Want To Shoot My Brown Bess

[Rifleman1776]

I recall at one time Turner Kirkland, founder of Dixie Gun Works, purchased a factory full of Besses in England which, supposedly, had been unopened since the little unpleasantness between our two countries. There were hundreds of them, unfired with tampions in the muzzles. There was also a small selection that had fancy wood stocks and a few other embellishments. I fuzzily recall this was about 1980. He sold those for $1,000.00 each, the fancies for more. I drooled over the thought of owning one of those but the price was way out of my league. I'm sure their value has increased considerably over the years.

 

[FlinterNick]

Can someone post a pic of these copied defects? Really not sure what you are referring to.

The other defects with the Miroku pattern Brown Bess are most with the stock. The reproduction stocks were made from a variety of cheaper woods, maple, birch and beech and then stained walnut brown, some production runs used American Walnut, I believe this was the later batches made before Miroku stopped making Bess Muskets.

The shape of the stock isn’t right. For the most part the 1755 - 1770 ERA long lands and short lands had a much thicker wrist and higher comb with more of a rail design, the joint of the comb to the wrist was also a rounded off cliff design, this varies on originals but for the most part, see my drawings below. The Miroku buttstock has less of definitive curve that joins the comb to the wrist, and is inncorreclty ‘stepped’ down to meet the comb and wrist.

There were no beaver tail or tear drop markings on the lock panels too, they were reduced to simple point pattersn.

 

[brazosland]

I have a Pedersoli Bess carbine. Mostly used buck and shot.

The bore mikes .749, would a .715/.018 tend to shoot better? Or would you all guess a .735/.010 might be a better place to start?

I am looking for hunting accuracy, so firing long strings and avoiding fouling is not a concern.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Can someone post a pic of these copied defects? Really not sure what you are referring to.

LD

 

[hkp7fan]

Some great advice already given, so I'll just post some gratuitous images! A couple of stills from a video with Bess. This is one of the special edition, early 1970's made guns that included a numbered inlay for the 23rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I think a run of 1000 were planned and about 870 were sold. This one was made in '74.

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Cool! I have one of these also (#421), and am about to shoot it for the first time. My dad bought it through the British-American Bicentennial Commission in 1974 or 1975. HIs name is engraved on top of the butt plate. I have all the paperwork, literature, etc, including a letter from the then-commander of the 23rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I forget the exact number they made, but 870 sounds about right. Whatever quantity it was, it was the exact number that were surrendered to Washington's forces at Yorktown. I am a Project Appleseed instructor and plan to shoot it at our events, starting with Patriots Day this year.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Welcome to the Forum. @hkp7fan has a great replica with great modern history. Enjoy your King's Musket.

 

[user 43911]

I have a Pedersoli Bess carbine. Mostly used buck and shot.

The bore mikes .749, would a .715/.018 tend to shoot better? Or would you all guess a .735/.010 might be a better place to start?

I am looking for hunting accuracy, so firing long strings and avoiding fouling is not a concern.

Nobody answered , did you ever use it for hunting? I would have said .730 with 10 thou patch over fiber wad

 

[Larsonla01]

A number of years ago I purchased a Brown Bess musket from Gunbroker. It was stamped with Dixie Gunworks. I contacted Dixie Gunworks, and from information they requested, they identified the musket as being made by Miruko of Japan between the early 1980’s to the late 1990’s. It is .75 caliber with a barrel length of 41”. Dixie Gunworks recommended I use a .730 round ball with a .010 patch and 80 grains of 2F black powder. I have never shot this musket, and from what I see, I don’t think it has ever been shot. While I am not new to shooting, I am new to black powder shooting. I am interested in shooting this musket. Can anyone give me any hints/information about shooting this musket, like what powder and how much I should put in the pan? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks for your reply.

Following.

 

[springfield art]

A number of years ago I purchased a Brown Bess musket from Gunbroker. It was stamped with Dixie Gunworks. I contacted Dixie Gunworks, and from information they requested, they identified the musket as being made by Miruko of Japan between the early 1980’s to the late 1990’s. It is .75 caliber with a barrel length of 41”. Dixie Gunworks recommended I use a .730 round ball with a .010 patch and 80 grains of 2F black powder. I have never shot this musket, and from what I see, I don’t think it has ever been shot. While I am not new to shooting, I am new to black powder shooting. I am interested in shooting this musket. Can anyone give me any hints/information about shooting this musket, like what powder and how much I should put in the pan? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks for your reply.

I know these muskets! BTW, Eric Bye has a book, Flintlocks, their use and care, look at the website of the NMLRA, it's a very informative book all about flintlocks, history, use, care, etc. Any "newbie" would gain from having this book. Good luck! Those muskets you have are highly sought after on the used market, since new ones cost a lot! You won't be disappointed in that book, it's full of good info.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Flint locks work best with real black powder. The substitute powders work poorly at best to not at all.

The recommended load as suggested by Dixie will work. So will using a 0.715 ball and 0.015 patch.

The beauty of these muskets is the flexibility of creating a load. You can use the 80 to 90 grains of 2Fg powder with an over shot card, the 0.730 ball and an over shot card to hold it in the barrel.

You can make paper cartridges from newsprint. Lots of good threads on the topic of paper cartridges. In the most simple of terms. Make a bore sized tube of maybe two wraps of paper, load the ball, close off that end, pour in the powder, fold the remainder of the tube over. To load tear of the paper by the powder and pour in the muzzle. crumble the paper to use as a wad to load the paper wrapped ball.

You will enjoy all the possibilities when shooting the Bess.