It's amazing, my Grandfather on my mother's side worked for National Lead industries and mined lead, worked in the mine's sinter plant loading rail cars among his other jobs. He lived to be 84 years old, no real health issues up until the last couple years. My Uncle lived until almost 90 years old, worked in the same plant, same thing. My Grandmother and mother and uncles and aunts grew up in the town where the mine was, my grandmother was 88 years old. It's amazing how some people can be around lead all day, every day with no health issues. I've cast bullets, fishing lures, etc. Of course, I do it outside, always outside and wash up after every session. So far, so good.
I’m a school teacher. At the moment, half of our staff are out with Covid. Those of us who are still at school, trying to hold the fort, are mostly still recovering from covid. My fatigue levels are like nothing I’ve ever experienced; I’m more tired after a day in class than I was last summer after a 30km hike! Watching your videos has become a major part of my ‘wind-down-rest-and-recharge-before-marking-test-papers’ routine between getting home at 6pm and getting back to work, sitting at the dining table, marking test papers at 8pm. I’m begging you - keep ‘em coming!
You definitely are not acting the history - you are living it & probably occasionally learning something that wasn't discovered in 1750's. Time, need & effort - I guess they had all of that just to survive. Love your channel.
My Word! For all the time/effort needed to fill your 'Jenny'...I would well imagine that target practice is key. How often in period movies more factual than fiction, U see a young child making himself a sling shot. If U were not a good aim, both U and family would/could perish. Every shot is precious. How much we have lost in the 'convenience' of things. In 'this time' I find it refreshing to see munitions put to 'pure use'. I like this quote about a 'more dangerous' weapon; "Thoughts R the gun, words R the bullets, deeds R the target, the bulls-eye is heaven." (Douglas Horton). Thank U most kindly 4 sharing, Peter and Catherine. Health and God Bless!
Alexander Henry was a trader present at the massace of fort michilmackinac on June 2 1763, at the first war cries heard from the Indians he wrote " i had in the room a fowling piece loaded with swan shot this i immediately seized". Might have been the "personal defense" load of the day??... Pretty cool. Great video brother 👍
I have a 62 trade musket also and been using drop shot for small game, this video got me interested in swan shot. Today I made some swan shot and tomorrow it is off to our muzzleloader club to see how it will shoot. Our turkey season comes in the first weekend in May, if I can find a good load it would be fun to shoot a turkey with it.
Thank you for showing this method. I like the metal pan with the holes in it to pour the shot through. I found a coppersmith catalog once that had a copper sheet with a depression in the center with holes in it. The caption said they put hot coals in the depression then poured the lead over the coal to the holes to make the swan shot. Now that I see this method does work I want to make the metal pan with the holes to make my own swan shot. Thank you for the inspiring video!
The copper device you refer to is called a Rupert shot maker. When you pour it over the charcoal it allows the shot to cool more and the results is much less of a tail on the shot.
Mr. Pete....absolutely love your sieve for making shot. I will have to duplicate that one. With all this craziness going on -decided to escape to your woodlands to end my night. Thank you! As always, stay well my friend...Robin
Have a suggestion for all The Woodland Escape subscribers like myself. We all know people that may have similar interest so if we all recommend Peter’s channel to at least three friends especially if your friends have children that would gain from the valuable knowledge shared here it wood be a great effort to educate and preserve our Woodland heritage in Canada and the U.S.A.
Hey Peter, As someone with occupational health training and memories of lead paint warnings (though I cast lead fishing sinkers when I was a kid), I just wanted to mention a possible alternative. To make a short story longer, I cast commemorative medals for the 35th anniversary of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association. My first thought was to use pewter, to avoid the risks of lead. I collected a bunch of old pewter mugs, then learned they often had a good percentage of lead in them. Melted them anyway. Even with the use of borax as flux, they were often very impure, resulting in slushy material to pour (tried plaster then high heat silicone molds), not making good medallions. Switched to using tin (purchased ingots from a jeweler). It has a lower melting point (232C) than lead (327). Easy to do on the kitchen stove. And safer, healthwise. Perhaps the lower melting point wouldn't work well (at all) fired from a musket though. I don't have any experience with that.
Rob stevens... Pewter & tin will not work very well as a projectile from a muzzleloader or any other firearm. Tin & pewter are too light and brittle and are best when alloyed with lead. Lead is preferred because it's heavy/dense and will expand on impact. Inhalation and ingestion of lead dust are the 2 sure ways to get lead poisoning. I handle lead regularly, a few simple precautions and I'm good to go!
And now that I'm all caught up on your videos, I can now watch them regularly! Although your videos will be missed in my morning coffee routine. 😆 I would watch a couple during my coffee and then start the day. Now I will have to wait for you to truly enjoy my mornings!
Thanks for another great video. I have heard of swan shot, but that is the first time I have seen it made. I now have another project to play around with. Take care and stay warm.
As always Peter a smile on my face tonight with the new video. Very interesting as always. I presume you've played with heights on the shot pour and settled on whats practical in the field?
Peter and Catherine, Another Outstanding Video. I really appreciate you work. I also admire your English Trade Gun, did you build it yourself? Is that a 20 gauge barrel? I have learned so much from watching your "Live interpretations of history." I look forward to every one of your new videos, each one is a treat. Thank you for doing what you do.
