Early American Ammunition

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ม.ค. 2025
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ความคิดเห็น • 847

  • @TastingHistory
    @TastingHistory 3 ปีที่แล้ว +438

    As Darkwing Duck says, “let’s get dangerous!”

  • @dennyterrio1942
    @dennyterrio1942 3 ปีที่แล้ว +263

    also, a gun is useless without the flint. hope you do a thing about how flintlock users used local flint.

    • @horuswarmastuer9099
      @horuswarmastuer9099 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      great mention but not a full enough topic for its own bideo.mezhink

    • @P_RO_
      @P_RO_ 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      @@horuswarmastuer9099 It could make a good video. Some areas had several types of 'flints' available and at the markets there were sometimes different grades of 'flints' available too. There's a special technique to knapping gun-flints versus making other stone tools and that too varies some based on the type of material used. And there's the re-edging of gun-flints in the field. Whole books have been written on the subject so I'm sure a good video could be made- especially with Townsends doing it!

    • @geraldhill7547
      @geraldhill7547 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Flint knapping

    • @GravesRWFiA
      @GravesRWFiA 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      the american flints were very good. the briitish army often commented on their quality.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      You have to take good care of the steel frizzen. If the surface texture is not right or grease gets on the frizzen, the steel may not shed any sparks when the flint strikes it.
      A lot of underlying factors behind getting a flintlock to dependably fire. There's a reason Reverend Forsyth decided to dissolve mercury in nital and then smack it with a hammer in order to fill his game bag.

  • @ReptilianLepton
    @ReptilianLepton 3 ปีที่แล้ว +344

    "Stay strapped or get clapped."
    - George Washington, probably

    • @jvleasure
      @jvleasure 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      George Washington DEFINITELY

    • @120masterpiece
      @120masterpiece 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Not to nerd out but if you don't know where "clapped" came from, clap means to bring together, like clapping your hands, so you'd clap irons (handcuffs) onto someone's wrists.

    • @Real11BangBang
      @Real11BangBang 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      James Madison
      Source...
      2nd amendment

    • @SealegsSam
      @SealegsSam 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I have a shirt that says that.

    • @CaesarGB
      @CaesarGB 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@SealegsSam I’ve seen those shirts online. I need one!

  • @partical7
    @partical7 3 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    The going rule that I learned in blacksmithing is to always assume that every piece of metal in the shop is hot regardless of weather it is glowing or not...🧐

    • @paca_bill4863
      @paca_bill4863 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Made that mistake one time back in the 70's during a blacksmithing course. It's amazing how long it took between the hand and brain to register :-O

    • @trythinking6676
      @trythinking6676 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Learned that working in a couple foundries, too.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      If you drop a piece, let it drop.

    • @FirstOfTheMagi
      @FirstOfTheMagi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Similar to electrical work, always assume that every wire is live

  • @rossallan3585
    @rossallan3585 3 ปีที่แล้ว +247

    I’m mostly here for John giving a safety warning, and Doggo just shoving it’s delightful bonce in the nearest bucket for a good old sniff!

    • @KairuHakubi
      @KairuHakubi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      everyone watching is like 'boy i sure hope that isn't a big ol' tub of beef-flavored lead'

    • @treennumbers
      @treennumbers 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@KairuHakubi Lead water famously tastes sweet, and, also, drove the Romans utterly mad.
      It's a labrador though, so I'm not sure there's going to ever be an observable difference.

    • @MikehMike01
      @MikehMike01 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@treennumbers the Rome lead thing is a myth

    • @jaji8549
      @jaji8549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I thought that also about the water but I think that's a quenching bucket for the forge.

    • @KairuHakubi
      @KairuHakubi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@jaji8549 *Dog runs off with roughly bone-shaped crescent wrench you just forged*

  • @Tibbs736
    @Tibbs736 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    One of my ancestors worked in casting tower for lead shot, if I understand correctly they would pour molten lead down the inside of the hollow tower, and it would hit mesh causing the lead to scatter into fat raindrops (perfect musketball size) which fell into water and cooled. Mass production!

    • @McMollet
      @McMollet 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      What you're referring to is a "shot tower". They were used to produce lead shot, not balls. Important distinction, as shot would never go in a musket, but instead a shotgun or blunderbuss (you need as close to exact sizing as possible in a musket/rifle for them to be accurate or not explode!) .

    • @Tibbs736
      @Tibbs736 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@McMollet thanks for the clarification!

    • @Missourah1861
      @Missourah1861 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Still how shotgun shot is manufactured to this day

    • @brustdiesel
      @brustdiesel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The Baltimore Shot Tower

  • @Faze-2
    @Faze-2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +135

    "today we are going to be doing something dangerous"
    Me- You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention

  • @briannawalker4793
    @briannawalker4793 3 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    Between this and the Little House books, I now 100% have false memories of sitting by the fire trying not to touch the shiny hot bullets as Pa gets ready for hunting

    • @wendynordstrom3487
      @wendynordstrom3487 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      One of my favorite memories!

    • @IMFLondon
      @IMFLondon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Awww cute

    • @AjiNoPanda
      @AjiNoPanda 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I was JUST thinking of that scene, and how Pa carefully saves the lead shavings to melt for his next batch of bullets.

