I don’t know if they were brave,stupid or even drunk back then. The way those men went face to face with each other, plus cannon fire ? They have my upmost respect.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that european observers were surprised by the lack of bayonet charges, which could make or break a battle, they just stood there firing at each other. How accurate this is I don't know.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful work of art and craftsmanship with all of us fellow gun nuts. Think of the stories it could tell if only it could talk! 176 years old and still kicking. Life is good . Thanks again.
If i remember it correctly on the articles i have read on buck and ball.. George Washington was a fan of this. It’s great that you get to share your knowledge to us on this one hickok
I have in my family collection a B&B paper cartridge that my Great Great grandpa brought back from his time in the 34th OVI. The buck was on top of the ball.
It's like the early version of a home defense shotshell. The 12th NJ volunteers in the Civil War were experts with it. They had a unit that used .69 buck and ball and smoothbore muskets. Used them for clearing buildings where snipers took positions. Gettysburg has a monument to the 12th NJ with a buck and ball load at the top of it. They cleared out a barn on what was known as the Bliss farm.
12th NJ actually largely disregarded the .69 cal. ball and just loaded the buckshot in some rifles up to 25 Buck shot balls in that first initial volley. Then waited until Wilcox’s men were 30-40 yards away. After that first volley they fired at Will and I’m sure they used the .69 cal ball. I just finished a book of the life and letters of Richard Swain Thompson who was the original Capt of Co. K in the 12th N.J. Pro. Maj, 64. Then Lt. Col. of the regiment until his severe wound at Reams Station on Aug. 25th, 64. Was wounded by shrapnel of a shell.
Look up pic of 12th NJ monument at Gettysburg. .69 calibre buck and ball on the top of the marker. The 11th NJ fought further down the road and Sam Sleeper (family a neighbor of mine) ended up with a field promotion to Captain. His wife died in the late teens /early 20s. The Confederates should’ve won that thing. Had Jackson lived to fight there it would’ve been different. He had more influence on Lee and would’ve forced different tactics. That war ruined America and the new country that emerged has devolved into what we now have.
I saw you in Friendship Saturday. You passed my jewelry shop (booth). I tried to get your attention to say hello and that we love your videos, but you were with people and didn't hear me. You are my husband's go to guy, for gun reviews. Thank you!
Sorry I did not hear you. Hope you're having a successful time there. I wish I were not so far away; I'm tempted to come back again this coming weekend. I've learned, though, that the second weekend is almost not worth the trip. So many vendors tend to leave before the second weekend, it seems.
The amazing thing is that in Europe armies used to stand in line and fire at each other with these type of rifles and standing still and then move back to reveal another line who had just reloaded their muskets. The violence of the impact of these weapons on a human body cannot be understated. Even into the civil war, these blackpowder rifles were killing and inflicting horrendous wounds into men fighting against men. This is the state of all war but it is a mistake to think any blackpowder rifle or handgun was weak compared to todays weapons. They were just as deadly and just as damaging as todays weapons. In some cases ,inflicting even worse injuries due to the large calibers used. Without the benefit of any real triage and health recovery care. And that should give you an amazing amount of respect for the Americans who stood and fought for their families, their neighborhoods, their states and their country with these weapons. The cornfield at Antietam is a moment of truth in American history that should never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, Great Americans.
Innovative tactics included the ranks to the rear advancing to take their shots. It moved the line closer to the enemy to take their ground & provided covering fire for the troops reloading.
Thanks. They rarely get all that many views, but I love them and enjoy bringing them to our viewers, even if it's just a small percentage of our audience who care about them. Such history is just so interesting to me, as well as fun.
Fascinating! I've been to Harpers Ferry and stood on the ground where that rifle was made! Very cool to see one of the Harpers Ferry firearms in action!
I think that the question of "do embers persist in the barrel after firing" could be answered by using a borescope right after discharge. Black powder doesn't rely on atmospheric oxygen to burn. That said, cannoneers ran a wet mop down the barrels after discharge, it never hurts to err on the side of safety.
