Sight picture, Brown Bess

[Tinker2]

I have never used shot in my Bess so I can’t help with that.

I use a .715 patched ball and 65 to 70 grains of 2f
With the bayonet lug lined up with tang screw. It shot very well like that.

Shot it last in June and it still impresses me how good it shoots.




William Alexander

 

[SgtErv]

I was using 80gr 2F and 1 1/8 #7 shot. Also tried same amount of #4. I found it shot high, but last time I took it out I was having some problems with ignition, either a fizzbang or flash in the pan. It was my first time using cards and wads, and the only time I’ve had that many problems with ignition. Sure didn’t help the shooting

 

[SgtErv]

I was using 80gr 2F and 1 1/8 #7 shot. Also tried same amount of #4. I found it shot high, but last time I took it out I was having some problems with ignition, either a fizzbang or flash in the pan. It was my first time using cards and wads, and the only time I’ve had that many problems with ignition. Sure didn’t help the shooting

 

[Canute Rex]

Two ideas:

Make a short leather "sock" that goes over the butt and put a piece of half inch thick *closed cell* foam in as a pad. Alternatively, salvage felt from the side of a boot liner. It will protect your shoulder from the thump and get your nose and cheek a little farther away from the action. Good for reducing flinch.

Get a death grip on the wrist with the thumb and last three fingers of your right hand. That way overcoming the trigger pull won't throw you off as much.

When I had a Bess I used the lug as a sight and figured out how much of it to sticking up above the breech for proper elevation. Those outline vs POI experiments make sense.

 

[Artificer]

SgtErv,

Sounds to me like you need to measure your bore with at least a precision set of dial calipers. Do you know anyone who has these calipers?

Gus

 

[Britsmoothy]

I rarely, if ever, used charges above 70 gr.

Gotta do it with shot if you want reasonable penetration. I tried the Roundballs "tuna can" test with mine at 25 yards using 80 grains of 2f powder and 1 5/8 oz of #6 shot. Rolled the can all over the place, but not a pellet penetrated.

Yep.
My Bess is a greedy girl. Useless unless she can belch 1&1/2 Oz plus with equal powder.

70-80 grain loads are for my 20&12 gauges.

B.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Sounds to me like you need to measure your bore with at least a precision set of dial calipers. Do you know anyone who has these calipers?

He knows me, and I have more than one set, but I'm living a bit far from him :haha:, and normally don't see the Sergeant except at Ft. Fred Market Fair. Sounds like a good time to acquire some! Good also for testing out ball diameters AND for checking compression thickness of patching cloth for round balls.

LD

 

[Rifleman1776]

I rarely, if ever, used charges above 70 gr.

Gotta do it with shot if you want reasonable penetration. I tried the Roundballs "tuna can" test with mine at 25 yards using 80 grains of 2f powder and 1 5/8 oz of #6 shot. Rolled the can all over the place, but not a pellet penetrated.

Only ever killed tree rats and quail with it. Never did the penetration test. Nearly killed a good friend with a ball. But, that's another story. :redface:
FWIW, my ball was a .731" cast from a Dixie mould I bought back then for $12.00. Today they are about the same price as a luxury car.

 

[SgtErv]

Yeah, pretty sure I can find someone with some. I’ve tried .690, .715, .725, and .735. The .725 and .735 were way too difficult to load for my liking so I settled on .715.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Besses are meant to be pointed, not aimed. If you try and use the bayonet lug as a sight it will likely shoot high.

Shoot it like you would a shotgun at a bird. Both eyes open, focused on the center of the target.

When I built mine (from a Navy Arms kit) I took off the lug front sight and soldered on a blade. Doesn't look right for the hc/pc thing but I like for shooting.

Clarification;
Using the gun as a shotgun, you point it and keep eyes on target as Stumpkiller says.
For ball, you must aim more , using it as a rifle.

No. I was pretty good with my Bess out to 60 yards with a single paper patched (cartridge) round ball by pointing it. Same with my current fowler. I can keep my shots in an 8" circle out to 60 yards. I also bow hunt with a sightless recurve using the same method. Focus on the target. Your "eye" picks out the proper alignment (arrow or barrel). Call it "instinctive" but it is trained reflex. Right eye aligns for windage, left eye for elevation (from the angles the peripheral image of the barrel takes).

When I was a kid I had a "Daisy Golden Eagle" BB gun and the plastic scope snapped off. Leaving me with a bare tube. I found I could do pretty well without sights by pointing it.

Three shots at 60 yards pointing - centered on the target. 42" bbl, 16 gauge Mike Brooks flintlock smoothbore.

A familiar household item.

 

[Artificer]

OMG..... :rotf:

Never thought about recycling one of those things for a target for bullets.

Gus

 

[Artificer]

Yeah, pretty sure I can find someone with some. I’ve tried .690, .715, .725, and .735. The .725 and .735 were way too difficult to load for my liking so I settled on .715.

Well, I had to use a short starter with the .735 ball and lubed ticking in my .753 inch diameter barreled Bess. Not HC, to be sure, but it and 70 grains of FFG was my accuracy load.

If you can't get your bore measured beforehand, take it with you to the Fort Frederick Market Faire and offer Loyalist Dave a cup of coffee to measure the bore for you. (Then write the measurement down somewhere.) You'd be surprised what a Marine will do for a good cup of coffee......

Gus

 

[SgtErv]

Haha our coffee’s kinda muddy. Efficient that way. Pretty gross but it gets us moving.

I’m getting the touchole drilled out, or the fort Director is at least overseeing me do this. He’s probably got a micrometer. If not the blacksmith will.

If I brought it to Fr Fred, my fellows would have me compete with it with them haha. Talk about a handicap

 

[Artificer]

Yep, should have thought about the folks at the Fort where you volunteer. GOOD for you! Don't forget to write it down, because as you know, when it is important enough to write it down, your mind knows it is important enough to remember, even if you lose the note.

As I'm sure you know, ANY coffee is better than no coffee at all. :haha:

Gus

 

[Rifleman1776]

OMG..... :rotf:

Never thought about recycling one of those things for a target for bullets.

Gus

I use old political signs for target practice. They are made of corrugated plastic and are very weather resistant. If it is for a candidate I didn't like, I shoot at the sign. If it is from a candidate I did like, I tape a paper target over it. :rotf: BTW, the cost is nothing and you are doing a favor to all by pulling them after an election.