    • @miriambarnett2782
      @miriambarnett2782 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I was thinking the same thing!

  • @BogeyTheBear
    @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    7:38 Another safety consideration is to make sure the scrap lead you return to the pot is dry. Some makers will drop lead out of the mold into buckets of water to harden the lead with its sudden cooling effect. Just make sure there is no water in the lead bits going back in because the resulting steam will scatter molten lead everywhere.

    • @moosemaimer
      @moosemaimer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Air will actually do the same thing. I once saw a foundry worker dump metal into a pot from a forklift, and the expanding air bubbles turned it into a volcano of white-hot molten steel. They had a rule that you weren't supposed to do that once the pot was half-full, so that's why.

    • @toddellner5283
      @toddellner5283 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      One of the first lessons I got in foundry work was "Check your casting sand for cat poop." Molten metal hitting wet droppings would be a bad way to die.

    • @colinburke8389
      @colinburke8389 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Like water and hot oil, only much much worse

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I figure one workaround is to put the lead scrap in the ladle, then set the ladle on top the molten lead for a while. The scrap, though still solid, will heat up to the point where any moisture will evaporate away. Then you tilt the ladle to drop the scrap lead into the pot.

    • @soaringbumnm8374
      @soaringbumnm8374 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Been there done that lol ! OUCH !!!

  • @michaelfinnegan4301
    @michaelfinnegan4301 3 ปีที่แล้ว +230

    One thing that should be mentioned here for safety reasons. Now that the little pot and ladle have been used to process lead, they should never be used for food again. A lot of people have used cast iron pots and such in the past for melting lead at home. That is why you should be leery buying used cast iron cookware at flea markets and yard sales. If you do buy such an item, you should test it for lead before use.

    • @VentrueMinis
      @VentrueMinis 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Very smart! Never thought about the flea market consideration.

    • @MatthewHilbertsBaritone
      @MatthewHilbertsBaritone 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Or clean and re-season.

    • @michaelfinnegan4301
      @michaelfinnegan4301 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@MatthewHilbertsBaritone You won't get all of the lead out of cast iron. The lead will seep into the actual pores of the metal. Cast iron is not hard and dense like steel it is soft and porous.

    • @lendavoice60
      @lendavoice60 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Thank you I’ll pass this information along

    • @F0XD1E
      @F0XD1E 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@michaelfinnegan4301 "Bah I'll scrub it with a brillo."

  • @m2hmghb
    @m2hmghb 3 ปีที่แล้ว +47

    Water in molten lead instantly flashes to steam causing a steam explosion which will spray molten lead. That's why you don't cast when it's rainy.

    • @moosemaimer
      @moosemaimer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      If your hand is just wet enough you can quickly dip it in molten lead... the Liedenfrost Effect creates a curtain of steam which prevents the lead from directly touching your skin and acts as an insulator. The lead has to be quite hot: too cool and the steam won't form and you'll get burned.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Theoretically that wouldn't matter if you are properly heating everything. But definitely requires more care than is necessary, just dont do it on a rainy day

    • @johnsegertsons2143
      @johnsegertsons2143 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The damp or too much humidity cools of your molds and ruins your castings

    • @SteveAubrey1762
      @SteveAubrey1762 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sweat drops aswell!

  • @bowlofrice8
    @bowlofrice8 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Apron gloves and eyes are an absolute must when casting. As someone who has had a few molten lead accidents I can't stress care and PPE enough

    • @drsch
      @drsch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Ear protection when testing the bullets would be good too.

    • @wwisaacson4807
      @wwisaacson4807 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I mold balls and bulllets. I do it outside on a nice day with the wind to my back.

  • @the902giant
    @the902giant 3 ปีที่แล้ว +62

    First it was a crossover with Kent Rawlins, next it will be Ian from forgotten weapons

    • @cougarhunter33
      @cougarhunter33 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      It's Ian's opportunity to showcase French weapons that didn't live up to the "never fired and only dropped once," trope.

    • @fenrirrising131
      @fenrirrising131 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Britishmuzzleloaders or capandball would be a far better fit. Those channels have better quality content/people as well.

    • @Some_random98
      @Some_random98 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A match made in heaven

    • @darthrex354
      @darthrex354 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Mark from anvil would be a better choice, considering hes an actual gunsmith. He did a video rebuilding an entire flintlock striker assembly.

    • @particlemannn
      @particlemannn 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Came here to say this!
      Also still casting my vote for a Binging With Babish crossover too.

  • @dr.froghopper6711
    @dr.froghopper6711 3 ปีที่แล้ว +71

    Smoking the mold with candle soot makes for easier releases. I always thought the flintlock was backwards. Ready! Fire! Aim!

    • @henryspadt6160
      @henryspadt6160 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The only issue I’ve had with the lead sticking to the mold was because of excess lead on the outside holding it shut like a clamp

    • @user-vo7vp1xm9q
      @user-vo7vp1xm9q 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ready! Fire! Aim!

    • @cornholio1612
      @cornholio1612 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Recently got in to flintlocks...and you said it buddy! Between the lock time and the loss of sight picture it's been a trip.

    • @brustdiesel
      @brustdiesel 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's how the Brits did it...the Colonials realized that rifling, sniping, and silk patching, made for much more accuracy

    • @samy7013
      @samy7013 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ready! Fire! *Pray* !

