1768 Charleville

I am jealous. At our County range, the rules state that I must load the musket at a table behind the shooting bench and charge then weapon at the shooting bench which is on the firing line. So, to be able to train to get off 3/4 rounds a minute is not doable at our range. However, I would love to give it a go.

Now, 4 rounds a minute is fantastic and more kudos when done in period uniforms. Who made your uniform and what did it cost? Must now decide between a Brown Bess or Continental's uniform.

Will give 75 yards a go on Sunday. Thanks, Randy.

Back in the 1970s, most of us probably had around $1,000 tied up in our musket, accoutrements, and uniform. (But, then you could find an original Brown Bess bayonet for $25. A 'Navy Arms' Italian Brown Bess probably cost $350 assembled or $200 in kit form).

We made a lot of our own stuff, (shirts, britches, accoutrements and period tents). I got to camp on The Plains of Abraham, Crown Point, Ft. Niagara, and at Yorktown. A lot of 'knowhow' came from books like "Sketch Book 76", by Robert L. Klinger, and other references by Philip Katcher and others.

A lot of effort went into studying original items. I had a friend, who was a talented leather worker, that went on to 'Sturbridge Village'. He made shoes and helmets. Our uniform coats were made from an accurate pattern by talented ladies. We cast our own buttons and sewed them on our coats and waistcoats.

I was in a Loyalist unit that served in Detroit during the Revolution. In this day and age, I would give serious thought to a Spanish Soldier impression. They had a 'long reach' and served in some epic campaigns. One force came all the way from St. Louis (Mo.) and captured the little British outpost of St. Joseph (Niles, Michigan). "They (The Brits) didn't see that coming" !

As a kid who grew up on Long Island, my hometown was part of the spying operations depicted in "Turn". So, my uniform interest is with the NY Militia if I ever get to the point of a period uniform.

I have seen some folks online who custom sew period uniforms for what seems like reasonable costs for quality work. I would also have to admit that you do not want me anywhere near needles and scissors. However, I am good with 750 degree molten lead. Thanks, Randy.

Detroit and Michigan were part of Quebec, during the Revolution. We were the Northwest Frontier. The British did not leave Detroit until 1796. Some Loyalists, who served on the 'Upper Lakes', settled in Windsor and Amherstburg, Ontario.

Good Morning. In my quest to get as close to the Revolutionary War as I can with my Charleville, what powder charge would be equivalent to the period? I am using FFg right now and am curious about 1Fg. With a 248 year old weapon, I am keeping the load to 80grains out of respect and to keep mommy happy. Thanks, Randy.

80 grains sounds reasonable. I would prefer to use 1F for 'Ball' loads in .69 and .75 caliber. I used about 90-95 grains in live rounds for my 'Brown Bess', but, some of that went into the pan for priming. Even with a 46 inch long barrel, it is unlikely all the powder burned in the barrel.

Remember Randy, that even at this point, you have probably fired more rounds in your Charleville than the average 18th Century soldier did in long years of Peace Time Service. Governments and Colonels were too cheap to allow much practice back then with 'live firing'. (IIRC - It has been estimated, maybe 5 rounds a year)!

At 5 rounds/year, I would definitely be waaay more practiced than my 18th century peers. I probably have put 60 rounds through it since purchase and have cast several hundred balls ready to make smoke.

Tomorrow, will be giving it a go with an antique bayonet. The combo is simply fearsome just looking at. All I could think of when I fixed the bayonet was a Greek phalanx and how 18th century soldiers were still trained in shock tactics that were pushing 2500 years by the time of the Revolution. Randy

They may not have live fired their muskets that often, but they would have drilled with it every day. Included as part of the manual of arms was the loading and firing sequences.

Boy does this sound familiar. I do remember practicing D&C in my college dorm room for ROTC. The school would not let me play/practice with our M-16s away from the Battalion building. Randy

Good Morning. Over the years, have read descriptions of the smoothbore-era referencing the fire commands being ready, level, fire. The authors said that aiming was way too poor with military smoothbores. With this swirling in the back of my mind, I had been wondering about the front and rudimentary rear sight (notch in rear barrel band) on the Charleville. However, after shooting the Charleville while getting into the loading rhythm, I am getting good accuracy at 50/75 yards. I now wonder if these authors are just generalizing about the lack of accuracy because the smoothbore cannot reach out to 100yards+ with good accuracy. I am pretty sure I can now hit what I aim at up to 75yards. Randy