Proper load advice needed

[frontrank2]

I'm looking at getting a M1842 smoothbore repro or possibly an M1816 conversion ( original ). I plan to shoot it in the N-SSA competition. My question is what type powder FFg or FFFg and how many grains of powder do you like to shoot?

 

[Tin cup]

.69 smoothy for N-SSA competition...ah man, you need to load/shoot that weapon like THEY did originally!

Kevin Dally

 

[frontrank2]

.69 smoothy for N-SSA competition...ah man, you need to load/shoot that weapon like THEY did originally!

Kevin Dally

View attachment 295988

I don't think we're allowed to shoot buck and ball!

 

[Tin cup]

I don't think we're allowed to shoot buck and ball!

Betting you are right, but I'd help set you to try a few if you decide to, just for the fun of it!

Kevin Dally

 

[Booner]

I think the load was 110 grains of 2f for a .69 caliber ball.
But more velocity doesn't mean more accuracy.

 

[frontrank2]

But more velocity doesn't mean more accuracy.

No way, I'm kind of guesstimating 70 - 75 grains of FFg.

 

[Tin cup]

The original load was 3 .31 caliber, and one .65 caliber balls, with 110 grains of musket powder.

Kevin Dally

 

[zburkett]

A reproduction should be able to take a full load, but a lighter load will likely be more accurate. If you are shooting an original you have to be very careful because if it was left loaded for a long time there may be serious corrosion and weakening of the chamber.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Frontrank2 - If I were you, I would post your questions on the N-SSA bulletin board, or at least do a search of their archived posts about loads for a '42. That's where the information is posted by those who shoot them!
J.

 

[poorjack]

I shoot NSSA and shoot an 1842 Macon (Confed cut down Springfield).

My load- 65g 3f Old Eynsford, ball as cast with sprue removed dipped in musket lube, RWS caps. Very accurate at 25yds and yes, it does kick. I've tried a number of load combinations in this gun and so far, that's what's worked best. Others rough the ball, dimple the ball, voodoo lubes, you name it. I'm convinced smoothbores take black magic, mystic incantations, and dumb luck to shoot accurately.

5 shots off hand, 25yds. 3 in one hole.

 

[frontrank2]

I shoot NSSA and shoot an 1842 Macon (Confed cut down Springfield).

My load- 65g 3f Old Eynsford, ball as cast with sprue removed dipped in musket lube, RWS caps. Very accurate at 25yds and yes, it does kick. I've tried a number of load combinations in this gun and so far, that's what's worked best. Others rough the ball, dimple the ball, voodoo lubes, you name it. I'm convinced smoothbores take black magic, mystic incantations, and dumb luck to shoot accurately.

5 shots off hand, 25yds. 3 in one hole.View attachment 296031

Thanks, very helpful. That gives me a starting point.

 

[frontrank2]

OK, since my last post on this thread I had to make a change. We found out our roof was going to cost a wee bit more to repair than we were expecting. I thought I would have to put my smoothbore purchase on the shelf for a while. But then I came across an 1809 Potsdam musket that was half the price and I was able to make the deal. The North imported over 100,000 of these brutes in the beginning when long guns were in short supply. They also purchased them to keep them out of the hands of the CSA. It's dated 1822 and was originally made in flintlock, but was converted to percussion about 1840. The barrel seems pretty decent and the outside is nice. But the lock is very heavy, I think the main spring was fabricated from a leaf spring from an old Studebaker truck. What does the group think, same type of loads as a Springfield?

 

[BarryR]

I would let a real professional chck it out brfore even putting a cap on for a dry fire...Studebaker parts and conversions would me me a wee bit nervous...Your mileage may vary !

 

[captaindrew]

That's a good looking piece!

 

[zburkett]

Nice musket and more unusual than the Springfield but still with a documented history. Congratulations. Thinking about your load it dawned on me that good auto mechanics have little gadgets for looking into hard to reach parts of an engine. Sort of like the thing they use for a colonoscopy. If it were mine I would clean it thoroughly, then get a mechanic to look at the chamber to make sure it was safe. Even if it checks out I would start with about 25 grains of powder and work up slowly.

 

[Booner]

Your local gunsmith should have a bore scope. To make sure it's suitable, I'd have him take a look at it first.

 

[frontrank2]

After doing a little research into them, the Prussian muskets were used mostly by the Western troops. The 10th Michigan were issued these and a couple of regiments under Grant at Fort Donelson had them. But they were considered third tier firearms so as soon as they could, the Army phased them out.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The alteration date will be stamped on the barrel. Are there any markings on the butt platte?
J.

 

[frontrank2]

The alteration date will be stamped on the barrel. Are there any markings on the butt platte?
J.

The date 1822 is on the top of the buttplate, and the number 48(3 I think ) on the back of it. I don't see any other dates stamped on the barrel, unless it's on the bottom side. I haven't taken it apart, yet.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The date on the butt plate is the manufacture date. The alteration date can sometimes be found on the bottom of the barrel, and more often on the left side of the breech. It may depend on when and where the alterations were done. I don't know for sure, as it is difficult to find much definitive information on the M-1809 Prussian musket.
J.