  • @ashleighlecount
    @ashleighlecount 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    I am loving all of the new content.

  • @ExUSSailor
    @ExUSSailor 3 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    Also, civilian firearms were still largely custom made items. There was little, to no uniformity in caliber. Most weapons came with a bullet mold that made shot of the correct size for the bore of the weapon.

  • @cojones8518
    @cojones8518 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Not bad shooting. Flintlocks are kinda tricky to shoot because of the long lock time between when you pull the trigger and the bullet actually leaves the barrel. You have to keep really still a lot longer than with a modern rifle.

    • @KairuHakubi
      @KairuHakubi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ha, just like old cameras.

    • @kovona
      @kovona 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Poking the touch hole through with a needle or toothpick helps speed up lock time I find.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Trick is not to overload the pan. If priming powder gets into the vent hole, it acts as a fuse and adds milliseconds to the lock time. What you want is hot gases flashing through the vent for quick ignition, not a column of burning powder.

  • @JYeh888
    @JYeh888 3 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    I can't wait for the day Townsends mold and cast their own Liberty bell with a nutmeg on it. 🔔🌰

  • @kristaroll8011
    @kristaroll8011 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank you! This was a great video to help us understand bullet making from the early pioneers. We've been studying "Little House in the Big Woods" and Pa makes bullets. Now, we understand the process!

    • @scottanos9981
      @scottanos9981 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Also makes sense how natives were able to adopt firearm technology relatively quickly but not necessarily gunpowder production. Lower temperatures needed to melt lead around the fire!

  • @archeantyl9452
    @archeantyl9452 3 ปีที่แล้ว +40

    Lovely that you’ve branched out to other things historical. Came for the nutmeg and definitely sticking around for everything else, Mr Townsends! 💪🏽👍🏽

    • @Bildgesmythe
      @Bildgesmythe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      They always have, check out all the great old shows.

  • @johnsegertsons2143
    @johnsegertsons2143 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Put a pea size piece of bees wax in your melting pot it fluxes the lead and makes skimming the slag off easier.

    • @tacituskilgore6752
      @tacituskilgore6752 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thats what i use for fluxing my lead alloy. A good 15 bhn for 9mm and magnum pistol rounds powder coated for me.50/50 lino and pure lead

    • @brustdiesel
      @brustdiesel 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yep

  • @JayEmGe
    @JayEmGe 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I was literally talking about casting musket balls with my brother about an hour ago, this video couldn't have been uploaded at a better time.

    • @josephgioielli
      @josephgioielli 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Unless you need a historical set up, get a bottom pour lead melter. Well worth the extra money. Happy casting

    • @hellomcflyy
      @hellomcflyy 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      synchronicity

  • @robertwittick9181
    @robertwittick9181 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I’ve cast plenty for my .50 Hawkins reproduction. I was taught to add a bit of beeswax to the molten lead to help remove impurities.
    Nice to see the rare left handed flintlock but surprised the ball wasn’t seated with a patch. That has to effect accuracy.

  • @MrPh30
    @MrPh30 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    The Jaeger,Kentucky, the Drilling rifles and double rifles built and used in Americas set the starting point for the Art of The Rifle as we know and appreciate/ cherish the poems in wood and steel today.
    Then the Hawken offered the good chance of being successfull in the field and survive.
    Also the expression" buck'n ball" is from that time, and the marksmen,scouts and Snipers, Tim Murphy one of the very early good ones.
    But in the mix a little Italian air rifle named Girandoni also have a huge part of the history.

    • @Theonederboy
      @Theonederboy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @My Dixie Wrecked yes among other user including the Austrians in the 18th century

    • @ScottKenny1978
      @ScottKenny1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @My Dixie Wrecked the Girandoni? .45 cal roundball.

    • @ScottKenny1978
      @ScottKenny1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @My Dixie Wrecked yes, I want one! The .45cal is basically a .45acp. seen some pretty nice ones made by Sam Yang, look like an over-under shotgun with the pressure cylinder under the barrel.
      Though I have read that the .45cal PCP air rifles are kinda the wrong ones to get. Not as much speed as the 9mm/.357cal so they're not as flat shooting, and not as heavy a bullet as the .50cal.

    • @ScottKenny1978
      @ScottKenny1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @My Dixie Wrecked the Girandoni was roundball so it was about 9mm bullet weight (call it 145gr) and 750fps. It worked.
      What made the "windbusche" so feared militarily was the total lack of powder smoke. Jaegers could hide and fire most of their magazine without being spotted, whereas a man with a flintlock would reveal his position with the first shot.

    • @ScottKenny1978
      @ScottKenny1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @My Dixie Wrecked I will probably get a 9mm and a 4500psi air tank, then make friends with the firefighters to get it filled. I figure a couple pans of lasagna would probably cover it! 😆

  • @DJAIV
    @DJAIV 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

    I have a feeling these guys will be just fine in the coming dark winter.

    • @TheTimeshadows
      @TheTimeshadows 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Would love to meet them and gain some first-hand 18th c experience.