Like I said you’re a actors neighbor uncle that when something goes wrong you usually have a video right there to fix it and straighten it out which is awesome and I have learned more from you in the last couple years I’ve been subscribed to you that I’ve ever known so thank you for your knowledge even though you’re retired you’re still one heck of a teacher and I love your videos stay safe y’all
With these old smoke poles, I start with 70 grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. Then load 75 Grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. go up to 80 grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. Keep increasing the powder loads by 5 grains and shoot 5 rounds. Somewhere between 70 grain loads and 100 grain loads you will find the sweet load that gives the best group and that will be the optimum load for that musket. Each individual musket may shoot a different load better so do not assume that one load in one musket is the best load for all muskets. My own smooth bore shoots 87 grains for the most optimum pattern. I also clean the barrel between each shot. I managed to harvest a buck with the smooth bore. I aimed for the heart/lung at 30 yards and hit the deer in the neck. Thats when I switched to rifled barreled flintlocks and what an improvement in accuracy and increase of venison in the freezer. Flint and Steel ignition goes back a long way and I enjoy going that far back in time.
Great video!! I love these videos on old firearms as much as the cool new ones… every Hickok45 video makes me want to expand my collection- you’re the best firearms salesman in the history of the world sir, and for that I thank you!
By the way I forgot to say thank you for all that you show us on your channel I love your show you and John are very knowledgeable people especially when it comes to black powder those are awesome
Your "shoot amongst 'em" quote reminded of my favorite Jerry Clower "Coon Huntin' Story". "Just shoot up in here amongst us, one of us got to have some relief!". Great video, as always!!
i read that 1842 muskets were intentionally made with barrels a little thicker so they could be rifled later on. apparently it didn't work too well, but you could find some '42's with rear sights because of that.
My grandfather use to work at OI glass works in Alton Illinois, and worked in the machine shop. He also in his spare time made lead sinkers. Those folks that are too young to remember, they were lead weights for fishing. He also had a couple of cousins down in southern Illinois which still had the 1842's and required ammo. So my grandfather would make them for them and I would go to each bait shop and deliver sinkers and we would go to southern Illinois every other weekend. One of his cousins made wine in bath tubs and be went through alot of buck and balls. Why you might ask ? Was it because he was bootlegging? Was he at war!? Nope, it would have been Kool but he was hunting squirrels and small game for dinner. Lol His name was Uncle Clem. Those were the days when you could teach young folks how to swim by throwing them in the water .He taught me how to swim . 😆 Also he had a hole in his throat, from doctors taking out his voice box and he had this Lillte tube with a box attached that he talked through. I loved my childhood, and I got to shoot that 1842, I could barely hold that thing up. I think he held it up for me. Great times. Well thanks for reading. Who else remembers shooting old Arms back in your day!!?. And what kind was it. ?
Thanks for showing this fine riffle. I have fired those muzzle loaders many times. In my case it was a 58 caliber. And incidentally, the rammer you are looking for is built into the gun, it's right next to the barrel.
Forgive me if you addressed this later on in the video, writing this as I watch. It makes sense that you’d get more spread with the buckshot with the shot behind the ball, because the same energy being put into the smaller and larger projectiles would influence the smaller ones to travel faster than the larger. So, the shot is actually being spread out by the ball itself, which is traveling at a slower speed. Whereas if you put the shot in front, the ball gets all the muzzle energy and is skewed by the shot’s interference. Just guessing, myself. I don’t even own a muzzle loader, and I dropped out of high school as soon as I could.
Man, what a beautiful weapon. I’m absolutely in love with all things civil war so I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Harpers Ferry rifle for quite some time.
As to buck and ball and which should be loaded first, I would have to first ask: do the three 30 cal. buck pellets lie together flatly horizontal (as the gun is being loaded) within the barrel or do they stack against each other at different levels? Put another way: if you put a wad in first and then three buckshot, would all three shot rest on the wad or would each shot be at different level? If the latter is the case, it would seem that the force of detonation would be at a different angle for each buckshot and make the three balls move randomly within the barrel, thereby affecting how each shot moves once it leaves the barrel. I would think that, if the shot were loaded last, it would also be affected even within the barrel by the ball that follows it as well (assuming no between wadding?). Perhaps the seemingly randomness of flight is the result of different forces on all four projectiles. Just sayin'.
