My first Flint Lock rifle musket A Charleville 1766 Pedersoli

[PluggedNickel]

I purchased it from Jedediah Star online this afternoon. I should be here by Wednesday. I'm pretty stoked about it. I can dress up like my militia ancestors and reenact with my SAR Chapter, George Rogers Clark, Springfield, OH.
Anyone else have a Charleville? Pedersoli says .675" round ball, and .007 patch.
I'd like to hear what others use in Charleville and Brown Bess. What about flint size, how wide? I will probably use German flints.
Here are some Pedersoli factory pictures of it. I also ordered the nipple wrench, wood
mallet, and pan primer.

 

[Cowboy]

One of our guys we shoot with at our monthly Blackpowder shoot’s has one. He seems to really like his. He also places well with it too!

I personally think it’s a very attractive rifle. I already have a Bess, but I’d like to get the Charleville as well. It’s definitely on my bucket list.

Keep us posted my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[PluggedNickel]

One of our guys we shoot with at our monthly Blackpowder shoot’s has one. He seems to really like his. He also places well with it too!

I personally think it’s a very attractive rifle. I already have a Bess, but I’d like to get the Charleville as well. It’s definitely on my bucket list.

Keep us posted my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

Thanks for the input Cowboy. I will keep you posted and get some pictures when I get it. Dixie had it at a cheaper price, on sale for $1350.00. Hind sight is 20/20. I googled it, and Dixie didn't come up for some reason. I assumed it was out of stock. Oh well, I'm still stoked, Dixie also listed use 1" flints. I'm going to measure the bore when I get it. If it is 680, I can use .010" patch. Dixie also has .69 caliber minnie ball. They would probably have to be swaged. I think round balls are historically correct for the period.
This is my first Pedersoli. All my other toys are Uberti: two 1858 RNA's, 1847 Walker, Euroarms: 1861 Springfield, Colt Black Powder Sig Series 2nd Gen 1861 Navy, and 1862 Pocket Navy, and Pietta: 1851 Navy. If mine looks anything like the factory pictures I will be pleased for sure. A Pedersoli 1861 Springfield just sold for $650.00 on the forum, if I didn't have the Euroarms, I would have been all over that!

I use one of these to swage minie' balls with the 1861. Fits in drill press hole.

 

[tenngun]

You might want to think smaller, like a.662. My .62loves The .595 and .600, you don’t need a smoothie tone as tights as a rifle.

 

[Cowboy]

I’m happy and excited for you my friend! The Charleville is indeed a beautiful rifle!!

I hope you’ll be as happy with yours as my buddy is with his!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[PluggedNickel]

I’m happy and excited for you my friend! The Charleville is indeed a beautiful rifle!!

I hope you’ll be as happy with yours as my buddy is with his!

Respectfully, Cowboy

Thanks! Here is a great article I found on the Bess and Charleville Muskets.

https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/the-guns-of-1776-from-davide-pedersoli/
Some pictures from the article to whet your appetites. Pedersolit Bess & Charleville review I believe. I haven't read the entire article myself yet, but it looks like a good one!

 

[Cowboy]

Very nice my friend.

Thanks for sharing!

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[PluggedNickel]

Very nice my friend.

Thanks for sharing!

Respectfully, Cowboy

Your welcome. I just checked out your beautiful trade rifle! Excellent photos I would add!

 

[PluggedNickel]

Another awesome article with a ton of videos on the 1766 Charleville Musket.
http://www.bahrnoproducts.com/Charleville_Firing_and_Cleaning.htm

 

[Pukka Bundook]

So these are rifled??

I don't think I've seen a rifled Charelville.

Best,
Pukka.

 

[PluggedNickel]

Well, I've been busy. Ordered 1" German flints from Dixie, Brass vent pick, and Brown Bess sling. I took advice from a member who suggested I get a flash guard. Dixie had just waht I was looking for. I'm waiting till I can measure the bore before I order balls, wads.

 

[Cowboy]

Your welcome. I just checked out your beautiful trade rifle! Excellent photos I would add!

Thank you my friend.

 

[PluggedNickel]

No no, Muskets really, not rifled. My apologies.

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Ah OK, Wasn't sure, as I know the French Did rifle some arms originally issued as smooth bore muskets.

Plugged,
Yours looks a V well made piece! Congrats!
Flints;
The good yellow French flints should work, but also the good black English ones! I gather Both sides at Waterloo used the same flints,..
(Don't ask me where I heard that though!)

Richard.

 

[PluggedNickel]

Ah OK, Wasn't sure, as I know the French Did rifle some arms originally issued as smooth bore muskets.