    • @LowdownBoy
      @LowdownBoy 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I thought that was already over. I wrote a song about it and everything :>/

    • @CaesarGB
      @CaesarGB 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      The Townsends and the Amish will teach the few people who live outside the mega cities how to survive in the wilds, while those in the cities live in their pods, eat the bugs, and don’t own a thing. Most freethinkers will be shot of course.

  • @railfan439
    @railfan439 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The musket balls would be dug out of the game animal, possibly re-used as is, but certainly re-melted and re-cast. Those balls shot into that target would also be dug out and re melted. Thanks for the video. Jon

    • @P_RO_
      @P_RO_ 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      When you already don't have enough, you learn to waste nothing because you might die if you do.

  • @earlshaner4441
    @earlshaner4441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Hi from Syracuse NY thank you brother for sharing this adventure with me

  • @robertfarmer8372
    @robertfarmer8372 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I live near Ft. Roberdeau in central Pennsylvania which was built to protect the lead mines used for bullets in Washington's army. There was also a saltpeter mine not far to the south that was used for gunpowder.

  • @goneutt
    @goneutt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Oh, I used to carve soapstone molds. They’ll handle silver, and works find detail very easily.

  • @Louzahsol
    @Louzahsol 3 ปีที่แล้ว +69

    “Over 600 degrees Fahrenheit”
    Soooo a couple hundred degrees cooler than McDonald’s coffee?

  • @Betterhose
    @Betterhose 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Shooting a black powder gun is really weird when you are used to shoot modern ones.
    There is a big delay between pulling the trigger and the shot going off.
    9:54
    You can see how the guys flinch before the shot even goes off.
    No critique. Presumably it would look the same if I were shooting. It's just funny. 😄

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      That delay feels like a full minute even though its just a fraction of a second. Its extremely off-putting and really tests your aiming and trigger discipline

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      This is called lock time, and even a 19th Century percussion muzzleloader will feel like it's hangfiring to a modern day shooter with experience in cartridge ammunition.

    • @ScottKenny1978
      @ScottKenny1978 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      And a matchlock is worse than a flintlock.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Looking closer at that shot, I can understand the flinch given that we have a left-handed shooter using a right-handed longarm with the lock flashing in front of the face!

    • @GanjaMasterBlaster
      @GanjaMasterBlaster 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      In the 1600s the matchlock muskets and arquebuses were more because the delay depended on how hard or fast you pulled the trigger
      Because the mechanism was more simple than a flintlock
      There were snapchances and snaplocks and miquelets and doglocks but those mechanisms were more expensive and just as complicated as a Wheellock

  • @DaRealRessonance
    @DaRealRessonance 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    Ah yes, Lobsterback killing rounds

    • @WALTERBROADDUS
      @WALTERBROADDUS 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Just remember Mel Gibson's words, " aim small, Miss small. "

    • @AlRoderick
      @AlRoderick 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Coats ain't red enough fellows!

    • @CaesarGB
      @CaesarGB 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@WALTERBROADDUS Regardless of historical accuracy/inaccuracy, a fantastic movie!

  • @ashleighlecount
    @ashleighlecount 3 ปีที่แล้ว +57

    I love learning about historical weapons and ammunition

    • @morganbillings7498
      @morganbillings7498 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      not much historical at the moment lol because re loaders use this same technique all the time

    • @j.bowman8699
      @j.bowman8699 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Interesting
      Living history too?

    • @connorburnes7697
      @connorburnes7697 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Likewise. It’s interesting how much survives into the modern day too.

    • @Matt-xc6sp
      @Matt-xc6sp 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Forgotten Weapons is like this guy, for just that

    • @CaesarGB
      @CaesarGB 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I desperately want an authentic flintlock. And maybe a kit to try building my own.

  • @pickeljarsforhillary102
    @pickeljarsforhillary102 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    This video was right on target.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      The casting was spot-on.

  • @31337ification
    @31337ification 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    its amazing how much you flinch during the trigger pull. Really shows how much people at the time would have had to practice before being even remotely handy with a rifle.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Kinda hard not to flinch when the pan is igniting right in front of your eyes. Notice that we had left-handed shooters with right-handed rifles and vice versa.

  • @HLBear
    @HLBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I have my great-grandfather's cast iron ball mold. It's about the size of your smaller tong-style mold there, and from the mid-1800s. This is so neat to see! Thank you.

  • @SargeOfTheGuard
    @SargeOfTheGuard 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    It was wonderful to see Jon pull the trigger on his "Flintbuster" and just like Jon, I'm a "Southpaw" who's always using the "Hand of the Devil" and when the Frontier Cabin was finally completed and furnished, I saw a Left-handed Flintlock "Rich Man's Rifle" hanging over the Mantle of the Fireplace! Now a Rich Man's Rifle has a Stock made of Curly Maple and all sorts of fancy Brass or German Silver garnishments such as a front Endcap, Front Sight, Thimbles and tip for the Ramrod, Trigger-guard and Buttplate plus a fancy Patch Box. My Left-handed Flintlock Rifle, on the other hand (pun intended) is a Tennessee "Poor Man's Rifle" whose Stock is just plain ol' Cherry-wood without any brass or German Silver furniture, just plain old Hand-wrought Ironwork and there isn't even a front Endcap or Patch Box; just a 3/4-inch round Grease Hole in the side of the Buttstock for holding Tallow to grease the patches with... and I am so poor that I don't have "Store Bought Patches" and just carry 1-inch wide strips of Pillow Ticking in my Possibles Bag for rubbing against the Tallow in the Buttstock before I seat a ball against it, start it down the Barrel and then cut the Ticking with my Patch-knife!