@ hickok45 I am looking forward to hearing about your trip to friendship Indiana last weekend. I hope it was as good as mine was at the gun show in Washington state. I can't believe my luck, I found a 12 ga. Caplock SXS made in Belgium some time in the 1800's in perfect working order, I spent all day Sunday shooting it what a beautiful mess it was to clean up I loved every minute of it.
Love watching Hickok’s videos and his evaluation on different firearms, but a little surprised he would think the physics of buck and ball would be best to have the buckshot on the bottom. I didn’t go to MIT, but seems to me the heavier larger ball would be slightly slower then the lighter buckshot, so makes sense to put the lighter shot on top of the heavy lead ball!
Tomorrow I'm going to be looking at two of what my FFL friend calls Harper's Ferry muskets, though being in New Hampshire they might be Springfield made. I don't have one and '45 does so I'm tempted. Looked, an Armi Sport repro defarbed by Longwood. I bought it. It won't have any hidden safety issues and is very nicely done.
Coincidentally, I just stood on the ground this morning in Harper's Ferry, where my 1842 Musket was manufactured. I couldn't find any of the gun makers who built it, though. Such a rich-in-history place to visit.
Great video. I've played a bit with Buck & Ball in my 1847 dated Harpers Ferry 1842 Musket. Never tried loading the buck below the ball because all the pictures of cartridges had the buck on top. My theory on the poor accuracy with the buck on the bottom is the buck lacking any real wadding don't achieve the same velocity as the better sealed ball. Placing the buck on top makes the ball shove the buck out at the same velocity. I've recovered fired Buck &Ball from the Civil War and the ball always shows 3 little impact dimples from the buckshot. Unfired (dropped) balls lack the 3 impact marks. 0 balls
Technically the Musket is not a firearm ( as defined by statute) , but is classified as an Archaic Weapon. ( no form 4473 required). Beautiful Arm, Mr. 45!
The pattern stays tighter with the ball behind the buck because the only time the two touch are on setback, when expansion would be checked by the barrel. After that, the lighter buck stays ahead of the ball without the turbulence it would incur if it were behind it.
I have a Harper's Ferry buck and ball rifle stamped 1826. It has been handed down in my family and now I have stewardship of it. I bought a smartphone endoscope and looked down the barrel and I swear it looks like a shiny ball at the bottom. It's not wrapped in paper and looks oily and grimy down there. Who knows. It's not in firing condition and I'll keep it until my son's turn comes around.
Cool video! Here's an idea - cut a small V notch in your table into which you can lean those black powder rifles for loading. It always scares me when you carefully lean them against the table.
Yeah, I've not done that in this table yet. I've done it in my other shooting table, but then I've added new tops to it several time with plywood and have just not done it there either.
Never have shot them like this cause I don’t have that nice rifle like you have Mr. Hickok but I have shot the Winchester defenders and this shot is very effective. Thanks for sharing always a great history lesson!
Was the buck and ball used more defensively? Like if enemies are charging your lines you'd use buck and ball and if you where on offense use rifles bullets?
Buckshot deforms on the bottom and spreads, acts as a buffer for the ball on top. You could put a thin wad between buck and ball. Buck & 1/2 oz. Slug would make a good modern shotgun load. Think I'll crank some out!
Yep, there's something so special about them that just cannot be explained adequately. A person either gets it and appreciates it or they don't, and there's no way to communicate it.
Amazing work! I would love to see a Budget single shot entry from ALL the gun manufacturers. Example a Budget Ruger break action with military style rear peep.
