Charlieville pistol

[toot]

I have a 69 CAL. CHARLIEVILLE flintlock pistol. question, what DIA, RB, do they take and what thickness of a patch if any, and what powder 3 FG, or 2FG, black. and how many grains of powder? thanks any and all information will be appreciated. TOOT.

[Eggman]

Rappelez-vous une balle ronde patchee dun smoothbore danserva comme une princesse feerique.

[Eggman]

It was a little rude to post this since many N-SSA folks don't speak French. It's from the 1775 manual - "Manuel de Poudre Noire." In essence it says if you fire a patched round ball out of a smoothbore it will dance like a fairy princess.

[hawkeye2]

Well I never fired mine because it had a trigger pull that was actually painful (really!) but it's down to something acceptable now so I guess i need to cast some balls. I would recommend checking the bore size which is easy to do with a smoothbore, just use a set of calipers. Decide whether you will be primarily shooting it with a naked ball, paper cartridge or a patched ball and check to see what's out there for molds. That's a fairly hefty pistol so recoil wouldn't be much of an issue and that's a heavy ball too. I would think 30 grains of 3f would be a starting point and 50 would be too much. 2f would probably work fine too if that's what you have

I just checked 2 things, first I don't have a mold, thought I bought one years ago. Second the bore diameter is .692". If you work up a load keep us in mind and post it over on the Muzzleloading Forum too. It might actually encourage me to round up some balls and shoot mine.

[hawkeye2]

Moose Molds has about the best selection of .69 caliber molds, see this page: https://moosemoulds.wixsite.com/mm2013/moose-balls

[Eggman]

Based on Hawkeye's measurements you may want to give the Lee .690 round ball mold a try. Very economical and very high quality.

[toot]

hawkeye2, thank you and all of the others that helped with my query on the CHARLEVILLE PISTOL.one question what is meant by shooting a bare ball? just the ball setting on the powder, no patch or wad?

[toot]

MUZZLE LOADING FORUM, will do.toot.

[hawkeye2]

Bare ball: no patch, just the ball. You might want a wad below and above the ball to seal and to hold the ball in. That's a lot of trouble when a patched ball is faster and easier.

[John Holland]

Toot - Yes, "Bare Ball" means no patch, but this requires some caution. You should have a ball that fits the bore fairly well because if the ball happens to roll forward before the charge ignites, the ball then becomes a bore obstruction.

[Eggman]

Toot it might behoove you to spend some time on the "Smoothbore Theory" thread. Rightly John focused on the safety issue so you don't accidentally blow your hand off. What many of us do is rough the balls up between a couple of files or rasps. This raises the surface of the ball ideally to the point where the ball maintains contact with the inside surface of the barrel (and doesn't roll back out), but not enough to make loading difficult. Assuming the sprue is also removed (no sprue on a Lee mold ball), these balls are free too turn as they wish as the travel down the barrel, and (in my opinion) this turning action gives the ball increased accuracy as it travels through the air. Many favor Alox as a bare ball lube but I refer a glob of Crisco or Lens lube.

[toot]

John Holland, thank you for that word of advice. so as I understand it, no need to wet the ball by putting it in your mouth to wet it before hand, just a tight fit? again thanks to all for your help.

[toot]

eggman, I certainly will do as you say. this is a history / safety lesson all in one. you guys, all of you are just the best. you share your knowledge Freely with any pilgrim that comes along, and asks for help. will let you know when I get all of my ducks in a row. TOOT.

[toot]

eggman, just where is THE SMOOTH BORE THEORY, found?

[Eggman]

eggman, just where is THE SMOOTH BORE THEORY, found?
Make sure you're logged in. Then in the upper right corner of the screen you see "Advanced Search." Type Smoothbore Theory in there. It will be the fourth or so item you see on the list when you click on the little magnifying glass..

[Hal]

My computer skills are not the best, but hopefully, this link will get you there.

https://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/5645-Smoothbore-Theory?highlight=smoothbore+theory (https://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/5645-Smoothbore-Theory?highlight=smoothbore+theory)

[toot]

Eggman, thanks, TOOT.

[toot]

Hal, thank you the site you posted took me rite too it. thank you guys. what a great bunch for sharing your knowledge with others. that is what makes this site so great! TOOT.

[Eggman]

Eggman, thanks, TOOT.

You're welcome Toot. This site is encyclopedic. Just about anything to do with Civil War arms and most pre Civil War is in there using the search.

[toot]

Eggman, ROGER THAT. I have it saved in my favorites. it is the UBER STICKIE! TOOT.

[Eggman]

Toot -- for all of us that still use an abacus to do our income tax, what is an "uber stickie?"

[toot]

Eggman, on most sites that you go on be fore you get to the subject / items that you want to read about, they will have a certain amount of items / help on subj-acts to read be fore starting on the site, called STICKIES. that is the best that I can explain it. STICKIES, I ADDED THE UBER part, GERMAN FOR ABOVE ALL / GREAT. best that I can do. hope it explains it? if not just call it a great STICKIE! something to ear mark. TOOT.

[Eggman]

I get it. It's like an "Eat More Pork!" sticker on the back of a '65 Dodge pickup.

[toot]

Eggnan, yeh, yeh, that is it sure nuff!! it sure do get sum sticky when you are eaten them pork ribs covered in that sweet & sooo, STICKIE goo that the southern boys put all over them! hell they can't even taste em with all of that UBER STICKIE stuffen that is on them, and throwing them old bare bones it the pickup bed! dam but the flies sure do luve em!!. now you know the rest of the story.

[toot]

thanks for all the help. I am good to go. toot.

[Eggman]

genial! Agreable devoir un client satisfait!

[Ron The Old Reb]

AS Marie Antoinette Said Qu'ils mangent du gateau!

[Bruce Cobb 1723V]

nothing to lose your head over??

[Eggman]

Well as Dan Quayle said, what a terrible thing it is to lose one's mind, or to not have a mind is very wasteful.

[Eggman]

One last item, Hawkeye -- are you really a Hawkeye?? If so what part of the good old corn state are you from?? I suspect you might be a true Iowegian since your posts are mostly coherent.

[Ron The Old Reb]

"or to not have a mind is very wasteful."


​What a brilliant statement should be engraved in stone.

[hawkeye2]

Ya talking to me? I'm now a Virginian and a Maineack before that.

[Eggman]

I take it you have no special affinity for corn then?

[hawkeye2]

Only if it comes in a jug. :)

[Dheisey#7003]

Hold on tight when you pull the trigger....that frizzen leaves a nasty mark on your forehead if you don't.... I know someone that was bit by one.