  • @Cryfield1999
    @Cryfield1999 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love the variety on this channel, theres so much to discover and so much to learn. Thank you for sharing 👍

  • @bladeslinger1786
    @bladeslinger1786 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I absolutely love flintlock rifles or any kind of flintlock action firearm for that matter. There is just something so cool about pulling the trigger 'click' then that small delay that's the powder catching 'boom'

  • @MaxsonAtTheFort
    @MaxsonAtTheFort 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Townsend, you remind me a lot of my college history teacher Mr. Ruttishauser. He had the same passion for history and always went the extra mile to be as in depth as possible in his history lessons, very rarely are there teachers/people so passionate about a subject they teach. So thanks for kinda being like another history teacher that teaches me something new every video and for being so passionate about history.👍

  • @kazorikumo9765
    @kazorikumo9765 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    As you mentioned all the safety equipment one should have for casting lead bullets, I realized how much of that was lacking when my Father was casting his on our kitchen table. It was always fun to help him though, and nothing ever happened. But it was small scale with a little clamp casting plier to make them one at a time and a small furnace to melt the lead.
    I miss doing these kind of things.

  • @notchagrandpa8875
    @notchagrandpa8875 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    I knew you had to be a firearms enthusiast, you can't live that old lifestyle without firearms they were a necessity in 18th century America.

    • @notchagrandpa8875
      @notchagrandpa8875 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @Cody Parin They are no longer required to feed yourself or your family was all I was saying as far as firearms still having a purpose of course they do, but I still harvest deer, squirrel, raccoon, coyote, rabbit, turkey, pheasant, quail, duck, and several other species of tasty critters with a wide variety of firearms but I don't have to hunt I could be like 90% of Americans and buy everything my family eats from Costco Sam's Club, or Whole Foods but I don't trust store bought meat stuffed with more pharmaceuticals than a cancer patient, you know it's a shame that people can't read a comment without taking words and phrases out of context and getting butt hurt, this country will survive I just question whether the constitution will or if Americans will read it one day and become offended by it too.

    • @MultiJaran
      @MultiJaran 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Cody Parin Won't let them? What if they don't want to carry a gun?

  • @forcivilizaton5021
    @forcivilizaton5021 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your channel is the best historical archives for future generations! Thank you so much for your style and presentation. Much love to your production team aswell!

  • @irvalfirestar6265
    @irvalfirestar6265 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lead weights for fishing can also be made quite easily with molten lead. All you need is to make a cone shape out of a large leaf, with a tiny stick or skewer in the middle all the way through to make the hole for your fishing line, then just pour molten lead into the leaf mold up to the desired size.
    Then pull out the stick or skewer, take the weight out of the mold and you're set to fish!
    You'll need to replace the leaf for every weight made though, so be prepared with enough leaves beforehand. We used banana leaf since it was very easy to get.

  • @griffin5226
    @griffin5226 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    A colonial metal mining and refining video would be amazing.
    It's an essential part of history people rarely think about let alone appreciate

  • @johnwayne2260
    @johnwayne2260 3 ปีที่แล้ว +85

    I wanna know who it was that actually hit the card, that was impressive at that distance...

    • @Kb-cz9ch
      @Kb-cz9ch 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Me two!!!. I am starting to wander about how much of the inaccuratcy of muskets was down to the casting of the balls not fitting the barrel vs lack of rifling?

    • @TheHacknor
      @TheHacknor 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      @@Kb-cz9ch Both, by the 1800s standardisation had reduced the chance of balls being the wrong size, if they were professionally made for a standard issue musket, but any home made ammunition is going to be dodgy unless you've got plently of experience making it. That being said even with decent ammunition without rifling the ball spins uncontrollably so hitting anything beyond a certain distance is mostly luck

    • @Kb-cz9ch
      @Kb-cz9ch 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@TheHacknor thanks.

    • @P_RO_
      @P_RO_ 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@Kb-cz9ch If we go back far enough, we find the early guns shot stones, not cast balls, and there were people whose job was making those 'gun stones'. Getting the patching right is as important as the casting in rifles, less so in muskets, but it all matters to some degree.
      In the Townsends time period, military muskets using 'generic' properly sized balls patched properly could be counted on to hit a small dinner-plate at 40 yards with a semi-skilled soldier shooting it. These weren't made to what we think of as tight tolerances; it was considered more important that the largest ball would always fit the smallest fouled bore; patching solved the looser fit. Better training and more practice added maybe 10 more yards. The best of everything and you'd hit that plate most of the time at 60 yards. With the best of everything, a good musket could be quite accurate at 40 yards, nearly as good as the earlier rifles, but the lack of rifling caused accuracy to drop off exponentially as the range increased. Muskets made for public sales all came with their own fitted bullet molds, so these were more accurate but not greatly so. The early rifles added about 50% more range, which was significant but countered by their slow loading due to a tight fit needed for the balls, and their need to be cleaned every 4-5 shots. That's why militaries were slow to adopt rifles and battles were fought at closer ranges.
      By the early to mid 19th century manufacturing tolerances had improved but that didn't add any range as far as musket accuracy goes- the limit of accurate range even today with super-precise manufacturing is similar because the lack of rifling sets that limit more than anything else.