I have enjoyed every video you have put out, always learn something new, even if I know the subject matter you discuss, there is always something there I didn't know or look at it in a different way after seeing your videos. I do the "I wonder who first thought of this" a lot. My favorites are "I wonder who first thought to open an oyster and then thought, that it might be good to eat" another one is "Who first thought eating something deposited from a hens bottom might be good to eat" or "Looking at a cow and wondering about what came out of those four faucets". It just seems to add something to the history of things. Keep making these videos and you have a very, happy, old and contented viewer.
Love your videos ☺️thanks for teaching me interesting history and taking time and effort to share this with us. Keep them coming! 👍🏻Have you made a video on Jerky or Pemican(?) that would be awesome to see!
My Dad felt that lead exposure really affected his school performance in elementary school. He had a lead soldier set then (in the 1930's), and cast up soldiers in his room, breathing in the fumes. He did poorly in school, but by the time of High School, he had long since stopped playing with that set, and made dramatic improvements in school, ending up graduating with honors.
It is literally like going back in time. This is so surreal. It's like time traveling. How do you know this stuff? I am beyond impressed by your skills, knowledge, and lifestyle. How do you procure lead? Is there any feasible way to get lead and black powder from the natural environment?
Thank you so much for the kind words. One can usually pickup lead from garages or tire shops in the form of lead wheel weights. I have literally 100’s of pounds of the stuff.
I don't know how I missed this video the first time around. Excellent! I used swan shot to harvest a nice Idaho gobbler with my Northwest trade gun and it was pretty effective at 30 yards.
Good for you John. I try and get them within 25 yards but, I have taken them out to 30. I often thought of doing a NETrade musket build, i love the simple lines.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks Peter. That's about as far as I would try to shoot a turkey with a 20 gauge smoothbore, but he wasn't going to come any closer due to a fallen tree across the logging road he came in on. The only exposed parts of him were his bright blue head and neck, so I figured it would either be a clean kill or a complete miss. I never want to wound any bird or animal I am hunting, so if I don't think I can make a good shot, I pass it up.
An ethical hunter, we could use a few more. I’ve hunted for 55 years. I’ve never missed a Turkey yet but, I did wound a deer a few years back that I did not retrieve. Kinda sickening feeling.
1:17 Yay! I thought you were cooking something delicious but no :( You are, definitely, a handyman. People from the 1700's would have loved to be around you and your endless skills. Thank you for sharing another interesting story. 5:59 It looks like a mushroom's soup, yum! I must be hungry. Keep up the good work!
I have never cast bird shot, since I was a trap and skeet shooter and always had plenty of these shots on hand. I did use plastic wads with black powder loads. I have killed a few birds with black powder but a heck of a lot more with a convential shotgun.
Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Oh the benefits of a smooth bore. The equivalent of the modern day break open single shot. If you get it down the barrel, it's probably been tried at some point as a projectile. Have heard accounts of everything from buttons, rulers, and ram rods being hurled from the muzzle. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
I have traveled through Virginia & noticed signs for a shot tower state historical site. Always wondered if they may have dropped hot lead from a high platform into cold water to make round shot. Never had the time to check it out. Thanks for another great video!
We have a great 1832 shot tower available to visit here in Wisconsin, complete with a tunnel into the bluff to retrieve the fallen shot. Tower Hill State Park.
I've seen the regular ball made, but its just amazing how fast it forms to where you can dump it out for use. Never saw the swan shot made...interesting.
The higher your shot mold to the cooling container the less Slag on the tail. I understand this was a in the field demonstration buy try using a hollow log or even a tall spider to gain the height desired.
Your spot on. I’ve experimented with various heights. I was simply trying to demonstrate in this episode. Most of the shot I produced went back into the ladle, lol.
hello. i am a professional reloader that has been doing this for 15years. you would have way better result by having your "swan" shot plate with way smaller holes. like 2-3mm big. also pre-heat your sieeve too. for best result you would use salt saturated water with as much salt as you could. by the correct combinasion of factors you can make perfectly round shot just like at the store.
Did you make that smoothbore yourself? Or did you have a gun maker build it for you? I've a Lyman great plains rifle, but I love the idea of having one gun for deer, turkey, rabbits, and grouse ( let's be honest, I'm never whacking a grouse with a .495 ball haha) thanks for doing what you do! This is my favourite UA-cam channel and I love the information you pass on
@@TheWoodlandEscape amazing! I've an old canoe gun a gunsmith is tuning up for me, it's a caplock .69 cal. He says he thinks it's an old Belgian Fowler that was traded to someone, and then cut down. It's quite an interesting piece
Great video as always! I have never really seen this method of making shot (not that I'm an expert) but it was quite interesting. With sugaring season coming around, I was wondering whether tapping for maple sugar was prevalent among the pioneers in upper Canada or if it was mostly restricted to the settlers of lower Canada. Maybe you could include a "wee bit of history" on maple syrup and how the pioneers would have made it. Anyway, just some Ideas!
Kudos on this video. I have never seen the process of shot making done on the frontier. I have to wonder if the swan shot is more effective on game vs. round shot due to the shape? I harvested a lot of paper wasp nests this fall to use as wadding material. Works well as does tow.
Another fine video! The muzzle loading club I belong to use to do a lead shot pour demonstration at a shot tower on the lower Wisconsin River. It was a fun thing to do. We basically did as you do, but there was an additional 150'+ involved before the lead drops hit the water. This was at the northern edge of the southwest Wi. northern Illinois lead mining region. Just out of curiosity would pouring the shot from shoulder height improve the shot quality.