Plugged,
Yours looks a V well made piece! Congrats!
Flints;
The good yellow French flints should work, but also the good black English ones! I gather Both sides at Waterloo used the same flints,..
(Don't ask me where I heard that though!)

Richard.

Thanks Richard!

So these are rifled??

I don't think I've seen a rifled Charelville.

Best,
Pukka.

I guess I should have posted this under Smoothie's really. The mods can move it if they like.

 

[Rat]

I don't think the flash guards serve any purpose, other than getting in the way. I think they are for re-enactors who stand close together in a line and fire side by side, in which case the gas from the touch hole peppers the guy next to you with burning powder, and the guy on your left peppers you. Unless someone is going to stand next to you, on your right when you fire it, I think a flash guard will just make that beautiful lock look ugly. But hey, you might like it, and say: "That Rat is nutz!" I've always wanted a Charelville, but my Bess has served me well. Still, I am jealous!

Here's a pic of the flame and brimstone, fury and fire my Jeager belches out the touch hole. !!!! But when I fire a flintlock, I'm not even aware of the flash. All I see are my sights.

 

[PluggedNickel]

I don't think the flash guards serve any purpose, other than getting in the way. I think they are for re-enactors who stand close together in a line and fire side by side, in which case the gas from the touch hole peppers the guy next to you with burning powder, and the guy on your left peppers you. Unless someone is going to stand next to you, on your right when you fire it, I think a flash guard will just make that beautiful lock look ugly. But hey, you might like it, and say: "That Rat is nutz!" I've always wanted a Charelville, but my Bess has served me well. Still, I am jealous!

Here's a pic of the flame and brimstone, fury and fire my Jeager belches out the touch hole. !!!! But when I fire a flintlock, I'm not even aware of the flash. All I see are my sights.View attachment 761

Sweet! You probably know better than I on the flash guard. I see them on a lot of re-enactors guns for sure. Makes sense. I thought they may help protect the wood and metal in that area. I guess they could force the flame that is coming out of the side of your rifle upwards. Not sure I'd like that. I'll give it a try without one and see how I like it. I may be re-enacting with the SAR. They may have rules on that.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Sorry you hear you ordered the nipple wrench for the flinter, but I hope it was part of a package and you didn't have the choice. What the heck you have caplocks, right?

Yes the flash guard is a reenactment safety feature. Not needed when you don't shoot volleys, or you're left handed and firing from the left shoulder, and want to prevent the jet from the touch hole from going in front of your face.

Charleville's tend to have a stout main spring, though the Pedersoli's are stiff, the Japanese Charleville's are down right beasts. I think you will find that knapped, English flints, 7/8' will work the best for you.

You may also find that getting a wooden dowel (aka a "former"), and sanding it down so that the paper cartridge that is made from it, just fits inside the barrel without any binding, will act as a sort of "cup" and give you very good results with a .675 ball, or you can use an even smaller ball with a smaller former, and simply use more wraps of paper around the dowel.

2Fg and an 80 grain load is a good place to start (imho).

OH and be kind to your metal rammer. You see a lot of reenactors "ping" their empty musket to show it's empty by slamming the ramrod from about the half-way-point, down onto the bare breech plug face. IF you need to "ping" the rammer, dropping it 2" from the bottom will give you plenty of ping, and not wear out your rammer.

LD

 

[PluggedNickel]

Sorry you hear you ordered the nipple wrench for the flinter, but I hope it was part of a package and you didn't have the choice. What the heck you have caplocks, right?

Yes the flash guard is a reenactment safety feature. Not needed when you don't shoot volleys, or you're left handed and firing from the left shoulder, and want to prevent the jet from the touch hole from going in front of your face.”=QUOTE]

Hey Loyalist Dave, thanks for that info. Yes, I have an 1861 Springfield I”ll use the nipple wrench for it. It is more for looks than anything. I have a powder flask that is a repro for the 1861 that is just for looks as well as other accoutrements. I have other wrenches, and even a ratchet with different sockets for different nipples. To tell the truth, I did order it as a lookie, for the Charleville. Duh, huh? LOL
Old habits die hard I guess! Oh, but wait it gets worse, I looked at musket caps as well! Luckily I already have some of those, so I didn’t get more.
I may purchase a bayonet at some point as well. Luckily my SAR buds can help me along the way, and help out if I dry ball, or misfire.
Again, thanks for the excellent tips. Keep ‘me coming, as I’m sure I’ll have more questions as I learn.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

HEY it's smart to stock up when you've already got a big order coming, to get those small bits as well..., makes the shipping more reasonable.

LD