.75 Caliber Musket Balls

[Guest Grot]

Anyone know where i can find some .75 musket balls?

I have a buddy with an old civil war musket, he know it shoots, but cant seem to find any ammunition.

Any ideas where to look.

[Handsome Rob]

Here you go.....

Track of the Wolf - Balls & shot for muzzle loading guns

Just out of interest, what's the musket?

[Guest Grot]

I will ask him.

[Guest Grot]

It says "Harpers Ferry 1851" on the side of it.

Thats about all he knows about it.

[Guest TnRebel]

Is it a flintlock or a Cap n Ball ? Both where marked Harpers Ferry 1851 and they where smooth bore. One is 69 cal. and the other is 58 cal.

Model 1816 U.S. Flintlock MusketMade by Harpers Ferry Armory and Springfield Armories. Circa 1816-1844 Harpers Ferry Armory made over 350,000. Circa 1816-1840, Springfield Armory made over 325,000. 42" round .69 caliber smoothbore barrel. No front or rear sight. Bayonet lug on top of barrel at muzzle. Steel ramrod with button shaped head. Three barrel bands retained with barrel band retainging springs. Iron mountings. Metal parts finished bright. Walnut stock. Variations of this basic musket were produced.

Model 1816 U.S. Flintlock Musket

(converted to Percussion)Converted to percussion by private contractors. Circa 1840-1860. Total quantity converted is unknown . Same description as above Flintlock Musket with following exception. The most common conversion was known as the Drum and Nipple or French Style conversion. This consisted of removing all external lock parts then plugging all threaded holes; a drum type bolster (with nipple) was then threaded into the enlarged touchhole; then , the hammer was replaced with one that resembled a civilian fowling piece.

Edited September 14, 2010 by TnRebel

[Guest Keinengel]

I used to live about 5 miles away from the Harper's Ferry Armory. Got drilled about the John Brown story billions of times in school up there. Very cool piece of history he's got there.

[Guest TnRebel]

if it is real and not a reproduction ... i wouldn't fire it ... its may be worth $2150.00 . just saying

Model 1842 U.S. MusketMade by Harpers Ferry Armory and Springfield Armory; c. 1844-1855. Total produced about 275,000 (Harpers Ferry Armory; 103,000) (Springfield Armory; 172,000). 42" round 69 caliber smoothbore barrel. Bayonet lug on bottom of muzzle of barrel. Blade front sight mounted on front barrel band, no rear sight. Three barrel bands retained with barrel band retaining springs. Steel ramrod with trumpet shaped head. Iron mountings. Metal parts finished bright. Walnut stock with a comb. First regulation musket made in the percussion ignition system at the national armories. Last smoothbore U.S. arm made in 69 caliber. First U.S. weapon made at the Harpers Ferry and Springfield Armories with fully interchangeable parts.

Edited September 14, 2010 by TnRebel

[1gewehr]

Also, you need to find out if it's smoothbore or rifled. Rifles should only be fired with minie bullets, sabots, or a patched bullet to engage the rifling. A smoothbore will need a ball a little smaller than the ball.

I also recommend against firing an original unless you REALLY know what you're doing. It's too easy to destroy an original antique that may have a hidden weakness in the breech or bore from rust or corrosion.

[Guest Loaded247]

Find out the actual make and caliber of the musket before trying to purchase balls for it.

As a general rule, Revolutionary War (and before) muskets were usually .75 caliber for the British (Brown Bess), and .69 caliber for the French (Charleville). A common civilian caliber for smoothbores was .62 caliber. If you are firing a reproduction smoothbore of the Revolutionary War era, it will most likely be one of those calibers.

For the Civil War, they primarily used .58 Caliber 'Rifled' Muskets, usually with a projectile going from .575 to .577 diameter, depending on the gun...and that would be for a 'Minie' ball, which would be a hollow based conical. You can shoot a round ball in them, and .570 would be a good place to start for that. Prior to the Civil War, (and prior to 1855) the standard U.S. Musket caliber was .69...with a great many of them being smoothbore (and some of those .69s later being 'rifled' as well.

At any rate, even IF you had, for example, a Revolutionary War reproduction musket (such as the Brown Bess) in .75 caliber, the actual ball you used would be of a smaller diameter. Most shooters who shoot Brown Bess muskets opt for a ball from .715 to .730 caliber...depending on the gun and patching/loading method.

In other words, do a bit more research before attempting to purchase any balls for it.....

[Guest Grot]

Thanks for the advice.

I know nothing about it, he just asked if i knew where to get ammo.

I will see if he can get some more info on it.

[56FordGuy]

The folks at Dixie Gun Works may be able to help you identify it.

Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies.

[Guest Grot]

Its a percussion cap gun. It is smooth bore, and he said hes shot .75 caliber out of it before.

I dunno.

And its not a reproduction, it still has most of the original Petina. He cleaned it some when he first got it.

[KahrMan]

Its a percussion cap gun. It is smooth bore, and he said hes shot .75 caliber out of it before.

I dunno.

And its not a reproduction, it still has most of the original Petina. He cleaned it some when he first got it.

Damn son, quit teasing us. Get us some pics. Sounds like a really cool piece of history.

[Guest Grot]

The gun is in Chattanooga, and both of us live in knoxville. I will see what i can do, but dont expect it to be quick.