It does not David. The reason drop shot works is the crazy height it is dropped from. I’ve tried other heights. and it is almost like partially popped pop corn. It is the friction of the air that forms the round shot as it falls, so from shoulder height there simply isn’t even time for friction to have an effect
Wonderful Video Again! I wonder how one in the 1700's acquired the lead. It seems to me that it would be highly unlikely that one would find a source of lead wandering the forest while out on an extended hunting trip... so I imagine that one would have to haul around a big heavy chunk of lead to make additional shot when the supply of them got low. Given all the other supplies you've shown us that you take with you on these trips, it could not have been fun for the average 18th century Trekker.
They did make shot like this on the frontier. Just as your doing, I often do the same. However just need to say. HBC did import pre cast ball and shot, and ‘swan shot,was a size, not named because of a funny look. Beaver and pidgin shot was also imported
@@TheWoodlandEscape I understood Rupert was what your making, or me when I do it, originally used making hard glass beads. Before Rupert, about 1650 shot was flat sheets of lead cut in to small squares then tumbled to round a little
Fascinating indeed! Like you, I have always wondered "who figured that out?" Where would they get the led from at the time? The old adage, "necessity is the mother of invention" rings true!
Stick a candle in that lead to get rid of the slag. At least you, I have cast thousands of cast lead bulletsthat is what I used to do casting round balls, mine balls and Maxi balls for my various black powder rifles. You will need a tall tower to cast perfectly round lead shot. Like you, I have cast thousands of cast lead bullets over the years. You have to get the mold up to temperature before it will cast perfect bullets. I used gang molds that cast four bullets at a time.
Great video Peter thank you keep it coming. I know I'm always asking about Canadian history and you pointed out that north america was all one country until the American revolution. I've read accounts of Canadian militia companies used in the French Indian wars? So when and why were people living in the area recognized as Canadian, before the birth of the Canada nation? I think like a lot of people outside Canada, the King Charles charter granted to the Hudson bay company had a lot to do with defining and creating Canada. Would love to hear your thoughts in one of your Videos I really appreciate you knowledgeable endeavour Bob
I think I meant all of the colonies were one country with England. In the F&I war, Americans fought for King and Country. The French Dominated north was often referred to as the Canadas. HBC, had Ruperts Land which was water sheds flowing into Hudson Bay. Between them and the Colonies were the French.
All shotgun pattern have holes in them, especially at longer ranges. A lot of trap shooters tune their loads to keep the number of holes to a minimum. They tune their loads by incrementally increasing or decreasing the powder chargers until they get patterns acceptable to them.
@@TheWoodlandEscape not always. I tuned my match loads for my M1A and found that 39.0 grains of IMR 3031 gave me the best accuracy with 168 grain Sierra projectiles but 42.5 grains of IMR 4895 gave me the best accuracy and velocity. I was a Match shooter. And the 39.0 grains would shoot a ragged hole at 300 yards while the 42.5grain load produced1.1”groups at the same range. , but generally you are right but windage can effect the dispersion
Thanks again. Yet another fascinating and informative video. I really do so into your videos. A request please.... To complete the picture, I would love to see how the frontiersmen got their black powder. Did they have to buy it? Did they make it. I have just a little knowledge on the ingredients they used. Was it salt peter, charcoal and sulphur?. Even so, how did they gather it and mix it safely. How did they know where to look or source material?. I think part of it was locating a bat cave!. Please consider this. I imaginge rules for utube might restrict exact details being given for security reasons, but even knowing how they did it would be great.
You have the 3 ingredients covered, nothing else required. It is perfectly safe to make your own if one uses common sense. Wood on wood tools for grinding etc. UA-cam might indeed have issues with me actually showing the process.
Thanks for the reply. Very kind of you to respond so quickly. Of course i am only interested from a historical point of view, and any information that goes into the public domain is open to misuse. So thanks. I am however in awe at how much someone had to do and know in order to survive on the frontier.
I've gotten old and lazy, I still cast .310 buckshot (also fits my daughters old .32) but I buy #5 as 'hunting shot' I just used up the last 'mixed shot' out of my horn that was store bought #5 + #7 & a wee bit of #9,it works good on bunnies with my 'sporterized' bess carbine
Is that a Rapine bag mold? It looks like the one I use for my 62 caliber fowler. I was lucky enough to find an antique mold the right diameter for my 54 caliber rifles.
It is indeed Roger, very observant. It is always nice to find those original gems. They say the crafts of today are the artifacts of tomorrow but, those old items sure do feel fine in the hand. Appreciate your interest.
Seen lead ball shot made before but not swan neck,so you don’t have to cut the small excess of. And just curious were you get the lead. Can the lead from old car wheels that’s used for balancing be used. Great video as always old friend.
Lead weights from cars is a perfect material for casting. Very few if any alloys in it. You can go to gun clubs and pick it up from the berms or catches behind the target holders.
How accurate is your smooth bore when hunting deer with round ball? I like the size .62. I use 54 round ball and fund that game doesn't leave as much blood trail with round ball as with conical bullet. Most of the bleeding is inside and there's less shock. 30 yards is about average but I'm definitely going to watch the animal out of sight and take good bearings before I begin tracking. That is if I can see through the smoke on a foggy morning. Ah! But ain't it grand?
