New muzzle loading pistol at the range

[The Goose]

I acquired this pistol about 2 weeks ago. It is a .60 smoothbore marked M.A. Taylor, Sheffield on the top of the barrel. This is my first muzzle loading handgun and my first smoothbore.



I had a Lee .60 ball mold so I cast a bunch in anticipation, but they were too big. I bought a bag of .595 balls to see how they would fit and they are just right with a .010 patch. It was finally nice enough and I had some time to get to the range today. I loaded it up with 50 grains of Goex 2F. I had no idea what to expect. A smoothbore with no rear sight was just totally new to me. I wanted to try it out at 20 feet or so, but some recent rains followed by freezing temps had frozen the target stand to the ground at 50 feet. So I put up a 8" Shoot N C and gave it a whirl. I fired a couple of shots just to get the feel then swabbed out the bore and shot the 5 shot group below. I don't know if this is good or not, but I think with a little work it can get a lot better. Man, what a hoot!!

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Nice. Black powder guns are great fun. I have a pair of A. Waters .54 cal Military pistols. These were originally made in Flintlock but almost all of them were converted to percussion for re-use during the Civil War.



The locks are marked A. Waters Millbury MS and were produced less than a mile from my house.

 

[The Goose]

Very cool! Do you shoot them?

Nice. Black powder guns are great fun. I have a pair of A. Waters .54 cal Military pistols. These were originally made in Flintlock but almost all of them were converted to percussion for re-use during the Civil War.

View attachment 126193

The locks are marked A. Waters Millbury MS and were produced less than a mile from my house.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Very cool! Do you shoot them?

Yes. I don't have any thing that I have not fired at least once, including this 3-digit serial number Allen and Thurber
and this unmarked Belgian "muff" pistol.

 

[JCV]

Awesome looking stuff guys

 

[pupchow]

That does look like it'd be fun. Thanks for posting

 

[Coyote33]

Very cool. You've piqued my interest.

 

[Cluster F]

Sick! Would love to build one of these from a kit one day

 

[Coyote33]

Sick! Would love to build one of these from a scratch one day

FIFY

 

[Cluster F]

Lol is need to try a lot fun first before I went full blown from scratch. I want to try a cheap Kentucky postol kit. Just get some minor wood shaping and metal finish down. Just hate that the cheaper kits are cap. I want a flintlock kit. Been looking around for a while. Mike Beliveau has some cool videos on YouTube and I just watch and re watch em.

 

[The Goose]

Dixie has a sale on Pedersoli flintlock pistol kits for $275 - $285. Track of the Wolf and Sitting Fox run about $400. I don't know what price point you are looking at, but those are the least expensive finters I could find.

Lol is need to try a lot fun first before I went full blown from scratch. I want to try a cheap Kentucky postol kit. Just get some minor wood shaping and metal finish down. Just hate that the cheaper kits are cap. I want a flintlock kit. Been looking around for a while. Mike Beliveau has some cool videos on YouTube and I just watch and re watch em.

 

[Shmittey]

Awesome! I just finally found some 4fg powder for the flintlock pistol I got for Christmas, Ive been going out of my mind not being able to shoot it. Pedersoli .45 Kentucky pistol. Im setup for modern 209 primer muzzle loading, was quite a bit of stuff I was missing to say the least.

 

[Fixxah]

What is the loading procedure?
By that, I mean how do you hold it upright and do the two handed work at the same time?

Nice shooting on the shoot n c. For a smoothie, in my mind, that is pretty damn good.

 

[Cluster F]

Awesome! I just finally found some 4fg powder for the flintlock pistol I got for Christmas, Ive been going out of my mind not being able to shoot it. Pedersoli .45 Kentucky pistol. Im setup for modern 209 primer muzzle loading, was quite a bit of stuff I was missing to say the least.

Gorgeous. I want one of these. And I wana buy a clone 1851 or 1860 colt. Watch all of the Duelist1945 channel. Love the intricacies of reloading and prep

 

[The Goose]

I measure my powder and have the patch and ball ready. I hold the pistol in my left hand preferably with the butt end resting on the bench and pour the charge down the barrel. Then I place the patch centered on the muzzle and push the ball onto the patch and into the bore. Using a short starter I get the ball down about 1/2" or so and then drive it home with the ram rod. Lastly I charge the pan and I am ready to go. Now imagine doing that in the face of some guy charging with a very sharp and pointy instrument. Yow!

What is the loading procedure?
By that, I mean how do you hold it upright and do the two handed work at the same time?

Nice shooting on the shoot n c. For a smoothie, in my mind, that is pretty damn good.

 

[Cluster F]

I measure my powder and have the patch and ball ready. I hold the pistol in my left hand preferably with the butt end resting on the bench and pour the charge down the barrel. Then I place the patch centered on the muzzle and push the ball onto the patch and into the bore. Using a short starter I get the ball down about 1/2" or so and then drive it home with the ram rod. Lastly I charge the pan and I am ready to go. Now imagine doing that in the face of some guy charging with a very sharp and pointy instrument. Yow!