    • @15sherpinski
      @15sherpinski 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Kb-cz9ch another factor of the accuracy of muskets was military training at the time. It was believed that recoil would cause your shot to hit higher than you aimed so most nations trained their soldiers to aim slightly lower than they meant to hit. Many of these soldiers would then maintain the habit after their service and civilians would copy the soldiers making the rifles of the day seem even more inaccurate than they already were. Today we know that recoil doesn't begin until after the bullet has left the barrel which makes it a non-issue.

  • @Alakazzam09
    @Alakazzam09 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I built a Kentucky flintlock pistol during my time off this last year. Wood burned and inlaid some pinewood. I needed some help fitting the lock but I recommend it. It was a great learning experience and I'm looking forward to building the accompanying rifle.

  • @olddawgdreaming5715
    @olddawgdreaming5715 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That sure takes me back to my beginning with Muzzleloading Rifles, I purchased a book and it was something like a Muzzleloader’s Bible ?? I loaned it out once and they forgot to return it. The Author wrote about Finding The Optimum Load for your rifle. He knew what he was talking about and it really worked for me a my family. He also encouraged the use of cross-sticks to obtain the steadiest rest and marksmanship shooting the move the grain and knowledge to off hand shooting. Sure did enjoy your video and ball casting. Fred.🙏🏻🙏🏻👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👋👋

  • @cammobunker
    @cammobunker 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    As a long time BP shooter, including Flintlock Longrifle, I'm not surprised you had some issues IF you were loading the way you showed. There was no patch to seal the gas behind the ball, which is an essential for shooting a rifled gun, which it obviously was. The patch also imparts the spin to the ball, which it will not do if not patched. I also saw a Bess in there, and just hitting the wood piece with a Bess and a naked ball would be good, especially with these compromised bullets from that style of mold. If you want to do shooting stuff, you need to get with the guys from the National Muzzleloading Rifle Association. NMLRA is the group to talk to, really, for anything Black Powder shooting related.

    • @matts.8342
      @matts.8342 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Was one of the rifles they were shooting made for left handers? It looked to me like the lock was on the opposite side on one of the rifles. If so, and if it's a period piece, I would think it would be an extremely rare example!

  • @natsune09
    @natsune09 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Oh, this is perfect. My son had 'Colonial Day' at school, and he played the part of a gunsmith.

  • @DougPalumbo
    @DougPalumbo 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video! Easily one of the best channels on TH-cam with outstanding production value!

  • @earlshaner4441
    @earlshaner4441 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    When are you going to do a muzzleloader series brother?

  • @sheilam4964
    @sheilam4964 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    The camera shots of you guys firing the flintlock are the best I've seen. Felt like I was right there. I could see the mechanism in action. First time I've seen that - that close. Thanks. 👍👍👍👍👍

  • @JoeXTheXJuggalo1
    @JoeXTheXJuggalo1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Watching this reminds me of the scenes from the film The Patriot where Mel Gibson's character "Benjamin Martin" would make musket balls from his son's metal toy soldiers.
    Benjamin Martin: *"Aim Small, Miss Small"*

    • @AnatharFrost013
      @AnatharFrost013 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      thought of this same scene in the movie

    • @JoeXTheXJuggalo1
      @JoeXTheXJuggalo1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@AnatharFrost013 well they're one of those iconic scene(s) from the movie.
      After I finished watching this video I had to look up some of the scenes from the movie.

  • @jonathans44
    @jonathans44 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    I’ve been watching this channel almost three years, and I’m convinced these videos are put out not only to educate people on our past, but also to prepare us for our not so distant future ;)

    • @Legiondude
      @Legiondude 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Casting spritzer rounds sounds neat
      No idea if it'd be practical, but sounds neat on the face of it

    • @Legiondude
      @Legiondude 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Spitzer*

  • @TrooperBri
    @TrooperBri 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    As a colonial relic hunter through metal detecting, these balls, both fired and dropped, wind up under our coils. Most impressive is the 3/4" balls that were fired from the British Land Pattern Muskets (Brown Bess). Over an ounce of lead. And we even find balls cast from pewter occasionally.

  • @JacksonDunnoKnows
    @JacksonDunnoKnows 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    You are very cool Mr Townsend! I love the reality check these bring me. My forge is so much larger, and I have both a hand crank and an electric air pump... I use the hand crank when out on a demo. And casting that way, man. I have a 10kg propain furnace, several #6 crucibles, and yeah... I want to eventually try my hand at this. 🍻

  • @VincentNajger1
    @VincentNajger1 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    My father was a master mariner here in Far Northern Australia (among other things, including being a professional crocodile hunter for many years, in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland, before it was outlawed). He had a massive collection of moulds, for all sorts of things, from bullets to lead fishing sinkers. Once every couple months, we would spend an afternoon melting lead and casting bullets and lead fishing sinkers (it was a very different time, even though it wasn't so long ago.. I can't imagine many modern parents letting their 8yr old pour molten lead for them. A sad loss). I have lots of fond memories of things like that.

