1768 Charleville

[rescuerandy2]

My mom, the lady who only let us stay at Holiday Inns because they put those paper seals on the toilets, was not happy with the facilities at Ticonderoga too. Randy

[rescuerandy2]

GEW8805 mentioned that he does not have to clean his musket while at the range. This was prefaced with an understanding that we are using bullets that are smaller than bore diameter. To achieve this result, how much under bore diameter would be enough to accomplish a day at the range without having to clean the bore. Thanks, Randy.

[Doco overboard]

What kind of load are you using now?

[gew8805]

GEW8805 mentioned that he does not have to clean his musket while at the range. This was prefaced with an understanding that we are using bullets that are smaller than bore diameter. To achieve this result, how much under bore diameter would be enough to accomplish a day at the range without having to clean the bore. Thanks, Randy.

I use the period standard .64 diameter round ball in the .69 caliber musket. Main powder charge of 60 to 75 grains (not including priming, of course). This is a light charge compared to the original cartridge, and gives moderate accuracy out to 50 yards, I am a casual shooter.

[rescuerandy2]

Good Morning All. I have been using Lyman .662 with 80 grains of FF in a paper cartridge that goes with the charge. Who makes .64 molds? Thanks, Randy

[rescuerandy2]

Good Afternoon. Just back from my best day at the range. This was at 50 yards with no misfires, easy loading, and much smoke. I did not have to clean between rounds and there was no need to plug the vent while loading. Worked flawlessly and probably had to do as much with the operator getting more familiar with his weapon and 18th century technology. Randy

Attachment 74288

[Doco overboard]

I always equate shooting flintlock rifles like instinctive archery, practice and familiarity builds confidence with repetition and doing everything the same way each time you load. I'd say you have good results without a doubt!

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks. You are spot on as I was the most comfortable I have ever been shooting the flintlock. My loading, aiming, and firing just seemed to flow. Yes, I was in the zone.

After yesterday's success, my appreciation of the smoothbore has been greatly raised. However, I do appreciate that I am not on some godforsaken battlefield far from home with all hell breaking all around me. Randy

[butlersrangers]

Nice Charleville and shooting!

Now, you need a Spanish musket. (Spain was another Ally during the Revolution and spectacularly recaptured Florida from the British).

During the Bi-Centennial, I portrayed a 'green coated' British Loyalist. Paper Blank and Ball Cartridges were torn with the teeth to provide priming, prior to charging the bore.

For safety, we had a leather 'hammer stahl', that covered the frizzen (which was actually called the 'hammer' in the 18th century). When the order Load was given, the 'cock' was placed on 'half-cock', the frizzen (hammer) then was opened, a cartridge was drawn from the cartridge-box, torn with the teeth, and the pan primed. The frizzen (hammer) was closed, the butt was placed on the ground and the barrel was loaded. Then the musket was shouldered.

At the order 'Make Ready', the musket was brought across the body to waist height with barrel angled upward. The Cock was placed on Full Cock and the 'stahl' was removed from the frizzen (hammer). Then the orders Present (take aim) and Fire, were given. Then back to Load. We fired 4 shots per minute.

[butlersrangers]

I had a 'Navy Arms' (Japanese built) reproduction Charleville Musket. It fired well, once the frizzen-spring was replaced. (The factory spring broke after a few trial firings). Original French Arms seem to show a very high standard of workmanship.

I did prefer the greater 'drop' in the butt of my British made (Coach & Harness) 'Brown Bess'. The Charleville has a very high comb. During 'live fire' matches with 'ball', the stock comb would bruise my cheek. This made the second day of a match quite painful. (Talk about a flinch)!

From my observation, during the Napoleonic Era, the French muskets had the stock comb 'dished' to eliminate the 'high comb' problem.

As 'rescuerandy' has noted, you get more proficient in firing a musket with practice. Like 18th Century soldiers, we had a 'pick and wisk' (small brush), connected to our cartridge box strap by fine chains. This was utilized to clean the vent and pan.

Since our cartridges were loaded with 1F powder and this was used for priming and the barrel charge, we used good English Flints, and, wiped the Frizzen and edge of the Flint, with the thumb, prior to returning the leather 'stahl' on the Frizzen.

A linen rag was kept in the cartridge box, to clean the soot off the thumb and forefinger, as you reached for the next cartridge. A "Y" shaped screw-driver/tool was also kept in the cartridge box, to tighten the jaws of the Cock or knap the edge of the Flint, if your musket had failed to fire. (You came to do these things automatically and with great economy of motion).

(At the Henry Ford Museum - Greenfield Village - 1975).

Attachment 74789