest guns I have seen don't seem to have much drop, either. All of which were reproductions as well.

Thanks for the compliment.

 

[Bushfire]

My centermark fusil de chasse seems to like .600 ball with a 0.010 patch and 90gr swiss 2F.

They're finicky but mighty fun.

 

[Cruzatte]

My centermark fusil de chasse seems to like .600 ball with a 0.010 patch and 90gr swiss 2F.

They're finicky but mighty fun.

Finicky is right! I've tried powder charges as high as 3 drams, and found the recoil objectionable when shot off hand. However from a solid rest, the groups were quite good. I even tried Duelist54's load (110 gr. FFg) and couldn't stand more than two shots. Oof!

 

[smoothshooter]

View attachment 165880
I finally got a target that doesn't embarrass me, shot with the Track of the Wolf fusil de chasse above. View attachment 165881
The target was shot off-hand at 50 yards. It won't win any awards, I know. But I'm satisfied. The two wide shots were made as I was figuring out where to put the sight. I'm not sure if the drop on this gun is representative of the originals. There isn't much drop at all. And that has been the most difficult thing for me to adjust to. From previous experience, I've learned that patching the ball, using a .580" ball and a .020" patch will yield tighter groups. The idea here was to see how well I could do with a bare ball load.

Nice printing on your target paper.
I am a very amateur calligrapher.

 

[Cruzatte]

Nice printing on your target paper.
I am a very amateur calligrapher.

Thanks. I cheated and used a Sharpie. Just turn the chisel point over to a 30° angle, and Bob's yer uncle.

 

[Bushfire]

Finicky is right! I've tried powder charges as high as 3 drams, and found the recoil objectionable when shot off hand. However from a solid rest, the groups were quite good. I even tried Duelist54's load (110 gr. FFg) and couldn't stand more than two shots. Oof!

I'm not sure what it is but I find the style of fusils very comfortable to shoot even at high charges.

How do you find shooting off a bench in terms of POI? I tried it but my groups and POI completely changed. I wouldn't have thought it but I hit closer to where I want offhand.

 

[Cruzatte]

I'm not sure what it is but I find the style of fusils very comfortable to shoot even at high charges.

How do you find shooting off a bench in terms of POI? I tried it but my groups and POI completely changed. I wouldn't have thought it but I hit closer to where I want offhand.

No matter the charge, no matter whether shot from a rest, or off hand, I have to hold at 6:00. I shot this target off hand aiming below the deer's belly, using 3 dr. of 2fg. OK group, I guess, but boy, it sure did rock me.

 

[Bushfire]

No matter the charge, no matter whether shot from a rest, or off hand, I have to hold at 6:00. I shot this target off hand aiming below the deer's belly, using 3 dr. of 2fg. OK group, I guess, but boy, it sure did rock me. View attachment 170253

Is a dram around 30 grains?

Good group!

 

[Billy-by-gosh]

Is a dram around 30 grains?

Good group!

One Dram is equal to 27.5 grains. Therefore, 3 Drams by volume measure is approximately 82 grains.

 

[Cruzatte]

Google calculates a dram weighs 27.3438 grains. But I don't think that many places to the right of the decimal point matters much because it's such a miniscule amount of powder. And I probably spill that much pouring the powder down the barrel.

 

[Patrick Thomas]

Have you tried a shot load yet?

 

[Cruzatte]

Yeah, once. I used a pretty textbook load of 2¼ dr. FFg, a leather wad, 7/8 oz of #8, topped with tow. At 25 yds, the pattern was pretty dense in the center, and about the size of my palm.

I just realized I never took a photo of that target. I guess I'll have to repeat the experiment & document it.