I find the black powder very fascinating and one God I’ve seen on a website called BUDK is the 1891 colt revolver and they have the pepper box and a whole bunch other guns a pepper box I want to hang on my wall that’s cool but they do know when cold I would love to learn to shoot that would be fascinating even though it’s a working replica But still I find the black powder very fascinating and so far you too are the smartest ones I met with black powder and I don’t want to turn it into a three $400 hand grenade so yeah your videos I learn a lot from them thank you for putting your knowledge out there
Still haven't gotten my French 1777 AN IX working, needs the breech sleeved and threaded for a new breech plug. I hope to get the work done in 2023. The 1777 is the prototype of the 1842.
Ok. You got me. I've supressed my gun fixation since i bought a boat in may, but dang it.... the civil war buff in me was lured in by the discussion of buck-n-ball.
A very important rule in muzzle loading, Do Not Blow Down the Barrel ! Try reading the NMLRA Range Rule book, I've seen people disqualified for this. Let's teach our new younger shooters correctly.
I would put the ball on the bottom that gives you a solid surface for the charge to push on. Or if you put the buck on the bottom it'd be pushing on three smaller balls. That's just makes logic to me but it could be wrong. I've been known to do stuff backwards other times
I don’t know if they were brave,stupid or even drunk back then. The way those men went face to face with each other, plus cannon fire ? They have my upmost respect.
Mostly brave. If you look at Weapon and uniform design way back in the day, it’s clear that the men were in fact, Brave, Stupid, and utterly Baroque.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that european observers were surprised by the lack of bayonet charges, which could make or break a battle, they just stood there firing at each other. How accurate this is I don't know.
I'm willing to bet they were either poor or just drafted. Doesn't mean they weren't brave too though!
Agreed
Enough gun smoke from 1,000+ rifles gives you a little concealment but otherwise it was a meat grinder.
Thank you for sharing that beautiful work of art and craftsmanship with all of us fellow gun nuts. Think of the stories it could tell if only it could talk! 176 years old and still kicking. Life is good . Thanks again.
@communists are gross they also have museums with the guns.
I've never seen it outside of F76 tho
If i remember it correctly on the articles i have read on buck and ball.. George Washington was a fan of this. It’s great that you get to share your knowledge to us on this one hickok
I have in my family collection a B&B paper cartridge that my Great Great grandpa brought back from his time in the 34th OVI. The buck was on top of the ball.
For someone who was bored to tears with history in my youth, I am fascinated by it in my older years. Thank you for the great lesson.
Ditto!
It's like the early version of a home defense shotshell. The 12th NJ volunteers in the Civil War were experts with it. They had a unit that used .69 buck and ball and smoothbore muskets. Used them for clearing buildings where snipers took positions. Gettysburg has a monument to the 12th NJ with a buck and ball load at the top of it. They cleared out a barn on what was known as the Bliss farm.
12th NJ actually largely disregarded the .69 cal. ball and just loaded the buckshot in some rifles up to 25 Buck shot balls in that first initial volley. Then waited until Wilcox’s men were 30-40 yards away. After that first volley they fired at Will and I’m sure they used the .69 cal ball. I just finished a book of the life and letters of Richard Swain Thompson who was the original Capt of Co. K in the 12th N.J. Pro. Maj, 64. Then Lt. Col. of the regiment until his severe wound at Reams Station on Aug. 25th, 64. Was wounded by shrapnel of a shell.
Look up pic of 12th NJ monument at Gettysburg. .69 calibre buck and ball on the top of the marker. The 11th NJ fought further down the road and Sam Sleeper (family a neighbor of mine) ended up with a field promotion to Captain. His wife died in the late teens /early 20s. The Confederates should’ve won that thing. Had Jackson lived to fight there it would’ve been different. He had more influence on Lee and would’ve forced different tactics. That war ruined America and the new country that emerged has devolved into what we now have.
@@mzi03731There is something seriously wrong with you if you wanted the Confederates to win
I saw you in Friendship Saturday. You passed my jewelry shop (booth). I tried to get your attention to say hello and that we love your videos, but you were with people and didn't hear me. You are my husband's go to guy, for gun reviews. Thank you!
Sorry I did not hear you. Hope you're having a successful time there. I wish I were not so far away; I'm tempted to come back again this coming weekend. I've learned, though, that the second weekend is almost not worth the trip. So many vendors tend to leave before the second weekend, it seems.