Really makes you appreciate why we do now. And how hard those guys were back then

 

[PATRON]

One thing you want to look out for in these kits are cheaply made frizzens.

 

[Cluster F]

I think the Pedersoli kit is decent

 

[The Goose]

Gorgeous. I want one of these. And I wana buy a clone 1851 or 1860 colt. Watch all of the Duelist1945 channel. Love the intricacies of reloading and prep

Well, since you mention it. Here are a few. First up the 1860. In my humble opinion the most beautiful handgun ever made.




The 1851



The venerable Walker. Until the advent of the .357 magnum this was the most powerful revolver. I load it with 55 grains of 3F black powder



Finally the 1858 Remington. This one has an R&D conversion cylinder for .45 Colt, but I also have the original percussion cylinder.

 

[71montess]

Well, since you mention it. Here are a few. First up the 1860. In my humble opinion the most beautiful handgun ever made.




The 1851



The venerable Walker. Until the advent of the .357 magnum this was the most powerful revolver. I load it with 55 grains of 3F black powder



Finally the 1858 Remington. This one has an R&D conversion cylinder for .45 Colt, but I also have the original percussion cylinder.

Beautiful collection, you don't see much at the range. Maybe I should do my part !

 

[The Goose]

Cap and ball revolvers are great fun to shoot. A little time consuming, but just fun. Also they are as accurate at moderate ranges as modern handguns. Lots of noise and smoke and they knock down steel plates big time.

 

[Cluster F]

Every time I go to cabelas I'm surprised I don't walk out with one. Now money is tight lol and still can't find a used decent one. I'll just save up and wait till the cabelas is a stones throw. I 1860 is gorgeous. Still undecided though between the 1851

 

[5months]

I'd like to add a Starr pseudo-double action or single action to my collection.
Has anyone ever seen one? I read Pietta made one at some point.

My current ordinance is '51 Colt(Pietta), '58 Remmington(Uberti), '60 Colt(Pietta).
I haven't fired the '60 yet. Can't wait till some snow melts.

 

[The Goose]

Dixie sells both the SA and DA Starr. They are made by Pietta.

I'd like to add a Starr pseudo-double action or single action to my collection.
Has anyone ever seen one? I read Pietta made one at some point.

My current ordinance is '51 Colt(Pietta), '58 Remmington(Uberti), '60 Colt(Pietta).
I haven't fired the '60 yet. Can't wait till some snow melts.

 

[Shmittey]

I acquired this pistol about 2 weeks ago. It is a .60 smoothbore marked M.A. Taylor, Sheffield on the top of the barrel. This is my first muzzle loading handgun and my first smoothbore.



I had a Lee .60 ball mold so I cast a bunch in anticipation, but they were too big. I bought a bag of .595 balls to see how they would fit and they are just right with a .010 patch. It was finally nice enough and I had some time to get to the range today. I loaded it up with 50 grains of Goex 2F. I had no idea what to expect. A smoothbore with no rear sight was just totally new to me. I wanted to try it out at 20 feet or so, but some recent rains followed by freezing temps had frozen the target stand to the ground at 50 feet. So I put up a 8" Shoot N C and gave it a whirl. I fired a couple of shots just to get the feel then swabbed out the bore and shot the 5 shot group below. I don't know if this is good or not, but I think with a little work it can get a lot better. Man, what a hoot!!

After getting to the range and finally shooting mine I can say without a doubt you are shooting yours pretty damn well. I have a rear sight and rifled bore and it took me 30rd to figure out where to hold, best powder charge, and pan charge. Front sight blade is like 1/2"+ tall, have to hold half way or I shoot in the dirt. I think I might need to bump my patch thickness to .15 I'm using a .440 ball with a .10 patch, seems like it could get a little tighter to the rifling.

Fun as hell though, flintlock definitely adds to the experience.

 

[The Goose]

I think that patch thickness plays a more important role when the barrel is rifled. I have 2 flintlock and 1 percussion rifle and I have played around with patches a lot and found significant impact on accuracy. With the smoothbore pistol I started out with a .015 patch, but found that after even 1 shot it was tough seating the ball. When I went to the .010 I could shoot a string of shots before cleaning. When I shoot my rifles for accuracy I lightly swab the bore in between each shot to consistently get as tight a patch/ball fit as possible. So far with the smoothbore pistol as long as the ball does not roll out when I tilt the barrel down it functions fine. No rifling to grab.

After getting to the range and finally shooting mine I can say without a doubt you are shooting yours pretty damn well. I have a rear sight and rifled bore and it took me 30rd to figure out where to hold, best powder charge, and pan charge. Front sight blade is like 1/2"+ tall, have to hold half way or I shoot in the dirt. I think I might need to bump my patch thickness to .15 I'm using a .440 ball with a .10 patch, seems like it could get a little tighter to the rifling.

Fun as hell though, flintlock definitely adds to the experience.