P1851 rifle musket

[Muley Gil]

I was reading an article in Guns and Ammo on the P1851 Enfield. I was wondering if any skirmisher out there has used one in competition. It is a .702 caliber. According to the article, both sides in the War of Northern Aggression bought some, as these arms were replaced by the P1853.

Enquiring minds want to know. :)

[geezmo]

Gil,

Check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KQj7OYN-w

Also on youtube search britishmuzzleloaders. The guy has tons of info and videos on many British, expecially Victorian Era, firearms.

Good stuff,
Barry S.

[John Holland]

My unit, the 44th NY, back ion the late 1960's had one old fellow, actually a Tuscarora Indian, who used a P-51 Rifle Musket for the old wooden stake events. Because he was never able to find a proper mould he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn if he had been inside the barn! However, a friend had a P-51 Rifle Musket made from a Rifle Shoppe kit and it shot wonderfully with the now available correct projectiles. Of course, the barrel was made by one of the current modern makers.

[Southron Sr.]

In the latter part of the 1960;s, the late, great Skirmisher/Gunsmith John Stotler had a "Fremont 1842" Rifled-Musket he had cobbled together using mostly original parts. He used it ONLY for the Stake Event.

His name for it was "Termite II" and he showed me a Minie Ball he used in it. He had taken a Lyman , .69 Caliber Minie Ball mould, put the mould on a lathe and bored out the ogive of the nose to .68 Caliber. His Minie Balls cast in that mould
were, in effect, long .69 Caliber "Wadcutters." They had to weigh well in excess of 1,000 grains each.

John's comment: "Ole Termite II kicks like the Devil, and I am looking around for a lead mine to buy, so I can keep feeding her."

[Maillemaker]

And you size them way undersize so they keyhole. :)

Steve

[Southron Sr.]

Dear Maillenmaker:

It was at a Nationals, many, many years ago a well known team going into the Stake Event, LOADED THEIR RIFLE-MUSKETS WITH RAMRODS (AS PROJECTILES) and if I recall correctly, obliterated their Stake with one mighty volley.

Anyone recall the specifics of that incident? What team? What year?

[John Holland]

What does any of this reverie have to do with the original question about the use of a British P-51 Rifle Musket? Very simply, nothing.

If you want to discuss something different.....start a new Thread.

[MR. GADGET]

What does any of this reverie have to do with the original question about the use of a British P-51 Rifle Musket? Very simply, nothing.

If you want to discuss something different.....start a new Thread.

Yep and it is getting very old.

[John Holland]

Eggman - That's a fair, and on topic, question! The simple answer is, not one of those muskets used was a P-51 Enfield.

I was on the line at time of the "incident" Southron, Sr. has referred to, and only a few positions away. For N-SSA historical purposes, here is what they did: Those eight men on the team had previously gone to Sutler's Row and purchased cheap reproduction ram rods at $2.00 each. When they fired their first volley at the chip board horizontal stake one ram rod just happened to hit the stake broadside and cut it in half. And, yes, they were disqualified for that stunt.

Now, to all readers and enthusiasts, lets continue on with anything regarding the original question about use of the P-51 Enfield in the N-SSA. Or even the history of the P-51, if you wish. Thank You!

[Dave Fox]

British Militaria Forums is a multi-subject site and has threads on the P.1851, in the running as the ugliest standard military rifled arm ever designed, in my opinion.

[Muley Gil]

Thanks for all of the posts.

John, do we know how many (approximately) P51s were imported?

I was there for the "ramrod" stake event too. Seems I remember a few harsh words being exchanged. :D

[geezmo]

Gil,

According to the video in the link I posted here, the guy who wrote the book claims there were slightly less than 30,000 made and slightly more than 18,000 imported to America.

[John Holland]

Gil - Approximately 14,500 P-51 Rifle Muskets were imported from England by the Confederacy. Of that number some 3,500 were taken into Federal service from captured blockade runners. This left about 11,000 P-51 Rifle Muskets in service in the South. Today only about 10-12 of the imported examples are known to still be in existence.

[Muley Gil]

Thanks John.

I don't believe I have seen one outside of the covers of a book or magazine.