Grand indeed Larry. I,m comfortable shooting out to 60 yards. From a bench at that rage I can keep them in about a 3 to 4” circle. And your also right on the bleeding, a round ball is no nosier partitioned bullet!
I've never fired swan shot, Peter. Going to have to try to make some and see how the 16 guage fowler performs. Not legal to use for hunting here in Pa, but would be a great test of how our forefathers did things.
If you do a good sorting and try numerous combinations of amount of powder, amount of shot and different wadding combinations, you can get a reasonable pattern. I prefer to use paper wasp nests for most of my wadding.
They don’t have to be all that round to be very effective in terms of a clean kill. You might try experimenting with different heights of drop. Also, do it just at the point of the lead getting molten. I always sort through mine and remelt those that have too long of a swan neck.
Hi I love your video I just bought a flintlock Kentucky rifle in 50 cal, I’ve been looking on the internet for a mold like your just wondering if you have contacts here in Canada we’re we can purchase some thank you
Callahan bagmolds are without question the best quality available, although they are American. For your 50 caliber you would probably want to start with a . 490 mold. Hope this helps.
I just sort through the and remelt those that have too much of a neck. It will pattern quite nicely with the swan neck on them and they are very lethal.
I learn something new from every video.Sincerely, thank you for all you share!
JPC
And I sincerely thank you for the kind words.
It's amazing, my Grandfather on my mother's side worked for National Lead industries and mined lead, worked in the mine's sinter plant loading rail cars among his other jobs. He lived to be 84 years old, no real health issues up until the last couple years. My Uncle lived until almost 90 years old, worked in the same plant, same thing. My Grandmother and mother and uncles and aunts grew up in the town where the mine was, my grandmother was 88 years old. It's amazing how some people can be around lead all day, every day with no health issues. I've cast bullets, fishing lures, etc. Of course, I do it outside, always outside and wash up after every session. So far, so good.
It is all about safety precautions and fresh air. Like you, I’ve cast thousands of balls, bullets and sinker … I don’t think I’ve gone funny, lol.
I eat the stuff, it’s delicious over pancakes
I’m a school teacher. At the moment, half of our staff are out with Covid. Those of us who are still at school, trying to hold the fort, are mostly still recovering from covid. My fatigue levels are like nothing I’ve ever experienced; I’m more tired after a day in class than I was last summer after a 30km hike! Watching your videos has become a major part of my ‘wind-down-rest-and-recharge-before-marking-test-papers’ routine between getting home at 6pm and getting back to work, sitting at the dining table, marking test papers at 8pm. I’m begging you - keep ‘em coming!
One of my most flattering compliments, Rob. Thank you.
You definitely are not acting the history - you are living it & probably occasionally learning something that wasn't discovered in 1750's.
Time, need & effort - I guess they had all of that just to survive.
Love your channel.
Appreciate that, Steven
Hi Peter,
Very interesting as always.
Best wishes,
Mark
Thank you! Cheers!
My Word! For all the time/effort needed to fill your 'Jenny'...I would well imagine that target practice is key. How often in period movies more factual than fiction, U see a young child making himself a sling shot. If U were not a good aim, both U and family would/could perish. Every shot is precious. How much we have lost in the 'convenience' of things. In 'this time' I find it refreshing to see munitions put to 'pure use'. I like this quote about a 'more dangerous' weapon; "Thoughts R the gun, words R the bullets, deeds R the target, the bulls-eye is heaven." (Douglas Horton). Thank U most kindly 4 sharing, Peter and Catherine. Health and God Bless!
Thanks Marie. Always look forward to your comments.
Another great video Peter, thanks
Alexander Henry was a trader present at the massace of fort michilmackinac on June 2 1763, at the first war cries heard from the Indians he wrote " i had in the room a fowling piece loaded with swan shot this i immediately seized". Might have been the "personal defense" load of the day??... Pretty cool. Great video brother 👍
I suspect it was. Certainly mush more effect in poor light conditions or in the dark!
Excellent I've got to try to make some swan shot for my Fowler now! Loved the music ;)
Thank you.
I have a 62 trade musket also and been using drop shot for small game, this video got me interested in swan shot. Today I made some swan shot and tomorrow it is off to our muzzleloader club to see how it will shoot. Our turkey season comes in the first weekend in May, if I can find a good load it would be fun to shoot a turkey with it.
Quite satisfying when you’ve made your own shot!
Thanks for taking us through the process, that's the first time i've seen swan shot made!
Thanks Jeff.
Well that was 😋 Delicious😆💞
Thank you for showing this method. I like the metal pan with the holes in it to pour the shot through. I found a coppersmith catalog once that had a copper sheet with a depression in the center with holes in it. The caption said they put hot coals in the depression then poured the lead over the coal to the holes to make the swan shot. Now that I see this method does work I want to make the metal pan with the holes to make my own swan shot. Thank you for the inspiring video!
The copper device you refer to is called a Rupert shot maker. When you pour it over the charcoal it allows the shot to cool more and the results is much less of a tail on the shot.
Great video! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you.
I just found this channel today. Interesting why it was never recommended before.
I've got to say this has some excellent content!👍👍
Glad you found us and we appreciate your interest.
Mr. Pete....absolutely love your sieve for making shot. I will have to duplicate that one. With all this craziness going on -decided to escape to your woodlands to end my night. Thank you! As always, stay well my friend...Robin
Glad you joined us last night, Robin. We all need a little escape on occasion.
