Favorite Black powder firearm- What is it?

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You fellas sure do have some nice Bp guns. When I started this thread I figured some good looking old firearms would be shown.

Well here ya go- It May be modern and not classic… Yet It sure is nice on rain days to leave my Favorite Double back home when it’s wet out. This Tc Encore is my “favorite” for those days. Sitting on side of a field I feel confident with longer shots. Leupold 3-9 and some quick reloading is nice. Just got some QD rings for detachment of scope-good fiber optic open sight are certainly confidence if needed.
If I had a Big game tag with Bp only, This one would tag along as a bad weather/backup gun to my Double 58. Easy to disassemble for small storage is nice also. Federals Copper Bor Lock & 777 are sufficient for accuracy. 10581C2C-82A0-4572-B2BA-29504AF67714.jpeg
 
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That's funny, I too have a "rain gun", which is my 1861. As long as the cap is on tight, she's pretty water proof. Back up to my Jeager. Now I can keep a flintlock running in the rain, just as I'm sure you can keep the double running. But, sometimes I just get lazy. It's good to have a rain-gun!
 
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This Uberti New Model Army of Navy caliber is a tried, true, and trusted favorite of mine. Usually have it on me when I get lucky on a hunt. This was a sample gun that Ubert's daughter packed around with her when she was the U.S. sales rep. Accurate and has never miss-fired or jammed. 24 grains 4fg and a 140ish grain bullet. Got a grouse with it shooting a ball one day, didn't tear up much meat.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
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That's funny, I too have a "rain gun", which is my 1861. As long as the cap is on tight, she's pretty water proof. Back up to my Jeager. Now I can keep a flintlock running in the rain, just as I'm sure you can keep the double running. But, sometimes I just get lazy. It's good to have a rain-gun!
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I’m sure Percussion and Flint work in the Rain with precaution…. I just don’t like taking my pretty blued gun out to get soaked.
Now the trick is finding 209 primers for the Encore- I guess I have a bunch of 12g I can disassemble if need. Better get my self a Flinter I suppose.
 
I left both my Jeager and 1861 barrels "in the white". It takes a while (years) but they eventually take on a nice grey which darkens as the years go by. A little bit of light surface rust doesn't hurt, but they seem very rust-resistant. On the Jeager I get a tiny bit of discoloration around the pan and touch-hole in wet weather, but it's very slight. Keep that area very dry and free of oil of course. Adds character! So, no blue to worry about.

Not sure what the barrel on my Brown Bess is made of, but that sucker is almost like stainless or something. Hardly has greyed at all, never get rust spots.?
 
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My second favorite, Bessie. A Yorkshire Terrier found and jumped these birds up for me. He didn't want to pose for the picture. For grouse, 80 grains of 1fg and one ounce of shot. For Turkey, 110 grains of 1fg and 2 ounces of #4. For Deer, Bear, or Elk, of which I have shot none of with Bessie, (did have a nice bear in the sights once, but just slightly out of smooth bore range, held my fire) 140 grains 1fg and a .690" "chewed" ball.
 
140gr 1Fg and a .690 ball ?!? Wow man- now that some serious “stuff”.
What’s that ball weigh? 350-370gr? my 58 is about 280gr and with 80gr of 2Fg is plenty of Oomph for most things

Ps - That’s a Beauty ya got there- What is that? Bess Carbine?
 
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Lnf Crzr said:
140gr 1Fg and a .690 ball ?!? Wow man- now that some serious “stuff”.
What’s that ball weigh? 350-370gr? my 58 is about 280gr and with 80gr of 2Fg is plenty of Oomph for most things

Ps - That’s a Beauty ya got there- What is that? Bess Carbine?
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Thanks, that's a Pedesoli Brown Bess carbine kit. Or "Ranger Carbine". Actually the 690" ball is more in the 500 grain territory. I forget the exact weight. It is a stout load, but that's on par with how they were originally loaded. I also find that it's more accurate with a heavy load. And as bore size goes up, it takes more powder to equal the pressure and velocity you get with a smaller bore. 140 isn't as extreme as it sounds, in a .75" bore. However, it is serious stuff, and I don't think even Grizz would walk away from that load at close range.

I'm a fan of the .58", and find the 80 grain load, under ball or bullet to be a sweet spot for both power and accuracy. And it will indeed kill most anything and most things. !!!
 
Have you patternedyour Bess? I am surprised you're not blowing holes out of the pattern, my double barrel was losing a good third of its pattern, until I squared the load, equal shot to powder by volume.
 
