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H Aston Model 42 .54 Cal Percussion Cap Single Shot Muzzleloading Pistol

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I’ve used 2f and about 20g if I remember rightly. .53 ball
Interesting. Light load indeed. It gives me a starting point to try out my gun. My gun uses a #11 percussion cap (I am not sure if it is an original nipple on the gun). Does your gun also use #11 or does it require something bigger like #10 or musket cap?
 
You mean one of these?
1842 PISTOL.jpg

How about 30 grains of powder and ten pellets of #4 buckshot in a paper container as a load ? The weight of the lead is less than the weight of a .530 ball. I'd like to see what that does to a target at 10 feet ! ;)

LD
 
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Interesting. Light load indeed. It gives me a starting point to try out my gun. My gun uses a #11 percussion cap (I am not sure if it is an original nipple on the gun). Does your gun also use #11 or does it require something bigger like #10 or musket cap?
Mine had the original nipple, a musket one. I replaced it with a modern musket nipple, as it was about worn out.
 
I know what you mean.

I once owned a Model 1842 Springfield musket.
It could have been in the Mexican/American war and it is very likely it had seen duty in the Civil War. Oh, the stories it could have told me if it could only have spoken. I would have gladly spent hours after hours just listening to its tales.

Any gun will speak to you if you just handle it while sitting in front of the fireplace and sip some good whisky. Of course all fireside stories are prone to some amount of exaggeration.
 
Hmmmm….. I am very intrigued by the light load... Very good information for me. Thanks.
 
You mean one of these?
View attachment 10069

How about 30 grains of powder and ten pellets of #4 buckshot in a paper container as a load ? The weight of the lead is less than the weight of a .530 ball. I'd like to see what that does to a target at 10 feet ! ;)

LD
Yep. That's the one. Buckshot sounds like fun. I imagine an over-powder wad and over-shot wad would be an alternative to a paper container.:)
 
We use these in competition in the N-SSA.
I shoot mine with a bare ball coated in liquid alox .005 under bore size and 25 grains of Swiss 2F.
It shoots very well.
 
We use these in competition in the N-SSA.
I shoot mine with a bare ball coated in liquid alox .005 under bore size and 25 grains of Swiss 2F.
It shoots very well.
Thank-you for your input. Please advise what is alox (did you mean to say liquid paraffin wax?)? Did you imply using a 0.530 or 0.535” round ball?
 
Yes .530-.535 ball size depending upon the bore size, powder fouling, lube etc. if using a .535 ball and it starts loading hard then I would switch to .530 accuracy was not diminished.
I have been using alox for years in smoothbores with good success.
These are fun to shoot. I use premeasued charges in soft tubes with the ball stuck in the end which makes it quick and easy. If your pistol uses a #11 cap I would change it to use a musket cap for sure ignition. I have had the smaller nipples plug up badly but eliminated the problem with musket caps.
 
Yes .530-.535 ball size depending upon the bore size, powder fouling, lube etc. if using a .535 ball and it starts loading hard then I would switch to .530 accuracy was not diminished.
I have been using alox for years in smoothbores with good success.
These are fun to shoot. I use premeasued charges in soft tubes with the ball stuck in the end which makes it quick and easy. If your pistol uses a #11 cap I would change it to use a musket cap for sure ignition. I have had the smaller nipples plug up badly but eliminated the problem with musket caps.
You are the 2nd person that has admitted shooting with the pistol and both of you have musket caps. I am not sure why mine has a #11. My gun is dated 1849. I wonder if the earlier guns used #11 and then later guns built were switched to musket cap for better ignition. I guess I will need to shop for a modern musket cap. I am not sure where to start and if it takes a specific type/model#. Any advice?
 
You are the 2nd person that has admitted shooting with the pistol and both of you have musket caps. I am not sure why mine has a #11. My gun is dated 1849. I wonder if the earlier guns used #11 and then later guns built were switched to musket cap for better ignition. I guess I will need to shop for a modern musket cap. I am not sure where to start and if it takes a specific type/model#. Any advice?
5/16 x24 is the nipple you require. I believe it was yours that has been replaced at sometime, as the musket cap nipple was standard. Same nipple fits the 1841 rifle. I got mine from Dixie.
 
5/16 x24 is the nipple you require. I believe it was yours that has been replaced at sometime, as the musket cap nipple was standard. Same nipple fits the 1841 rifle. I got mine from Dixie.
Many Thanks. Will go shopping for one.
 
Now that I will be shopping for a musket cap nipple, can anyone educate me on the differences between musket caps and which is the proper one to use for the Model 1842 .54 cal pistol? There are 4-wing (are these only for re-enactment?), 6-wing, German, and I think 209,s and 301’s? It is not clear to me what will work on the pistol.
 
The 209 primers are for shotgun cartridges. There are some adapters available for using them on traditional muzzleloaders but IMO they aren't worth the trouble.

Any "Musket cap" will work, some better than others.
 
The 209 primers are for shotgun cartridges. There are some adapters available for using them on traditional muzzleloaders but IMO they aren't worth the trouble.

Any "Musket cap" will work, some better than others.
Thank-you again Zonie for your continued support.
 
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