😊
@@hickok45 yes it's sad.
You can do modern shotgun shells this way. Imagine old style formation volley firing with modern pump shotguns instead of muzzle loaders.
First video with this fine piece of history: th-cam.com/video/DOytjAav4PI/w-d-xo.html
I always learn something from Hickok 45.
The amazing thing is that in Europe armies used to stand in line and fire at each other with these type of rifles and standing still and then move back to reveal another line who had just reloaded their muskets.
The violence of the impact of these weapons on a human body cannot be understated.
Even into the civil war, these blackpowder rifles were killing and inflicting horrendous wounds into men fighting against men.
This is the state of all war but it is a mistake to think any blackpowder rifle or handgun was weak compared to todays weapons.
They were just as deadly and just as damaging as todays weapons.
In some cases ,inflicting even worse injuries due to the large calibers used.
Without the benefit of any real triage and health recovery care.
And that should give you an amazing amount of respect for the Americans who stood and fought for their families, their neighborhoods, their states and their country with these weapons.
The cornfield at Antietam is a moment of truth in American history that should never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace, Great Americans.
Innovative tactics included the ranks to the rear advancing to take their shots.
It moved the line closer to the enemy to take their ground & provided covering fire for the troops reloading.
Those boys had more guts than brains.
Indeed Hickok45, the old guns are fascinating and beautifully crafted! Thanks Kindly and Many Blessings! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
love these old firearms
Thank you for posting the link to the previous video. Even though I watched it a couple months ago I’m going to watch/listen again while in my shop🇺🇸
Morning Greg,,,Your right,,love these old historical tools and so happy you highlight them...Thank you Brother...Love from Ohio,,,Neil
Thanks. They rarely get all that many views, but I love them and enjoy bringing them to our viewers, even if it's just a small percentage of our audience who care about them. Such history is just so interesting to me, as well as fun.
Beautiful rifle. A great piece of history. Thanks for sharing Hickok45. There's a road here in Clarksville, TN named after Harper's Ferry.
Fascinating! I've been to Harpers Ferry and stood on the ground where that rifle was made! Very cool to see one of the Harpers Ferry firearms in action!
6.99million almost there .... great information on the old smooth bore ... learned some more.... thanks 👍
Very nice piece of civil war era kit…! 😍💥💨
I think that the question of "do embers persist in the barrel after firing" could be answered by using a borescope right after discharge. Black powder doesn't rely on atmospheric oxygen to burn. That said, cannoneers ran a wet mop down the barrels after discharge, it never hurts to err on the side of safety.
Like I said you’re a actors neighbor uncle that when something goes wrong you usually have a video right there to fix it and straighten it out which is awesome and I have learned more from you in the last couple years I’ve been subscribed to you that I’ve ever known so thank you for your knowledge even though you’re retired you’re still one heck of a teacher and I love your videos stay safe y’all
With these old smoke poles, I start with 70 grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. Then load 75 Grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. go up to 80 grains of powder and shoot 5 rounds. Keep increasing the powder loads by 5 grains and shoot 5 rounds. Somewhere between 70 grain loads and 100 grain loads you will find the sweet load that gives the best group and that will be the optimum load for that musket. Each individual musket may shoot a different load better so do not assume that one load in one musket is the best load for all muskets. My own smooth bore shoots 87 grains for the most optimum pattern. I also clean the barrel between each shot. I managed to harvest a buck with the smooth bore. I aimed for the heart/lung at 30 yards and hit the deer in the neck. Thats when I switched to rifled barreled flintlocks and what an improvement in accuracy and increase of venison in the freezer. Flint and Steel ignition goes back a long way and I enjoy going that far back in time.
This is the 1850s.
Get a percussion fired gun, old man.
Join us in the 19th century,why don't you?
Great video!! I love these videos on old firearms as much as the cool new ones… every Hickok45 video makes me want to expand my collection- you’re the best firearms salesman in the history of the world sir, and for that I thank you!
Kudos to John for his camera work. Love the old weapons. Thank you guys.
