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  1. shaman

    Rifle vs. Smoothbore

    In 40-some years of muzzleloading, I have only acquired 3 Muzzleloading arms: a 54 cal TC Hawken a 75 cal Pedersoli Brown Bess a 50 cal LHR inline I'm thinking about my next one. I want it to be a flinter. If all goes well, I'll use it for deer hunting. How much additional useable range...
  2. shaman

    Which Revolver?

    My youngest son, received a 36 cal Pietta as a present from a buddy of mine. He turned around and bought a 44 cal for #2 son so they could shoot together. Then a bunch of stuff happened we won't go into. The bottom line is that I was going to get a black powder revolver to shoot with my...
  3. shaman

    Hunting with 'Bess

    First off, this may be of no interest to anyone else but me. Second, let warn y'all that there is no dead deer at the end of the story. Quick Background January 2022: I get a Pedersoli Brown Bess March 2022: I finally get out to shoot it after acquiring all the necessary tackle April 2022...
  4. shaman

    A List of Beginner's Tools

    I'm thinking of starting my first Kibler Kit. It will probably be a Colonial in .54. Can anyone point me to a good list of tools that I should have on hand to start the job?
  5. shaman

    A Cartridge Box for 'Bess

    Let me say at the onset that I have nothing against reenacting. However, my Brown Bess was purchased to be a working tool, part of my family's effort at acorn farming. Pursuant to that, the accessories for my 'Bess may lack some authenticity, but they are practical. Such is my current...
  6. shaman

    A New Youtube Channel

    This is not Smoothbore-related, but I do hope to show future episodes with my Brown Bess. I started a new Youtube Channel yesterday. I would appreciate your support.
  7. shaman

    How much Sprue?

    I just had a chance to try out my new .735 mould from ballmoulds.com. See Bess' Bigger Balls. The mould comes with no sprue cutter. The site suggests using diagonal cutters to cut the sprue. That's what I did. It leaves a nub. How do y'all deal with what's left? With the first batch, I...
  8. shaman

    Powder Measure for BP

    When I was at Friendship this past weekend, I was out walking on the firing line for a bit. I was looking for ideas on range boxes, etc. One thing that surprised me was a number of fellows were using powder measures like this: . . . to meter out charges. Is that Kosher? I seem to...
  9. shaman

    Brown Bess Progress Report

    I had my Pedersoli Brown Bess out this morning. I was testing roundball loads using the SkyChief Method only substituting a ball for shot. I had a hurried time of it last year and did manage to get a few balls down the barrel before KY's Early Muzzleloader Season. I simply duplicated the...
  10. shaman

    Drat! ( and Thanks!)

    First off, Thanks. Y'all did a great job of helping me get my Pedersoli Brown Bess ready for Turkey Season. I finally settled on 60 grains of 3F and 1 2/3 oz of #6 shot using a SkyChief configuration. I had a lot riding on this season. Thiis was my first turkey season back from Chemo. I...
  11. shaman

    Brown Bess Trigger Job (?)

    I have to say, one of my least favorite parts of my Pedersoli Brown Bess is the trigger. Is there anyone out there doing trigger jobs? Drop-in replacement triggers? Double triggers? Just wondering.
  12. shaman

    Testing Shot Loads in 'Bess

    I made it back down to the farm and opened up Turkey Camp for another year. I brought the Pedersoli Brown Bess with me to test shot loads. The bottom line: 60 grains of 3F and 1 1/2 oz of #6 shot did the best of covering the center of the target with pellets. I used the Skychief method...
  13. shaman

    Powder/Shot Vials

    Well, it ain't exactly what you'd call "Period Correct." However, I was looking to get serious with Brown Bess starting next week. I needed a way to pre-measure powder and shot. I looked to Ebay for an answer: I tried the smallest ones first-- 15 mm. They could not hold 80 grains of 2F...
  14. shaman

    Getting 'Bess Ready for Turkey Season

    I will shortly be getting my Pedersoli Brown Bess ready for its first turkey season. I thought I would start a discussion on the best way to go about it. I've got #6 chilled lead, and enough 3F to get me through until Friendship in June. Here are my options as I see them 1) Skychief Method--...
  15. shaman

    Brown Bess Questions

    Two Questions regarding the Brown Bess: Question 1: Carrying my Pedersoli Brown Bess afield for the first time for deer hunting. I could not help but notice how obnoxious the sling was. My sling seems to be of a fairly standard design. Mine only seems to differ from the original in that it is...
  16. shaman

    Brown Bess Ready for Action

    The KY Early Muzzleloader Season is this Saturday. I had to finally stop playing with my Brown Bess and make some hard decisions. I'd been messing with ball size, patch, and lube every trip out to camp since I ended my Chemo treatments. None of what I'm doing is particularly Period-correct...
  17. shaman

    What Constitutes Safe?

    With a bolt-action centerfire rifle, if you have a cold chamber, the firearm is completely safe. The world will end before chance causes a round to go up the spout and the primer to fire. With a caplock, you can remove the cap and have close to the same state. Now I'm sitting with a Brown...
  18. shaman

    Brown Bess Progress Report

    With my 3 lbs of 3F, recently acquired at Friendship, I resolved to get the Brown Bess down to the farm and get some shots off. This was my first time out with 'Bess since early April and the first time at the bench since Chemo. I got tired far too quickly, but I did manage to find out: 1)...
  19. shaman

    3 Pounds of Powder-- The Hard Way

    I managed to get to Friendship, Indiana for the fall shoot yesterday. This was my first event since Chemo. It was a rocky trip to say the least, but I did manage to score 3 lbs of black powder. 3lbs of Powder-- the hard way
  20. shaman

    Black Powder at Friendship (?)

    Recovering from Chemo has put a real dent in my schedule this summer. The road trip to secure some 3F black powder never came off. It's getting on towards the NMLRA shoot at Friendship in a few weeks. I'm hoping to go to it the first weekend. I have not been in over 30 years. Will there be...
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