My grandfather handed-down to me a big muzzleloader with brass tube site just like that. The barrel is stamped Remington. I believe the brass tube site was made in either Claremont, NH or nearby Bellows Falls, VT. The tube site on your gun here might have similar origins. I wonder what the value of my muzzleloader is. It has been stuck in the back of a closet for 40 years and probably hasn't been fired in close to 100 years.
During the Civil War, a southern farmer named Jack Hinson waged a war of revenge against the North. His rifle was a custom built full stock .50 cal. cap lock that weighed some 13 pounds and it had a special bullet mold. There are pictures of this rifle but I have not seen anyone duplicate it. He was known to have killed union officers at ranges approaching 1000 yards.
I'm left wondering just how that sight could be adjusted for elevation. I already looks parallel to the barrel, that there is almost zero gap at the front to allow the tube to be raised to any degree. When I think of the angle of my back sight, relative to the barrel, at even 600 yards shooting a .451cal Whitworth replica, it just seems very strange.
Nice presentation. For both collectors and especially shooters, I would suggest that one KEY point of description should be added. Twist. A slow twist - like 1 in 60 for a 45 would strongly suggest round ball. A gain twist could also mean the same. A fast twist could indicate a picket or slug application. Obviously there are exceptions. 1868 manufacture could go either way. Being a 45 might suggest round ball. This is more important when the gun is a heavy bench but under 40 caliber ( again exceptions). Depending on the range a 30something caliber could have issues in the wing, especially at 200 yards in "open" country . Not trying to start a series of arguments just making a suggestion to add this to a description. It is key to a shooter I shot round ball bench with a 73 pound gun. I have had to pass up a purchase of more than few nice post 1865 bench guns that turned out to not be for round ball. Thanks for your post.
Twist rate is definitely something I want to cover more in depth in these videos. I'm trying to find a good way to do it across a variety of calibers. I'm open to any suggestions.
@@ILoveMuzzleloading A 1/4" or 5/16" cleaning rod with a reference mark near the handle will work. Select a correct size jag - not too tight- and a cleaning patch. Run it down the barrel. As you slowly pull it out the reference mark will "swivel" . When it has one complete turn, measure the length that it has traveled and you have the twist rate - 1 turn in x". Little math is in order when it has a slow twist such as 1 in 66 of a 50cal, 1 in 48 for a 40cal and the length of the barrel is less than that . That would be for a round ball. If it is faster than that it is probably a slug. Watch out for gain twist. It will start off slow and then "rotate faster as it gets to the end of the muzzle. By the way, if has a false muzzle with a cut in "X" paper patch, slug. Hope this helps
The round ball was done in serious competition by about 1840, after which the picket bullet succeeded it. Picket rifles were usually cut with a gain twist.
You'd be breaking important new ground if you became a student of rates of twist, and report on them. This was the reason the Pennsylvania Rifle far surpassed in range anything the Europeans had, at least until the Brits captured one. And it would be useful to know if the subject rifle shot a bullet or ball. All you need is a cleaning rod with patch and a yard stick.
I agree 100%. Actually more. In the 1980's I shot a 73 pound round ball bench gun in and around Texas. On these mid to later bench guns, it would be VERY helpful to point out twist or at least was this a round ball, picket or other slug gun style projection. Fast twist, slow twist ( 1.2 time the bore), or gain twist I have had to pass on buying original bench guns I wanted because the twist was not posted. You are 100% correct - cleaning rod, patch and yardstick. A very important post for those people that would like to get into bench guns. I wanted to drift into slug gun but competition was a little sparce in this part of the country .
I would like to see a Whitworth rifle outfitted like this. It would be interesting to see the results.
My grandfather handed-down to me a big muzzleloader with brass tube site just like that. The barrel is stamped Remington. I believe the brass tube site was made in either Claremont, NH or nearby Bellows Falls, VT. The tube site on your gun here
might have similar origins. I wonder what the value of my muzzleloader is. It has been stuck in the back of a closet for 40 years and probably hasn't been fired in close to 100 years.