Have a suggestion for all The Woodland Escape subscribers like myself. We all know people that may have similar interest so if we all recommend Peter’s channel to at least three friends especially if your friends have children that would gain from the valuable knowledge shared here it wood be a great effort to educate and preserve our Woodland heritage in Canada and the U.S.A.
Wow, we can’t thank you enough Roger. To say we’re flattered would be an understatement.
Hey Peter, As someone with occupational health training and memories of lead paint warnings (though I cast lead fishing sinkers when I was a kid), I just wanted to mention a possible alternative. To make a short story longer, I cast commemorative medals for the 35th anniversary of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association. My first thought was to use pewter, to avoid the risks of lead. I collected a bunch of old pewter mugs, then learned they often had a good percentage of lead in them. Melted them anyway. Even with the use of borax as flux, they were often very impure, resulting in slushy material to pour (tried plaster then high heat silicone molds), not making good medallions. Switched to using tin (purchased ingots from a jeweler). It has a lower melting point (232C) than lead (327). Easy to do on the kitchen stove. And safer, healthwise. Perhaps the lower melting point wouldn't work well (at all) fired from a musket though. I don't have any experience with that.
I suspect your right about it not working for lead balls, given that even lead will leave fouling in the rifling.
Rob stevens...
Pewter & tin will not work very well as a projectile from a muzzleloader or any other firearm. Tin & pewter are too light and brittle and are best when alloyed with lead. Lead is preferred because it's heavy/dense and will expand on impact.
Inhalation and ingestion of lead dust are the 2 sure ways to get lead poisoning. I handle lead regularly, a few simple precautions and I'm good to go!
And now that I'm all caught up on your videos, I can now watch them regularly! Although your videos will be missed in my morning coffee routine. 😆 I would watch a couple during my coffee and then start the day. Now I will have to wait for you to truly enjoy my mornings!
We’ll try a speed things up a wee bit.
@@TheWoodlandEscape lol. By all means, take your time friend! History wasn't made over night!
Amazing video. looking into byeing some lead for my smoothbore .great tips...
Sometimes you can get old lead wheel weights from garages for free,
Awesome as always
Thanks Paul.
could you demonstrate how you keep you flint sharp on you musket thanks great show never been bored watching you show
That’s a great suggestion, John. We are planning to do more musket related stuff. Thanks for watching.
Fascinating!
A diying art .thanks so much for helping to keep this hands on historical knowledge alive..
Peter, I am in the middle of building a smoothbore, 62 cal trade musket. As always appreciate your video. Top Notch again. Joe
Good for you Joe, good luck with your build. In my opinion, 62 caliber is the way to go.
Your post is absolutely facinating. I love these types of instructional videos. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
Very interesting.
Thanks for another great video. I have heard of swan shot, but that is the first time I have seen it made. I now have another project to play around with. Take care and stay warm.
Thanks James. As to the stay warm part, winter is slowly losing its clutch on us … been a real winter here this year.
Another AWESOME video
Thanks so much
Thanks William.
Always love the history lessons. Cheers!
Thank you for the positive feedback.
A interesting lesson for a black Powder Fan.
Indeed and an essential skill 250 years ago.
I learn with each video you do. Thanks
Thanks Mark.
Love all of your videos
Flattered, Raymond.
Hi from Syracuse NY USA brother thank you for sharing history
Thank you for taking us on your track through time
Thanks for you ongoing interest.
Thank you for sharing this, great history, you are so knowledgeable, learn so much😄
Thanks Tammy.
love your channel!
Thanks Robert.
A small hand forged pair of narrow jaw tongs, bag size, is really handy when casting ball.
It would indeed be an great addition to ones kit.
As always Peter a smile on my face tonight with the new video. Very interesting as always. I presume you've played with heights on the shot pour and settled on whats practical in the field?
I do vary the height depending on the size of shot I need. Glad I was able to put a smile on your face.
Peter and Catherine, Another Outstanding Video. I really appreciate you work. I also admire your English Trade Gun, did you build it yourself? Is that a 20 gauge barrel? I have learned so much from watching your "Live interpretations of history." I look forward to every one of your new videos, each one is a treat. Thank you for doing what you do.
I did build my trade musket, bought the barrel and lock and used my own wood and yes, it is a .62 caliber.
Very interesting . Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Charlene.
I have enjoyed every video you have put out, always learn something new, even if I know the subject matter you discuss, there is always something there I didn't know or look at it in a different way after seeing your videos. I do the "I wonder who first thought of this" a lot. My favorites are "I wonder who first thought to open an oyster and then thought, that it might be good to eat" another one is "Who first thought eating something deposited from a hens bottom might be good to eat" or "Looking at a cow and wondering about what came out of those four faucets". It just seems to add something to the history of things. Keep making these videos and you have a very, happy, old and contented viewer.
Well, I’m an old contented fellow as well and you sir, have made me laugh out load! Thank you.
Quite interesting, didn’t even know they had such small shot back then.
Thanks to both of you for another wonderful video.
Thanks Richard.
Nice Peter👍
Thank you.
Love your videos ☺️thanks for teaching me interesting history and taking time and effort to share this with us. Keep them coming! 👍🏻Have you made a video on Jerky or Pemican(?) that would be awesome to see!
Thanks Caleb and we have not done making pemmican. Thanks for planting the seed.