Not boring - the loading steps are informative (and cool).
By the way I forgot to say thank you for all that you show us on your channel I love your show you and John are very knowledgeable people especially when it comes to black powder those are awesome
Your "shoot amongst 'em" quote reminded of my favorite Jerry Clower "Coon Huntin' Story". "Just shoot up in here amongst us, one of us got to have some relief!". Great video, as always!!
Thanks for the peek into history, Hickok45!
I find a lot of musket balls in my hobby. It's cool to see the musket in action.
We seldom get to see you walk down through your range. You have such a beautiful place. It's a piece of paradise.
How funny I just bought a rifled 1842 Springfield yesterday and today Hickok makes an 1842 video.
Life’s funny like that
i read that 1842 muskets were intentionally made with barrels a little thicker so they could be rifled later on. apparently it didn't work too well, but you could find some '42's with rear sights because of that.
Excellent discussion about its use in the Civil War. Well done.
My grandfather use to work at OI glass works in Alton Illinois, and worked in the machine shop. He also in his spare time made lead sinkers. Those folks that are too young to remember, they were lead weights for fishing. He also had a couple of cousins down in southern Illinois which still had the 1842's and required ammo. So my grandfather would make them for them and I would go to each bait shop and deliver sinkers and we would go to southern Illinois every other weekend. One of his cousins made wine in bath tubs and be went through alot of buck and balls. Why you might ask ? Was it because he was bootlegging? Was he at war!? Nope, it would have been Kool but he was hunting squirrels and small game for dinner. Lol His name was Uncle Clem. Those were the days when you could teach young folks how to swim by throwing them in the water .He taught me how to swim . 😆
Also he had a hole in his throat, from doctors taking out his voice box and he had this Lillte tube with a box attached that he talked through. I loved my childhood, and I got to shoot that 1842, I could barely hold that thing up. I think he held it up for me. Great times. Well thanks for reading. Who else remembers shooting old Arms back in your day!!?. And what kind was it. ?
18:24 we do love you gun grandpa
Thank you for showing the old fun stuff and target inspection…has always been a fun part of shooting!!
Always great to see you enjoy shooting. As for enjoying the riffle, well I too love history when told by someone as passionate as you...
Looks like fun…I love the element of working the mechanics on older firearms.
Thanks for showing this fine riffle. I have fired those muzzle loaders many times. In my case it was a 58 caliber. And incidentally, the rammer you are looking for is built into the gun, it's right next to the barrel.
The TALON slide grips are a game changer 👍
Forgive me if you addressed this later on in the video, writing this as I watch. It makes sense that you’d get more spread with the buckshot with the shot behind the ball, because the same energy being put into the smaller and larger projectiles would influence the smaller ones to travel faster than the larger. So, the shot is actually being spread out by the ball itself, which is traveling at a slower speed.
Whereas if you put the shot in front, the ball gets all the muzzle energy and is skewed by the shot’s interference.
Just guessing, myself. I don’t even own a muzzle loader, and I dropped out of high school as soon as I could.
Man, what a beautiful weapon. I’m absolutely in love with all things civil war so I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Harpers Ferry rifle for quite some time.
Could have been at the armory when John Brown raided...beautiful piece
Hello Hickock. Thanks for another great instructive video sir! I look forward to owning a smoothbore 20 gauge fowler by TVM.
The old rifles are still capable of doing the job! I would not want to be advancing shoulder to shoulder against it! Thanks!!!
As to buck and ball and which should be loaded first, I would have to first ask: do the three 30 cal. buck pellets lie together flatly horizontal (as the gun is being loaded) within the barrel or do they stack against each other at different levels? Put another way: if you put a wad in first and then three buckshot, would all three shot rest on
the wad or would each shot be at different level? If the latter is the case, it would seem that the force of detonation would be at a different angle for each buckshot
and make the three balls move randomly within the barrel, thereby affecting how each shot moves once it leaves the barrel. I would think that, if the shot were loaded
last, it would also be affected even within the barrel by the ball that follows it as well (assuming no between wadding?). Perhaps the seemingly randomness of flight is the result of different forces on all four projectiles. Just sayin'.