  • @lorisewsstuff1607
    @lorisewsstuff1607 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember seeing years ago a 200 year old tower between VA and NC right off of I-77 where shot had been made without a mold. Molten lead was poured from the top. By the time it reached the bottom it had formed a sphere and cooled enough to hold the shape. I'd like to know more about that.

  • @GradeBmoviefan
    @GradeBmoviefan 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mr. Townsend, I had no idea that you are so talented/skilled! Terrific and very informative and interesting video. Thanks for bringing us along! ~Sharon

  • @scotttomlinson5689
    @scotttomlinson5689 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Now this is more like the stuff I like to see from you guys. Great job, very informative and shooting the weapons was extra.

  • @ursor234
    @ursor234 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    sir, i'm glad you mentioned about pewter. i took a casting class and i can atest that pewter (or lead) casting is very fun! just be aware of the heat factor and enjoy!

  • @ZombifiedWatermelon
    @ZombifiedWatermelon 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    The key to safety is to be conservative with your heat. Lead is totally harmless unless you get it hot enough to boil (yes metal can boil) and give off lead fumes. The fumes are what can be breathed in and travel into your bloodstream via your lungs. Also a windy day (or a fan, if you're not going for period correct) will help because it will blow away any fumes you create.

  • @WayPointSurvival
    @WayPointSurvival 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, thank you so much!

  • @benjaminmcclelland2464
    @benjaminmcclelland2464 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    That looks like a ton of fun. I really love your content, its honestly the best stuff on TH-cam.

  • @Dr.Mrs.TheMonarch
    @Dr.Mrs.TheMonarch 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video guys. I really like that you show how to use your products and that they are not just for "decoration".

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have one of their powder horns. Certainly looks more distinctive than a cylindrical brass powder flask.

  • @timsears951
    @timsears951 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I really REALLY hope your channel goes for a LONG time ...I love it

  • @agimagi2158
    @agimagi2158 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This never was in my recommended so I almost missed it. Very glad someone mentioned it in today's live!

  • @vinnytube1001
    @vinnytube1001 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    More quality content. Now I'm curious about pewter. There was a pewter foundry in my grandparents' hometown that was in business for almost 125 years. Lots of people in the town had pewter tableware, my grandparents even had pewter christmas tree decorations. Seems like it was important in the 17th and 18th century, even if it transitioned from luxury to "cheap" goods by the late 19th century.

  • @paulnathanmullock6214
    @paulnathanmullock6214 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    1:11 John: a gun is useless without gun powder and....
    Me (a firearms enthusiast) but has been bingewatching Townsend: and nutmeg

  • @WestShoreMan
    @WestShoreMan ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I found brass musket balls on my property in Gold Country Ca. Along with lead balls.

  • @jamesellsworth9673
    @jamesellsworth9673 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for a fine demonstration. You, Brandon, and Ryan each look to be experienced black powder rifle shooters. What with the variations in muskets, ball, and black powder, I imagine that accuracy was a relative term.

  • @BettingOnTheOzarks
    @BettingOnTheOzarks ปีที่แล้ว

    I have my great grandfather’s journal he kept from 1855-1865. He mentioned on March 15,1857 outside Pea Ridge, Arkansas. “Father and I went deer hunting today. Father taught me how to cast boolits (bullets). Father uses bee’s wax after scraping the dross off the top. Father says the bee’s wax helps purify the lead. What a great time we had.”
    I know this journal entry is a little later than what is portrayed on this channel. Point is provides a little input to what was happening on the Western Frontier.

  • @searchndestroy1691
    @searchndestroy1691 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mr. Townsends, great video! Certainly modern bullet molds made from aluminum are much easier to use than the old cast iron type. I make .69 and .32 caliber balls and .70 conical bullets for use in shotgun shells. Typically I use lead from wheel weights (medium hardness). It takes time and technique even with modern equipment.

  • @robertfarmer8372
    @robertfarmer8372 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Been molding lead balls since the 70s. Love the left hand flintlock. Maybe do another video on how a musket was loaded with a paper cartrige as opposed to patch and ball for a rifle?

    • @Raskolnikov70
      @Raskolnikov70 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I'd love to see these guys do more firearm videos. Sadly they tend to get demonitized by TH-cam because "muh ebil g*n content" even if everything in the video is historical and educational.

  • @hlynnkeith9334
    @hlynnkeith9334 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    John, That is first time I have seen a left-handed flintlock.

  • @HarshmanHills
    @HarshmanHills 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    great setup. couple things, the gloves are really important, the balls don't need to be super smooth, you actually want them a little rough, slag is the impurities on top. hope to see more videos like this.

  • @daniellstephen
    @daniellstephen 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Living in the tropics, I always wanted to reenact early colonial homestead in terms of surviving the tropics by the standard of Europeans at that time. This video and this channel inspired me so much.