My Dad felt that lead exposure really affected his school performance in elementary school. He had a lead soldier set then (in the 1930's), and cast up soldiers in his room, breathing in the fumes. He did poorly in school, but by the time of High School, he had long since stopped playing with that set, and made dramatic improvements in school, ending up graduating with honors.
That is a good ending to your family story. Like anything, I guess if one eliminates the source of the problem, things can correct themselves.
That was another great video. I learned something new going to try making swan shot very soon .
Thanks Robert.
Good afternoon Peter. Making the shot was very interesting. Hope your having a great week and thanks for sharing. Until next time friend, God bless.
Thanks Michael.
Nice video Peter.
Thank you.
Very interesting
Thanks Brandon.
It is literally like going back in time. This is so surreal. It's like time traveling. How do you know this stuff? I am beyond impressed by your skills, knowledge, and lifestyle. How do you procure lead? Is there any feasible way to get lead and black powder from the natural environment?
Thank you so much for the kind words. One can usually pickup lead from garages or tire shops in the form of lead wheel weights. I have literally 100’s of pounds of the stuff.
I don't know how I missed this video the first time around. Excellent! I used swan shot to harvest a nice Idaho gobbler with my Northwest trade gun and it was pretty effective at 30 yards.
Good for you John. I try and get them within 25 yards but, I have taken them out to 30. I often thought of doing a NETrade musket build, i love the simple lines.
@@TheWoodlandEscape Thanks Peter. That's about as far as I would try to shoot a turkey with a 20 gauge smoothbore, but he wasn't going to come any closer due to a fallen tree across the logging road he came in on. The only exposed parts of him were his bright blue head and neck, so I figured it would either be a clean kill or a complete miss. I never want to wound any bird or animal I am hunting, so if I don't think I can make a good shot, I pass it up.
An ethical hunter, we could use a few more. I’ve hunted for 55 years. I’ve never missed a Turkey yet but, I did wound a deer a few years back that I did not retrieve. Kinda sickening feeling.
1:17 Yay! I thought you were cooking something delicious but no :( You are, definitely, a handyman. People from the 1700's would have loved to be around you and your endless skills. Thank you for sharing another interesting story. 5:59 It looks like a mushroom's soup, yum! I must be hungry. Keep up the good work!
You must be really hungry, Emsol.
I have never cast bird shot, since I was a trap and skeet shooter and always had plenty of these shots on hand. I did use plastic wads with black powder loads. I have killed a few birds with black powder but a heck of a lot more with a convential shotgun.
Well done peter- Shawn
Thanks, Shawn.
Makes me appreciate going to the store and buying a box of buck or bird shot. ( back when it was available). We made need to take up this trade now.
One never knows what skills will be required in the future.
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Appreciate your efforts and dedication! Oh the benefits of a smooth bore. The equivalent of the modern day break open single shot. If you get it down the barrel, it's probably been tried at some point as a projectile. Have heard accounts of everything from buttons, rulers, and ram rods being hurled from the muzzle. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Thanks again and keep your powder dry!
They were resourceful to say the least. Watch your top knot.
I have traveled through Virginia & noticed signs for a shot tower state historical site. Always wondered if they may have dropped hot lead from a high platform into cold water to make round shot. Never had the time to check it out. Thanks for another great video!
That is no doubt what your seeing. Many of the old towers are defunct now but, many remain standing.
We have a great 1832 shot tower available to visit here in Wisconsin, complete with a tunnel into the bluff to retrieve the fallen shot. Tower Hill State Park.
I've seen the regular ball made, but its just amazing how fast it forms to where you can dump it out for use. Never saw the swan shot made...interesting.
Fun on the frontier!
The higher your shot mold to the cooling container the less Slag on the tail.
I understand this was a in the field demonstration buy try using a hollow log or even a tall spider to gain the height desired.
Your spot on. I’ve experimented with various heights. I was simply trying to demonstrate in this episode. Most of the shot I produced went back into the ladle, lol.
Awesome. never done that before. wondering what affect preheating the mold would have.
Pre heating the mold is always a good idea, it gets good balls right off the get go.
hello.
i am a professional reloader that has been doing this for 15years.
you would have way better result by having your "swan" shot plate with way smaller holes. like 2-3mm big. also pre-heat your sieeve too. for best result you would use salt saturated water with as much salt as you could. by the correct combinasion of factors you can make perfectly round shot just like at the store.
Thanks for the great information and feedback, I’ll be sure to be trying that next time around.
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Did you make that smoothbore yourself? Or did you have a gun maker build it for you? I've a Lyman great plains rifle, but I love the idea of having one gun for deer, turkey, rabbits, and grouse ( let's be honest, I'm never whacking a grouse with a .495 ball haha) thanks for doing what you do! This is my favourite UA-cam channel and I love the information you pass on
I made it myself a number of years ago.
@@TheWoodlandEscape amazing! I've an old canoe gun a gunsmith is tuning up for me, it's a caplock .69 cal. He says he thinks it's an old Belgian Fowler that was traded to someone, and then cut down. It's quite an interesting piece
Great video as always! I have never really seen this method of making shot (not that I'm an expert) but it was quite interesting. With sugaring season coming around, I was wondering whether tapping for maple sugar was prevalent among the pioneers in upper Canada or if it was mostly restricted to the settlers of lower Canada. Maybe you could include a "wee bit of history" on maple syrup and how the pioneers would have made it. Anyway, just some Ideas!
It was common in both upper and lower Canada. We are hoping to do some filming of the sugaring season for an upcoming video.