Thanks for your keen insight on this amazing firearm.
Awesome video thanks for the info on the musket with buck and ball thanks for sharing Hickok45
What are the odds, ive been really interested in old muzzleloaders lately and now Hickok posts this lol. Beautiful rifle, thanks for sharing.
It was "meant to be"! The gods are telling you that you need a traditional muzzleloader.
@ hickok45 I am looking forward to hearing about your trip to friendship Indiana last weekend. I hope it was as good as mine was at the gun show in Washington state. I can't believe my luck, I found a 12 ga. Caplock SXS made in Belgium some time in the 1800's in perfect working order, I spent all day Sunday shooting it what a beautiful mess it was to clean up I loved every minute of it.
Great video it was fascinating. Thank you for mentioning duelist 1954 the man does not get enough attention!
I agree. He knows more about muzzleloaders and such than the rest of us have forgotten.
Love watching Hickok’s videos and his evaluation on different firearms, but a little surprised he would think the physics of buck and ball would be best to have the buckshot on the bottom. I didn’t go to MIT, but seems to me the heavier larger ball would be slightly slower then the lighter buckshot, so makes sense to put the lighter shot on top of the heavy lead ball!
Love the old muskets
im starting to enjoy the old guns more than the new ones
Tomorrow I'm going to be looking at two of what my FFL friend calls Harper's Ferry muskets, though being in New Hampshire they might be Springfield made. I don't have one and '45 does so I'm tempted.
Looked, an Armi Sport repro defarbed by Longwood. I bought it. It won't have any hidden safety issues and is very nicely done.
Coincidentally, I just stood on the ground this morning in Harper's Ferry, where my 1842 Musket was manufactured. I couldn't find any of the gun makers who built it, though. Such a rich-in-history place to visit.
I have 1842 I really like it it is more accurate than one would think out to about 75 yards specially if you patch the ball.
I know it's always been that way, but I've always wondered why John never speaks during the videos.
Aside from the rare sneeze or giggle!
I would be scarred if I had to fight Hickok45 in a war.
Coming from south Louisiana!! Thanks for the great videos!!!!
Great video. I've played a bit with Buck & Ball in my 1847 dated Harpers Ferry 1842 Musket. Never tried loading the buck below the ball because all the pictures of cartridges had the buck on top. My theory on the poor accuracy with the buck on the bottom is the buck lacking any real wadding don't achieve the same velocity as the better sealed ball. Placing the buck on top makes the ball shove the buck out at the same velocity. I've recovered fired Buck &Ball from the Civil War and the ball always shows 3 little impact dimples from the buckshot. Unfired (dropped) balls lack the 3 impact marks.
0 balls
Technically the Musket is not a firearm ( as defined by statute) , but is classified as an Archaic Weapon. ( no form 4473 required). Beautiful Arm, Mr. 45!
Never forget the hero John Brown
The pattern stays tighter with the ball behind the buck because the only time the two touch are on setback, when expansion would be checked by the barrel. After that, the lighter buck stays ahead of the ball without the turbulence it would incur if it were behind it.
I have always enjoyed and learned a lot from your videos thru the years, thank you!
Love this episode. Love that musket
I have a flintlock that was made in 1816 (French) that still shoots just fine. I love history and my only regret is that the musket can’t talk !
I have a Harper's Ferry buck and ball rifle stamped 1826. It has been handed down in my family and now I have stewardship of it. I bought a smartphone endoscope and looked down the barrel and I swear it looks like a shiny ball at the bottom. It's not wrapped in paper and looks oily and grimy down there. Who knows. It's not in firing condition and I'll keep it until my son's turn comes around.
Cool video! Here's an idea - cut a small V notch in your table into which you can lean those black powder rifles for loading. It always scares me when you carefully lean them against the table.
Yeah, I've not done that in this table yet. I've done it in my other shooting table, but then I've added new tops to it several time with plywood and have just not done it there either.
Never have shot them like this cause I don’t have that nice rifle like you have Mr. Hickok but I have shot the Winchester defenders and this shot is very effective. Thanks for sharing always a great history lesson!