Ugly Sauce said:
Thanks, that's a Pedesoli Brown Bess carbine kit. Or "Ranger Carbine". Actually the 690" ball is more in the 500 grain territory. I forget the exact weight. It is a stout load, but that's on par with how they were originally loaded. I also find that it's more accurate with a heavy load. And as bore size goes up, it takes more powder to equal the pressure and velocity you get with a smaller bore. 140 isn't as extreme as it sounds, in a .75" bore. However, it is serious stuff, and I don't think even Grizz would walk away from that load at close range.

I'm a fan of the .58", and find the 80 grain load, under ball or bullet to be a sweet spot for both power and accuracy. And it will indeed kill most anything and most things. !!!
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I’m on the hunt for another , This time a flintlock. I think what you have is a exceptionally nice Rifle for multitasking. Shot and ball availability is very cool. I’ll PM ya
 
Ugly Sauce said:
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My second favorite, Bessie. A Yorkshire Terrier found and jumped these birds up for me. He didn't want to pose for the picture. For grouse, 80 grains of 1fg and one ounce of shot. For Turkey, 110 grains of 1fg and 2 ounces of #4. For Deer, Bear, or Elk, of which I have shot none of with Bessie, (did have a nice bear in the sights once, but just slightly out of smooth bore range, held my fire) 140 grains 1fg and a .690" "chewed" ball.
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Some of these come all browned from Pedersoli and called an "officers model" I think the loads being discussed are a bit to heavy and toss unburned/burning powder out. Curious if the 140g isn't very uncomfortable and stresses both shooter and gun in 30" barrel.
 
Handgun: full custom .36 Navy "London" from Long Hunter's. I use paper cartridges with Olde Eynsforde 3f, though I honestly don't remember how much - it's whatever amount the scoop I made holds. Pure lead conicals from an Era's Gone mold.

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Rifle: Pedersoli Gibbs "Deluxe". It's a .45 caliber. I use a 535 grain 1-40 tin-lead bullet from a Buffalo Arms "Money" mold, a fiber wad, and 86 grains of Swiss 1.5Fg.

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Shotgun: Taylor's "Wyatt Earp", which has functional (not cosmetic) hammers, in 12 gauge. Cheddite paper hulls with 82 grains of Olde Eynsforde 2F and 9 pellets of 00 buck. Yes, it kicks!

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vintovka said:
Some of these come all browned from Pedersoli and called an "officers model" I think the loads being discussed are a bit to heavy and toss unburned/burning powder out. Curious if the 140g isn't very uncomfortable and stresses both shooter and gun in 30" barrel.
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I don't think it stresses the gun, they were firing such loads in the originals with iron barrels. (yes, longer barrel and heavier gun) I believe that some of the issued loads for the Brown Bess were 150 grains at some time/one time. And as mentioned, I don't find the recoil objectionable. Less than a modern 2.75" 12guage shell. WAY less than a 3" shell. Way more comfortable to shoot than any of my modern 12 gauge shotguns. (although my Remington 11 is a pleasant gun to shoot) I find it is certainly more accurate with the 140 grain load.

However, I hope we all don't get into a shouting match over it. !!!! :) The OP asked for our loads, and it is what it is, or are what they are, or something like that.
 
Jackrabbit1957 said:
Have you patternedyour Bess? I am surprised you're not blowing holes out of the pattern, my double barrel was losing a good third of its pattern, until I squared the load, equal shot to powder by volume.
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Yes, my shot loads are much more mild. 80 grains of 1fg with one ounce of shot for grouse. She also patterns very well with the 110 grains of 1fg and two ounces of shot for turkey.

The first turk I ever shot I thought was a bit out of range, it was a long shot for an unchoked bore, but it dropped like a rock. Other turkeys have all since gone down hard. I did miss one once, but I know I shot over it's head. Got excited and I thought for sure he was going to bust me any second. Didn't have time to make a good hide when he started gobbling very close. Then he came in from a totally unexpected direction, where I really had like barely any cover. I can still see my front sight sitting way too high over the rear sight when she went off. (yes my carbine has rifle sights)
 
I don't understand why people are so recoil sensitive these days. I was shooting 12 gauge shotguns with hard plastic and steel butt plates when I was 11 years old and probably didn't weigh 70 pounds. I've heard people talk about the punishing recoil of a 30-06. I got my first 30-06 when I was 12. A 1903A3. To me a 30-06 doesn't recoil worth spit. I just don't get it.
 
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