Kudos on this video. I have never seen the process of shot making done on the frontier. I have to wonder if the swan shot is more effective on game vs. round shot due to the shape? I harvested a lot of paper wasp nests this fall to use as wadding material. Works well as does tow.
The patterns are horrible but, still effect in harvesting. Probably get more game with more consistent round shot.
Another fine video! The muzzle loading club I belong to use to do a lead shot pour demonstration at a shot tower on the lower Wisconsin River. It was a fun thing to do. We basically did as you do, but there was an additional 150'+ involved before the lead drops hit the water. This was at the northern edge of the southwest Wi. northern Illinois lead mining region. Just out of curiosity would pouring the shot from shoulder height improve the shot quality.
It does not David. The reason drop shot works is the crazy height it is dropped from. I’ve tried other heights. and it is almost like partially popped pop corn. It is the friction of the air that forms the round shot as it falls, so from shoulder height there simply isn’t even time for friction to have an effect
Wonderful Video Again! I wonder how one in the 1700's acquired the lead. It seems to me that it would be highly unlikely that one would find a source of lead wandering the forest while out on an extended hunting trip... so I imagine that one would have to haul around a big heavy chunk of lead to make additional shot when the supply of them got low. Given all the other supplies you've shown us that you take with you on these trips, it could not have been fun for the average 18th century Trekker.
Lead bars were available at all trading postman’s certainly urban centers . They would resupply on route as needed.
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They did make shot like this on the frontier. Just as your doing, I often do the same.
However just need to say. HBC did import pre cast ball and shot, and ‘swan shot,was a size, not named because of a funny look.
Beaver and pidgin shot was also imported
Thanks for the info Jeffery. I believe the imported shot was called Ruperts shot.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I understood Rupert was what your making, or me when I do it, originally used making hard glass beads.
Before Rupert, about 1650 shot was flat sheets of lead cut in to small squares then tumbled to round a little
I believe King Henry the 8th had a role in that cut shot. Apparently he was an avid shooter.
My grandpa poured lead through bronze screen to make shot. It was tear dropped also. I used to help.
Sounds like neat grandpa!
@@TheWoodlandEscape Yes and they teach you the most. Not exactly the 1700s but was taught a lot of the concepts and didn't even realize it, as a kid.
Fascinating indeed! Like you, I have always wondered "who figured that out?" Where would they get the led from at the time?
The old adage, "necessity is the mother of invention" rings true!
It was mined for hundreds of years.
Lead was surface mined in Missouri in an area called "Old Mine" near Ste. Geneieve south of St. Louis.
@@plainsimple442 thank you! You think about copper mines, or gold & silver, but I've never thought about a lead mine.
Hello Peter, great video as always. What do you use for the tentage in the background? Is it a canvas or and oil cloth?
Hi Gregory, I use both but, the one in this episode is canvas that I dyed with walnut .
I’ll bet that tumbling would smooth up and round off the rough shot.
Thanks for the info.
I suspect your spot on.
Stick a candle in that lead to get rid of the slag. At least you, I have cast thousands of cast lead bulletsthat is what I used to do casting round balls, mine balls and Maxi balls for my various black powder rifles. You will need a tall tower to cast perfectly round lead shot. Like you, I have cast thousands of cast lead bullets over the years. You have to get the mold up to temperature before it will cast perfect bullets. I used gang molds that cast four bullets at a time.
Great video Peter thank you keep it coming.
I know I'm always asking about Canadian history and you pointed out that north america was all one country until the American revolution.
I've read accounts of Canadian militia companies used in the French Indian wars?
So when and why were people living in the area recognized as Canadian, before the birth of the Canada nation?
I think like a lot of people outside Canada, the King Charles charter granted to the Hudson bay company had a lot to do with defining and creating Canada.
Would love to hear your thoughts in one of your Videos
I really appreciate you knowledgeable endeavour
Bob
I think I meant all of the colonies were one country with England. In the F&I war, Americans fought for King and Country. The French Dominated north was often referred to as the Canadas. HBC, had Ruperts Land which was water sheds flowing into Hudson Bay. Between them and the Colonies were the French.
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All shotgun pattern have holes in them, especially at longer ranges. A lot of trap shooters tune their loads to keep the number of holes to a minimum. They tune their loads by incrementally increasing or decreasing the powder chargers until they get patterns acceptable to them.
Usually the more velocity the larger the holes.
@@TheWoodlandEscape not always. I tuned my match loads for my M1A and found that 39.0 grains of IMR 3031 gave me the best accuracy with 168 grain Sierra projectiles but 42.5 grains of IMR 4895 gave me the best accuracy and velocity. I was a Match shooter. And the 39.0 grains would shoot a ragged hole at 300 yards while the 42.5grain load produced1.1”groups at the same range. , but generally you are right but windage can effect the dispersion
Thanks again. Yet another fascinating and informative video. I really do so into your videos.
A request please....
To complete the picture, I would love to see how the frontiersmen got their black powder. Did they have to buy it? Did they make it. I have just a little knowledge on the ingredients they used. Was it salt peter, charcoal and sulphur?. Even so, how did they gather it and mix it safely. How did they know where to look or source material?. I think part of it was locating a bat cave!.
Please consider this. I imaginge rules for utube might restrict exact details being given for security reasons, but even knowing how they did it would be great.