Really enjoyed this test on buck and ball, I would also think you'd want the buck behind the ball so I was surprised by the results.
Was the buck and ball used more defensively? Like if enemies are charging your lines you'd use buck and ball and if you where on offense use rifles bullets?
In Cammiefornia? This would probably be an assault rifle. lol
With excessive capacity magaZine 🤣🤣🤣
@@justinweaver8107 "Clipozine" lol
@@2ahdcat 😂😂
This is not an assault rifle. Literally meets 1 of the 5 criteria
@@fujimi715 I was being facetious. I'm surprised a Red Rider BB gun isn't an assault rifle in Shitafornia...
Just like sitting in a History Class. Only with show and tell!
Just FYI Mr Hickok, Wolf Hill Trading Co still makes the defensive buck-n-ball load for your 12ga...
There's a set in my Winchester right now.🤠😉
great and informative video as always!
Buckshot deforms on the bottom and spreads, acts as a buffer for the ball on top. You could put a thin wad between buck and ball. Buck & 1/2 oz. Slug would make a good modern shotgun load. Think I'll crank some out!
How cool to post this, you must have been at the Friendship Shoot today! I'd love to go someday. Hope you had a great time!
That is a very beautiful piece! Very nice!
Thank you for the history, l love it, and really enjoy your videos
Thank you for the great video and info. God Bless!
Think “that’s what she said” as Hickok explains the buck and ball… at least I got a good laugh out of it.
I love the older black powder guns I have a few myself Thanks
Yep, there's something so special about them that just cannot be explained adequately. A person either gets it and appreciates it or they don't, and there's no way to communicate it.
Great looking gun
Yay, buck and ball time with Hickok45!
When hundreds of Federal infantry fired buck-and-ball in regimental volleys, the lethal effect was tremendous.
Amazing work! I would love to see a Budget single shot entry from ALL the gun manufacturers. Example a Budget Ruger break action with military style rear peep.
I find the black powder very fascinating and one God I’ve seen on a website called BUDK is the 1891 colt revolver and they have the pepper box and a whole bunch other guns a pepper box I want to hang on my wall that’s cool but they do know when cold I would love to learn to shoot that would be fascinating even though it’s a working replica But still I find the black powder very fascinating and so far you too are the smartest ones I met with black powder and I don’t want to turn it into a three $400 hand grenade so yeah your videos I learn a lot from them thank you for putting your knowledge out there
Still haven't gotten my French 1777 AN IX working, needs the breech sleeved and threaded for a new breech plug. I hope to get the work done in 2023. The 1777 is the prototype of the 1842.
7 million subscribers. Let's go!
Thanks for the information.Enjoy your videos.
Just watched a short w/ Hickok. 45 firing an HK, MP5K, Brief case gun...full auto, on his lap! 😆 We like WHATEVER you choose to shoot, Sir!
Ok. You got me. I've supressed my gun fixation since i bought a boat in may, but dang it.... the civil war buff in me was lured in by the discussion of buck-n-ball.
I wish Hikok was my grandfather. He has lots of toys.
I love these black powder guns, all the things one had to do before firing a shot! We are spoiled nowadays.
Love this kínder of firearms!I hope I can get One down here in PERU!!
Great stuff, love them old guns
Alternate title: Mature old man experiments with buck and ball torture
A very important rule in muzzle loading, Do Not Blow Down the Barrel ! Try reading the NMLRA Range Rule book, I've seen people disqualified for this. Let's teach our new younger shooters correctly.
I would put the ball on the bottom that gives you a solid surface for the charge to push on. Or if you put the buck on the bottom it'd be pushing on three smaller balls. That's just makes logic to me but it could be wrong. I've been known to do stuff backwards other times
Watching this video made me get my 1860 Wentworth out and do some shooting with it
What would you consider a good price for an authentic Harpers Ferry like yours? And for a Brown Bess? I'm interested in buying both.
Could Silencer Central be commissioned to make a special suppressor for a musket? That would be kinda cool.