Heavy Bench Guns

How many of yall target shoot with bench guns that are too heavy to be walking around pieces?

I'm getting the final bits and pieces in place to do just that. It will really be the first for me as until now the heaviest was just not quite too much to be carting around.
Would have been at the range today but had to catch up on reports and house keeping chores.
Oh well, some day soon!

I have 3 range in weight from 20 lbs to 35 lbs. Two under hammers and 1 mule ear.

Michael

Yup, I have one. 19#, and fun to shoot! Here's the original post about it, which includes links to photos. www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/298112/post/1534544/hl//fromsearch/1/#1534544

It hasn't gotten out yet this year due to work. I still need to find a higher front sight insert, thinking of just making one out of thin sheet plastic.

Calum

Well hey there meanmike.
What kind of bore, twist and bullets are you shooting? Slug guns? Round ball?

This one for me is going to be .52 bore, patching off the shelf fifty molds, 38" barrel, percussion.
No false muzzle.

And now I have a contractor meeting at 830 and it's starting to sprinkle.
Oh woe, oh woe.
:idunno:

Calum said:

Yup, I have one. 19#, and fun to shoot! Here's the original post about it, which includes links to photos. www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/298112/post/1534544/hl//fromsearch/1/#1534544

It hasn't gotten out yet this year due to work. I still need to find a higher front sight insert, thinking of just making one out of thin sheet plastic.

Calum

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Way cool. Thanks.

A 13# 12oz light bench rifle made with a Allan under hammer heavier that I would want to walk around with and 40# +or- Ken Bresien 54 under hammer.

RB

A .48 Resley barrel 1 3/8" round barrel approx 1:72 twist not sure of the barrel length but about 36". Estimated weight is 20# This gun has an original Tower musket lock dated 1861 modified to shoot off half clock. My son shot a 100 yd target scored 49xx with the 9 cutting the 10 ring. I was lucky to find a Lyman double cavity .475 mold.

Re your .52: a friend's .52 flint bench gun is false muzzled and he shoots .530 balls w Teflon coated patching.

"A .48 Resley barrel 1 3/8""

I found a Resley rifle on TOW and sent the information to John Hinnant a couple years ago, that turned into a major fight at the TMLRA State Shoot that year when he bought it.

In the book, "Firearms, Traps and Tools of the Mountain Men" by Carl P. Russell if you look at page 92 under accuracy you will find a Hawken-type rifle by Judge Resely, barrel 35", Cal 54, ball 247 grains, 165 grains of 3F at 225 yards.

The Judge knew how to make barrels

I found a Resley rifle on TOW and sent the information to John Hinnant a couple years ago, that turned into a major fight at the TMLRA State Shoot that year when he bought it.

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What was the fight over????

Judge Resley is an icon at TMLRA. Don't know if he was one of the founders but suspect so. His is the first name on the trophy for state rifle champion in 1947. We even have a match soley for guns w Resley barrels.

As w other PC/hc topics, extremist so called experts argued whether John's gun was made by the Judge, was barrel one he made or just one he recut, a forgery or....

I talked w the Judge after acquiring my gun in the early 80s. He rembered making it "in the mid 50s". Haven't had any complaints but haven't been in the top 3 w it YET.
TC

The Muzzleloading Emporium in Springfield, Oregon, had a large inventory of heavy bench guns a few years back. Think Joe and Suzy were selling off a large estate. It was sure something to see what must have been two dozen or more such rifles on one rack. Dunno if they have any left.
Gunsmith Bill Moody used to offer some nice barrels with false muzzles very reasonably. I was sure tempted to build one on a Pete Allen boxlock.

At my gun club's monthly meeting tonight, our oldest member (88) brought in a picture of his much younger self shooting one of Ned Robert's heavy bench guns. He also had Robert's leather bound personal, handwritten log of most every gun he shot, including muzzle loaders, of course.

WOW! That's like handling the Holy Grail.

Tell me about it. He lived near Roberts. The book went to Robert's gunsmith and from there to our club member. I asked if he had considered having it professionally copied and printed, but he said no, maybe one in a hundred younger shooters would have any interest in it. I'm hoping it eventually goes to the NRA Museum.

I'm hoping it eventually goes to the NRA Museum.

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:shocked2: Why not the NMLRA Museum?

rhbrink said:

A 13# 12oz light bench rifle made with a Allan under hammer heavier that I would want to walk around with and 40# +or- Ken Bresien 54 under hammer.

RB

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Agree with that!!!! :thumbsup:

LOL, Solomon the Wise could not solve this, even with a Damascus sword.

Yes, 4 by RL (bob) Morris,3 underhammer: 2 RB 40lbs or so each, 1 slug, 35 lbs. one flinter rb 40 lbs or so.

1 original pierce, percussion mule, 15 lbs

1 Herman flinter, 35 lbs or so

1 Renard underhammer, 35 lbs or so

1 breisen/resnor, underhammer, 85 lbs or so

plastikosmd said:

Yes, 4 by RL (bob) Morris,3 underhammer: 2 RB 40lbs or so each, 1 slug, 35 lbs. one flinter rb 40 lbs or so.

1 original pierce, percussion mule, 15 lbs

1 Herman flinter, 35 lbs or so

1 Renard underhammer, 35 lbs or so

1 breisen/resnor, underhammer, 85 lbs or so

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85 pounds!!!!!
I don't think I was ever young enough to have shot a full relay with something that heavy unless it could be loaded like a canon.

Ya, slug is 1700gr+, 250-350gr of BP