You have the 3 ingredients covered, nothing else required. It is perfectly safe to make your own if one uses common sense. Wood on wood tools for grinding etc. UA-cam might indeed have issues with me actually showing the process.
Thanks for the reply. Very kind of you to respond so quickly. Of course i am only interested from a historical point of view, and any information that goes into the public domain is open to misuse. So thanks. I am however in awe at how much someone had to do and know in order to survive on the frontier.
I have made my own in the past with great success. Probably not as consistent as store bought. Getting to ignite as fast is the problem.
Check out Hoffman Reproduction's utube channel. He has a whole series on making blackpowder.
I've gotten old and lazy, I still cast .310 buckshot (also fits my daughters old .32) but I buy #5 as 'hunting shot' I just used up the last 'mixed shot' out of my horn that was store bought #5 + #7 & a wee bit of #9,it works good on bunnies with my 'sporterized' bess carbine
No sense in getting old and stupid Rob.
@@TheWoodlandEscape old and LAZY LOL
Painstaking but worth it I’m sure when the meats on the table.
Remember people you need to get the mold hot before you get a perfect ball which means after the 5th ball you should start getting perfect balls
You’ve don’t it before, lol.
Meant, done it before.
Is that a Rapine bag mold? It looks like the one I use for my 62 caliber fowler.
I was lucky enough to find an antique mold the right diameter for my 54 caliber rifles.
It is indeed Roger, very observant. It is always nice to find those original gems. They say the crafts of today are the artifacts of tomorrow but, those old items sure do feel fine in the hand. Appreciate your interest.
Seen lead ball shot made before but not swan neck,so you don’t have to cut the small excess of. And just curious were you get the lead. Can the lead from old car wheels that’s used for balancing be used. Great video as always old friend.
Lead weights from cars is a perfect material for casting. Very few if any alloys in it. You can go to gun clubs and pick it up from the berms or catches behind the target holders.
What method do you use to get the dirt out of the lead? I see you using two ladles there does it keep pretty clean that way?
For the most part the impurities stay on the surface as you pour. You can skim them off the top but, if it unnecessary.
just wondering if you have ever made a soapstone bullet mold?
I have not but, now you’ve tweaked my curiosity.
would love to see how you load the swan shot in your rifle.
Thanks, plan on showing that in a future video.
Peter a question if I may how do you load shot in amusket and how much? Always Freddie 😄
Thanks for your interest. We plan on covering that in a future video.
How accurate is your smooth bore when hunting deer with round ball? I like the size .62. I use 54 round ball and fund that game doesn't leave as much blood trail with round ball as with conical bullet. Most of the bleeding is inside and there's less shock. 30 yards is about average but I'm definitely going to watch the animal out of sight and take good bearings before I begin tracking. That is if I can see through the smoke on a foggy morning. Ah! But ain't it grand?
Grand indeed Larry. I,m comfortable shooting out to 60 yards. From a bench at that rage I can keep them in about a 3 to 4” circle. And your also right on the bleeding, a round ball is no nosier partitioned bullet!
@@TheWoodlandEscape that is good shooting and well within the range I shoot in this timbered area.
I've never fired swan shot, Peter. Going to have to try to make some and see how the 16 guage fowler performs. Not legal to use for hunting here in Pa, but would be a great test of how our forefathers did things.
If you do a good sorting and try numerous combinations of amount of powder, amount of shot and different wadding combinations, you can get a reasonable pattern. I prefer to use paper wasp nests for most of my wadding.
Do you candle your mould before casting round balls?
I do not, simply heat it up to temperature. The first couple usually go back in the ladle and then it starts throwing good balls.
I make my own shot as well. Very difficult to get them totally round.
They don’t have to be all that round to be very effective in terms of a clean kill. You might try experimenting with different heights of drop. Also, do it just at the point of the lead getting molten. I always sort through mine and remelt those that have too long of a swan neck.
Hi I love your video I just bought a flintlock Kentucky rifle in 50 cal, I’ve been looking on the internet for a mold like your just wondering if you have contacts here in Canada we’re we can purchase some thank you
Callahan bagmolds are without question the best quality available, although they are American. For your 50 caliber you would probably want to start with a . 490 mold. Hope this helps.
@@TheWoodlandEscape thank you very much for the info I will call Larry to order
Are there different laws about using lead shot when hunting. It would seem to me that I would not like using lead shot on something that I will eat!
Quite easy to pick out the odd shot. Been living on wild meat for 60 plus years and no harm yet. We must use steel shot when hunting waterfowl.
Hi Peter what style musket is yours . I m hunting with a 20ga fusil
I love the lines of a fusil. Mine is a similar design …. Ably American trade musket around the early 1700’s and also a .62 caliber.
@@TheWoodlandEscape I really like the looks of your musket . Something you don t see all the time . Great work by the way
Thanks Steve.
Never hear of Swann shot. I’m familiar with buck and ball. Most commonly used in smooth ball and .69 calibre
Buck and ball was often used by the military in certain cases in pretty much any caliber.
I want to know who came up with the idea of the shot towers and how they determined they needed to be as tall as they were.
Not sure who but, it do go through a lot of trial and error to figure out height.
Sir is the tail of swanshot wouldbe cut
I just sort through the and remelt those that have too much of a neck. It will pattern quite nicely with the swan neck on them and they are very lethal.
Stupid question where can I get a mold like that
Not at all … www.bagmolds.com, Larry Callahan. He makes great products.