  • @neflesward2727
    @neflesward2727 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was very fascinating. Thank you for the amazing quality of your content

  • @erobertson631
    @erobertson631 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    John,
    Liked your video on casting round balls. On shooting make sure you have the right caliber ball size (soft lead) and use a lightly lubed patch (pillow ticking) to help the ball grab the rifling and spin. Then bench rest your rifled gun and fire for testing to determine the point of impact. Adjust your sight accordingly until you land three shoots close together. Also try different powder charges to see what works for your gun. My 40 caliber shoots best with 38 grains of 2F black powder. Just trying to help! The Wife and I are big fans of your show…
    I know it’s your gun it’s a lefty.

  • @krockpotbroccoli65
    @krockpotbroccoli65 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I have absolutely no problem melting lead and casting ball in my backyard fire pit. An old lead ladle from a junk store, molds and a concave rock to catch the spillover is all you need.

  • @tbx59
    @tbx59 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Brave, brave, brave Sir Robin.

  • @ben8509
    @ben8509 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Ahah, nothing like casting ball over the fire with a traditional bag mold. Just another day in my 18th century life before a hunt. Excellent content as usual!

  • @kingmichealthefirstofroman2278
    @kingmichealthefirstofroman2278 3 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    Funfact: frontier lead bars was also known as pigs

    • @Willy_Tepes
      @Willy_Tepes 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      The tool for cutting a mold is called a "cherry".

    • @scrubsrc4084
      @scrubsrc4084 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Any open poured ingot of metal fresh from smelting still is called a pig

    • @toddellner5283
      @toddellner5283 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@scrubsrc4084 Hence "pig iron" ingots

  • @jennjohnson-richards5829
    @jennjohnson-richards5829 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love these more in depth how too videos. I'd say it was a success!

  • @luciendesar
    @luciendesar 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    9:55 Great shot for B-roll camera guy and editor! It was like something out of The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

  • @skoomabanditz6190
    @skoomabanditz6190 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Definitely enjoying your content sir I found your channel while looking up recipes and had to subscribe. :)

  • @RBGlider1970
    @RBGlider1970 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    I've been casting bullets for many years. I wonder if they had a method to flux their melt. I use wax bought or from candle nubs. The lead isn't that dangerous when casting. Just keep the temperature under control. Great video once again!

  • @playme129
    @playme129 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very interesting, Jon. Even though I am not going to make shot, I found this presentation informative and fun. Thanks for posting. Virginia

  • @AllDayBikes
    @AllDayBikes 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Forgot what video I was watching (in the background) and when the first shot rang out it broke the tranquility of the old music and scared me hahahha

  • @KhanGirey
    @KhanGirey 3 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    Wouldn't recommend pewter as the alloy is too hard (especially for rifles). For muzzleloaders you generally want pure lead

    • @hakonandreasolaussen1949
      @hakonandreasolaussen1949 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I can see something being too hard with a rifle in terms of not engaging the rifling and whatnot, but what's the issue if it's a smoothbore musket?

    • @cammobunker
      @cammobunker 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Most muzzleloading rifles use a patched round ball, in which the patch engages the rifling and the ball simply floats along on it. Lead free pewter is not an acceptable substitute for lead for two reasons: As you noted, it's a harder metal, and round balls made from it will ricochet a great deal more, making it less safe, and it is lighter, which will mess up the ballistics and you will be less accurate. That said, NEVER, EVER attempt to use this lead-free pewter as a lead substitute for the later revolvers, rifles that use minie style balls, or the type of bullets that engrave rifling at loading without patches. They won't work and you will in all likelihood get them jammed in the gun or increase pressures to unacceptable levels, or both. It's not going to work, and could be unsafe. Just use real lead, cast in a well ventilated area, wear proper protective gear, and you'll be fine.

    • @skeetsmcgrew3282
      @skeetsmcgrew3282 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I think he should have just discussed ventilation and general fume safety rather than even recommend pewter. You can do some pretty seemingly dangerous stuff with just a gentle breeze outdoors. Indoors is another story, but in this situation you are really in no danger

    • @HLBear
      @HLBear 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      They weren't recommending using pewter to make the balls, but letting people know it would be non-toxic for melting and molding in general. It's good you've all let people know it makes bad bullets, though. Thanks!

    • @johnsegertsons2143
      @johnsegertsons2143 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@cammobunker
      The only thing I'd add is wash your hand well after handling lead.

  • @yokothespacewhale
    @yokothespacewhale 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Safety dog does a water check

  • @bygodfreeman
    @bygodfreeman 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I would love to see more muzzle loader content upon youre channel. Specifically, what flint locks were around before percussion caps.

  • @wildweasel8564
    @wildweasel8564 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Shooting black powder is great fun, and during these uncertain times many are getting back into casting bullets. Love the left handed flint lock!

  • @dennyterrio1942
    @dennyterrio1942 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    fun stuff. I did this in a tuna can. It worked well; used a soapstone mold

  • @kylewayne3
    @kylewayne3 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video Jon, I always look forward to watching the new videos!

  • @jjpetunia3981
    @jjpetunia3981 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video guys, as always, love the content!

  • @marshalkyle283
    @marshalkyle283 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Can't wait for more cabin videos

  • @drewadams6667
    @drewadams6667 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thank you for this ... I am thinking the way things are going , we may need these skills again

  • @ViktoriousDead
    @ViktoriousDead 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What a Coincidence, today in KY a customer gave me a cast .58 miniball as a tip, he’s a civil war re-enactor ha.