OT Black Powder Weapons

[mikeo80]

Originally Posted by weswood

It's been a while since I've shot mine (.45 Kentucky percussion) but I know SABOT and minnie rounds are available for the larger .50 & .54 calibers. Not sure of .45.

This is one reason I am looking at the 1861 Springfield. The weapon is well known for its' use of the minnie ball. The relative size of the load allowed 2-3 rounds a minute, which at the time, was revolutionary for rifled guns. Yes, a well trained English soldier could get off 3-4 rounds a minute with a Brown Bess. But a well trained Union/Confederate soldier could hit that English soldier at 100-200 yards. The English soldier was lucky to hit at 50-100 yards.

This is one reason that you saw enormous earthen works on Civil War battlefields, especially toward the middle and end of the war. This would keep your riflemen covered while they prevented your opposition soldiers from shooting the guys who were working the artillery. The artillery was there to cover the riflemen if the opposition got too close. Cannister and double cannister would devistate ANY mass assault.

The minnie round caused more grief that any other. Even if you were hit in a non-lethal area, arm or leg say, you had to contend with the horrific shattereing effect that the minnie caused. With the lack of medical knowledge, amputation was usually the ONLY thing that might keep you alive. Even modern medicine would have a hard time with a hit from a minnie.

My $0.02

Mike

[Brother in Arms]

Hey everyone long time no post.....sorry.

I have been using black powder firearms since I was about 10 years old. I was fortunate enough to go to a boyscout summer camp called Camp Bomazeen in the Belgrade lakes region of Maine and it had a mountain man inspired theme called black powder week. Believe it or not that catapulted my interest in history and at around age 14 I became a French and Indian war (1754-1763) Reenactor. So I have owned and operated many many black powder firearms from the smallest derringer to a 12 pound field gun.

I am not totally sure what I have in my collection these days as it is several states away. But I do remember some...so here goes.

1-1851 .44 Army percussion revolver (brass frame)repro
1-1851 .36 Navy percussion Revolver (brass frame)repro
1-1862 .32 pocket model percussion revolver(brass frame) repro
1-single shot .40 caliber screw barrel pistol brass frame.
2-.69 caliber smooth bore flintlock pistols (made in India in the 70's ugly Repro's but they were fun when I was a kid.)

1-Thompson center Seneca .45 caliber percussion rifle
1-Thompson center Cherokee .32 caliber percussion rifle (with 2x scope)
1-Leman .54 caliber percussion
1-Enfield 1858 .69 caliber (14 gauge) smooth bore carbine (made in India repro) And was my favorite percussion gun the .32 Seneca is my second.

1-.66 caliber Flint lock smooth bore carbine "canoe gun" made by "Sweet
William" Bill Douglas.
1-.62 caliber Flint Lock "fowling piece" made by Jack Garner
1-.62 caliber Flint lock smooth bore Barnett "Trade gun" made by Larry Walton
1-.62 caliber Flint lock smooth bore "Type-C fusil" made by Larry walton
1-.69 caliber Flint lock smooth bore 1717 French musket made by Larry Walton

1 .45-70 Remington Rolling block buffalo rifle by Pedersoli
1. 43 Egyptian Remington Rolling block #1 (original currently being restored to functioning condition by me)

That is a few I can remember off the top of my head. Anyway question about anything black powder let me know. Personally I prefer flint locks and I really like smooth bored but rifle are great too. I have owned several of each type.