Musket Day

[ECNC]

Nice day today, so I decided to shoot the musket. It's been a while.

Springfield Model 1842 (reproduction Armi Sport/Italy)
.69 caliber
Mini ball
Pyrodex FFG Started at 75gr and ended at 85gr

 

[NCLivingBrit]

No pics of the musket itself? For shame.

 

[ECNC]

No pics of the musket itself? For shame.

Did not take any today. I do have some old ones that I will dig up

 

[ECNC]

No pics of the musket itself? For shame.

 

[NCLivingBrit]

That's a beaut.

 

[Dave951]

Smoothbore or rifled?

 

[gsimmons]

It has the long range back sight. I assumed rifled.

 

[rdinatal]

It definitely likes the 85gr load!

 

[ronn47]

The Springfield Model 1842 was the last US military smoothbore musket.

 

[gsimmons]

Thousands of them were sent back to Springfield and Harper’s Ferry arsenals and contractors to be rifled in the upgrade programmes of the 1850’s and early 1860’s.

 

[ECNC]

It has the long range back sight. I assumed rifled.

The bore is rifled. I also have an original Belgium Model 1842 smoothbore. That one can not be shot, it is just a wall hangar. Does not have the original ram-rod either.

 

[Dave951]

Thousands of them were sent back to Springfield and Harper’s Ferry arsenals and contractors to be rifled in the upgrade programmes of the 1850’s and early 1860’s.

Correct. But not all of them made it through the programs before the commencement of hostilities. My 1842 Macon is a cut down smoothbore 1842. Damaged guns picked up by the Confederacy were sent back for arsenal rework to render them useable again. That often entailed just cutting the damaged muzzle and stock off and reissuing the gun. That's what I'm using, what in essence is a smoothbore "carbine". With a 69cal round ball and 65gr 3f Old Eynsford, it'll put 5 shots inside a 3x5 index card at 25yds and I don't have any rear sights to speak of.

ECNC- so for the next question, what distance? The 85gr load is looking pretty good, but I'd imagine the recoil is noticeable.

 

[ECNC]

Correct. But not all of them made it through the programs before the commencement of hostilities. My 1842 Macon is a cut down smoothbore 1842. Damaged guns picked up by the Confederacy were sent back for arsenal rework to render them useable again. That often entailed just cutting the damaged muzzle and stock off and reissuing the gun. That's what I'm using, what in essence is a smoothbore "carbine". With a 69cal round ball and 65gr 3f Old Eynsford, it'll put 5 shots inside a 3x5 index card at 25yds and I don't have any rear sights to speak of.

ECNC- so for the next question, what distance? The 85gr load is looking pretty good, but I'd imagine the recoil is noticeable.

That was 50 yards. I never kept any records for my musket and could not remember the load for 100 yards. So next week will be my 100 yard test. Also have fix my front barrel band spring. It is not locking into place, so it allowed the front sight to move.

 

[gsimmons]

I use a Potsdam musket with .715 ball and 85grs. of 2FG, it shoots very well.

 

[Dave951]

At the moment I'm taking a break from shooting black powder. Casting boolits for the muskets, got three out at the gunsmith's for upgrading, very short on powder (THANKS A BUNCH PARKS!!) and short on caps. I'll hit the range again late this month when my 2 Sharps and Smith come back.