Shooting low with M1840 musket, How To correct?

[wganz]

Got an original M1842 for N-SSA competition and can group well with it albeit about 5” low at 25 yards. I believe that part of the problem is that I’m 6’5”ish(which is a bit taller that the normal ACW soldier) which means that my cheek weld is the problem.

Would changing that to a more head up position to possibly even a chin weld raise the POI up to hit the typical 4” target?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

I'd bend the barrel.

 

[Rob M.]

Got an original M1842 for N-SSA competition and can group well with it albeit about 5” low at 25 yards. I believe that part of the problem is that I’m 6’5”ish(which is a bit taller that the normal ACW soldier) which means that my cheek weld is the problem.

Would changing that to a more head up position to possibly even a chin weld raise the POI up to hit the typical 4” target?

How much powder you using ? What projectile you shooting ? Try a little more powder and/ or little lighter projectile ....if possible . I'm assuming you dont want to alter the original sights ... Best of luck

 

[wganz]

How much powder you using ? What projectile you shooting ? Try a little more powder and/ or little lighter projectile ....if possible . I'm assuming you dont want to alter the original sights ... Best of luck

55grains of 3Fg with an unpatched 0.686" lead round ball from a ballmoulds.com brass mould that is rolled in Alox.

 

[wganz]

I'd bend the barrel.

I'm leery of modding an original with an 1850 date,
I'm only one in a long line to have custody of it today & want to pass it on to future generations for them to enjoy/appreciate also.
If anything, the loose nut on the end of the Butt plate is the part that needs the most adjustment.

 

[morehops52]

Perhaps working a load up with a thin patch?

 

[wganz]

Perhaps working a load up with a thin patch?

not permitted in N-SSA due to fire hazard

 

[PK]

Try seeing more barrel in your sight picture. It will raise the POI.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Got an original M1842 for N-SSA competition and can group well with it albeit about 5” low at 25 yards. I believe that part of the problem is that I’m 6’5”ish(which is a bit taller that the normal ACW soldier) which means that my cheek weld is the problem.

Would changing that to a more head up position to possibly even a chin weld raise the POI up to hit the typical 4” target?

Yes, a chin weld will raise your eyes higher above the plane of the barrel tube, just as with a higher rear sight, so POI will move upwards as well. Another "hack" is, depending on how you shoulder the butt plate against your body, is to put spacers between the bottom edge of the butt plate and the wood of the stock. I've seen it done with card stock for shotgun shooters, and guys go from breaking half the birds to breaking all of them, literally in one afternoon.

LD

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

Have somebody else shoot it and see where it hits. Also, talk to others in your unit and see what they do when this happens.

 

[barracudadave67]

I use 75 grns of 2 ff in my original 1847. I put my face on the stock, so I can see the length of the bbl. Its like looking down a rail.
I shoot a .678 ball, that I roll between 2 rasps to roughen the surface, then dip the ball in 50/50 bees wax,and mutton tallow lube.

Dave

 

[maillemaker]

With the M1842, there is no rear sight, so adjusting elevation on-target is a matter of learning the correct sight picture required to hit whatever elevation you require. On my Armisport 1842, I know how to align the front and middle barrel bands (one just under the other) so that the front sight hits point-of-aim.

There is no need or point in modifying the barrel in any way. You just have to learn the correct sight picture required using the barrel bands as a reference.

 

[morehops52]

not permitted in N-SSA due to fire hazard

I don’t shoot competition. Wasn’t aware of that

 

[jimairwin]

Got an original M1842 for N-SSA competition and can group well with it albeit about 5” low at 25 yards. I believe that part of the problem is that I’m 6’5”ish(which is a bit taller that the normal ACW soldier) which means that my cheek weld is the problem.

Would changing that to a more head up position to possibly even a chin weld raise the POI up to hit the typical 4” target?

I was a competitive musket shooter and record setter long ago. When I first shot 25 yds with oem sights, I had this same issue. I didn't want to adjust & affect all distances (where I was right on). Reduced powder charge and found success. Give it a try.

 

[Bobby44]

I use 75 grns of 2 ff in my original 1847. I put my face on the stock, so I can see the length of the bbl. Its like looking down a rail.
I shoot a .678 ball, that I roll between 2 rasps to roughen the surface, then dip the ball in 50/50 bees wax,and mutton tallow lube.

Dave

How much does that add to the D of the ball? This may provide an answer to a bit of an issue I have had elsewhere.

 

[barracudadave67]

44
Dont kow how much it adds in size to the ball, but it holds the lube real good. After about 10-12 shots it does get a little tight to load, tho, but as stated in the NSSA not alowed to use patches. Some guys use tin foil.

Dave