Heavy Bench Guns

Rocks the firing line and the ground around it like an earthquake!!!

Love the heavy bench guns!

I have one I made a few years ago. 33" long, 1-1/2" octagon .50 cal, 1 in 66 twist Bill Large barrel, 1" percussion patent breech (Hawken style) set off by a back-action lock. The stock is secured by a large-head thumb screw through a trigger-plate extension threaded into the bottom of the patent breech. I made a full-length brass tube sight (no glass) with a cross-hair and mounted it on the barrel. Weight (with sight) is 17 lbs. Load is 85gr 3F, .495 ball, .020 patch with neatsfoot oil lube. Sure is fun to squeeze one off at 100 yds. and have a hole appear right where the cross-hairs were looking.

1 original pierce, percussion mule, 15 lbs

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Who is the "pierce" that built your muley? PT me if you wish.

Sorry, tried to edit, mistake. Mule was another rifle. The Pierce is standard percussion, 1860 ish. Still shooting well in the 1940's and 60's as shown.


The bank token rear peep is unique. Front sight has changeable apertures(in box to right in last pic)




Anyway, cool historic piece. Wish someone didn't add scope blocks, o well. Still fun to shoot

Beautiful heavy you have there!

Calum

Thank u

Someone smarter than me could probably tell what the pins are 1/3 of barrel length away from muzzle.

There are 2 pairs, first and close to muzzle hold false muzzle. Second set????

Funny thing is the orientation of pins are not at 3 o'clock and. 9 o'clock ( where front sight is at 12) rather they are at 2 and 7 o'clock. Unusual to say the least. I would guess some form of mechanical loader? No provision for one in box tho maybe not dated to rifle.

'evening,

I don't know what the pins are for, but they're definitely not for a false muzzle. Although in the middle section of your shooting box, it looks like there are two (?) false muzzles.

A false muzzle is actually part of the barrel, that was rifled with the barrel. I'm assuming it was cut off and had pins installed before the rifling process, but I'm not certain. Here's what the end of the barrel looks like (note the pins are will line up only when properly aligned, they're not evenly spaced):


And here it is with the false muzzle in place - note that the sight blocker reminds you that the muzzle is there, should you try to sight (this photo is pre-work, so there's just a dovetail for the front sight). Since the false muzzle is part of the barrel, it's not replaceable if lost.


Calum

Thank you^

I have 7 or 8 with false muzzles. On several of them there is a swinging latch to keep the false muzzle in place for transport/movement/pulling rod etc. This is one of the guns with that. If you look at the picture you can see the latch engaged in pins with short starter in muzzle for pic. I can take a closer pic of this or any other if needed if I'm not clear. Sometimes my typing style leaves much to be desired.

'morning,

So that's what that was! Very cool - I've never encountered one with a "keeper" beyond the mounting pins. And I couldn't figure out why it looked like you had a rapier stuck in the muzzle, but I figured I just needed new glasses.

Calum

I'm not there yet for glasses, tho I am beginning to notice some difficulty adjusting from tv to iPad and back. Is that how it starts??


Keeper is a good word. Now on my other 2 slug guns there is a mechanical starter that also keys into the "kept" false muzzle. My assumption was that these 2 other pins were for that. Not that it makes sense from a design or mechanical standpoint. Also no scraping or scratches from said cumbersome devise. Not to mention no provision in the ? box it all came in??

A better idea is some sort of yoke to hold to a bench when shooting? Dunno tho as it did come with an original looking barrel "foot" that screws in near muzzle.

Finally, found another pierce on the net. 36 cal, rougher than mine. Date stamped 1850. Looks like it went for started at 2500, dunno what it sold for (2500-4k range)
Broken scope mount and looks turned at least for short starter. Can't tell if there was a false muzzle missing
http://www.icollector.com/S-G-R-PIERCE-PERCUSSION-RIFLE_i22120235

Ps, sorry OP if I took this too far off track. Not enough propel talk about these big guns that I cherish

Built a .45 cal with a Rice match grade barrel that came in around 13#. I thought that was heavy. 35+ lbs... yikes! Still need to work it out though, it was my first attempt at dove tails and I put the rear sight to far forward for my liking which messes with me when I shoot it. It has a long tang, I might look into putting a peep on it instead of cutting another dove tail.

Here my morris. Use the dovetail and extend the sight on a cantilever?

Here using a "friendship cheater"

Jimmy82 said:

Built a .45 cal with a Rice match grade barrel that came in around 13#. I thought that was heavy. 35+ lbs... yikes! Still

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Under 14 pounds with the sights, got to remember them, as shot false muzzle not weighed is per NMLRA rules a "light bench/buffalo rifle" Qualifies for both matches.

Heavy bench goes up from there.

Good info, I was not aware of the rules as I have not had the opportunity to participate in any competitions.

Seems to be a lot of interest on this topic. Actually, IMHO, a forum all it's own for heavy bench rifles would be appropriate here.

Is there a competition bracket for flint lock? Or is it what what ever action is on the gun is ok?

There are matches for flintlock but they may also be shot in caplock matches. Same weight rules.

Good to know.

Ok, so let me ask some questions. I see you guys at Friendship and really dont know much about your "game"

Round ball or conical?

how much powder?

open sights, peeps, scope?

range?

what type of groups are you able to shoot?

ignition type? sealed?

how many shots in a typical match?

Thanks

Fleener

1. Yes

2. 90 grains to 230+ grains

3. depends on the match but all 3 are used\

4. 50 to 300 at the old FT Ty range. [never been to Friendship]

5. 50 5X is a possible, many shot at 50 and 100 and same with the heavy's at 200 and 300.

Targets at 50 and 100 1 inch X rings,[the buff and light bench had same size black and ring size] 200 If I remember right were 2 inch.

Groups mean nothing X's mean gold.

6. Yes plus flintlock

7. 5 for record, sighter's allowed on a different target mostly but some have a bull for use as a sighter.

Please go to a line shoot and ask for help plenty will be given , the best winners will gladly tell you their secrets, it is not like shooting modern arm matches

Hope this helps you