Fine video, thanks for posting this! At Canal Fulton OH every Mothers Day weekend we still shoot these original target rifles in competition.
During the Civil War, a southern farmer named Jack Hinson waged a war of revenge against the North. His rifle was a custom built full stock .50 cal. cap lock that weighed some 13 pounds and it had a special bullet mold. There are pictures of this rifle but I have not seen anyone duplicate it. He was known to have killed union officers at ranges approaching 1000 yards.
That is a beautiful gun.... Ethan the Ian of the muzzle loaders lol
Thanks for watching, you are too kind.
A beautiful piece of American shooting history. What is its current status, assuming its sold?
I'm left wondering just how that sight could be adjusted for elevation. I already looks parallel to the barrel, that there is almost zero gap at the front to allow the tube to be raised to any degree. When I think of the angle of my back sight, relative to the barrel, at even 600 yards shooting a .451cal Whitworth replica, it just seems very strange.
Nice presentation. For both collectors and especially shooters, I would suggest that one KEY point of description should be added. Twist. A slow twist - like 1 in 60 for a 45 would strongly suggest round ball. A gain twist could also mean the same. A fast twist could indicate a picket or slug application. Obviously there are exceptions. 1868 manufacture could go either way. Being a 45 might suggest round ball. This is more important when the gun is a heavy bench but under 40 caliber ( again exceptions). Depending on the range a 30something caliber could have issues in the wing, especially at 200 yards in "open" country . Not trying to start a series of arguments just making a suggestion to add this to a description. It is key to a shooter I shot round ball bench with a 73 pound gun. I have had to pass up a purchase of more than few nice post 1865 bench guns that turned out to not be for round ball. Thanks for your post.
Twist rate is definitely something I want to cover more in depth in these videos. I'm trying to find a good way to do it across a variety of calibers. I'm open to any suggestions.
@@ILoveMuzzleloading A 1/4" or 5/16" cleaning rod with a reference mark near the handle will work. Select a correct size jag - not too tight- and a cleaning patch. Run it down the barrel. As you slowly pull it out the reference mark will "swivel" . When it has one complete turn, measure the length that it has traveled and you have the twist rate - 1 turn in x". Little math is in order when it has a slow twist such as 1 in 66 of a 50cal, 1 in 48 for a 40cal and the length of the barrel is less than that . That would be for a round ball. If it is faster than that it is probably a slug. Watch out for gain twist. It will start off slow and then "rotate faster as it gets to the end of the muzzle. By the way, if has a false muzzle with a cut in "X" paper patch, slug. Hope this helps
The round ball was done in serious competition by about 1840, after which the picket bullet succeeded it.
Picket rifles were usually cut with a gain twist.
Cool!
What caliber is it?
This was a .45 cal
Looks almost new.
That is 19th century bench rest to the hilt.
Imagine trying to use that sight tube in low light conditions... OOF.
Ya gonna have a bad time
You'd be breaking important new ground if you became a student of rates of twist, and report on them. This was the reason the Pennsylvania Rifle far surpassed in range anything the Europeans had, at least until the Brits captured one. And it would be useful to know if the subject rifle shot a bullet or ball. All you need is a cleaning rod with patch and a yard stick.
Thanks Bob, in future video overviews like these we will be including twist rates at your request.
I agree 100%. Actually more. In the 1980's I shot a 73 pound round ball bench gun in and around Texas. On these mid to later bench guns, it would be VERY helpful to point out twist or at least was this a round ball, picket or other slug gun style projection. Fast twist, slow twist ( 1.2 time the bore), or gain twist I have had to pass on buying original bench guns I wanted because the twist was not posted. You are 100% correct - cleaning rod, patch and yardstick. A very important post for those people that would like to get into bench guns. I wanted to drift into slug gun but competition was a little sparce in this part of the country
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