Parker-Hale Musketoon Help!

[mg2tx]

Hello to all. First things first is I am a noob when it comes to Blackpowder shooting. I have always wanted to try blackpowder but I have never shot nor been around anyone shooting it.
So this Christmas I was visiting my parents and sure enough my dad gives me a beautiful Parker-Hale 1861 Musketoon he bought back in the early 70's (SN# 3xxx). First off let me say if there is one think about my dad when it comes to his guns he is meticulous with regards to cleaning, so even though the rifle has not been shot in close to 25 years from what i can see there is not a speck of rust or corrosion.
Now Here is the problem. All that came with the Rifle is the Sergeant's tool and the Nipple Protector. I have been doing tons of research online but there just doesn't seem to be much information regarding the Musketoons. I am looking for a manual or something for that rifle. From what i gather people seem to love the rifle and have posted what they shoot in regards to powder. Yet i would like something from the factor saying... here this is what we recommend...
Thanks to all any help would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year!

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Speak with your dad and see if he doesn't have the original instruction manual that came with the musketoon. Not everyone kept the instructions even though they may have retained the other accessories. Navy Arms has a number of instruction manuals available so you might approach them for a hard copy, if any now exist. But there was very little difference in the manual for the P-H 1861 Musketoon from the P-H 1853 3-band and 1858 2-band Enfield rifles, and contained much the same recommendations and loading procedure.

http://www.navyarms.com/manuals.html

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

MG2TX, Where are you (in Texas?) We have members there who could help you.

[mg2tx]

MG2TX, Where are you (in Texas?) We have members there who could help you.

Yeah in the Houston area

[dml1296]

Have you seen this site? If not, it may help.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms ... gement.htm (http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms/british/enfield/management.htm)

[mg2tx]

Speak with your dad and see if he doesn't have the original instruction manual that came with the musketoon. Not everyone kept the instructions even though they may have retained the other accessories. Navy Arms has a number of instruction manuals available so you might approach them for a hard copy, if any now exist. But there was very little difference in the manual for the P-H 1861 Musketoon from the P-H 1853 3-band and 1858 2-band Enfield rifles, and contained much the same recommendations and loading procedure.

http://www.navyarms.com/manuals.html


Thanks for the website. I will have to send them an e-mail and see what they might have. i read over the 1853 manual and that seems to be inline with what i have read and heard from others. I did speak to my dad and unfortunately he loaned the manual to a friend a number of years ago and he ended up loosing it, so no manual.

[dml1296]

If all else fails, I can copy my manual for you.

[Ken Hansgen, 11094]

Charlie Bondurant, Commander of Forrest's Escort Company, also lives in Houston. He gets email at Smokinpole@aol.com.

[dml1296]

I tried taking some pictures of my manual. The flash didn't work very well and without flash they are bit fuzzy, but readable.
I will try again in sunlight. I could email them or post them here.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1643/phmusketoon003.jpg

[mg2tx]

I tried taking some pictures of my manual. The flash didn't work very well and without flash they are bit fuzzy, but readable.
I will try again in sunlight. I could email them or post them here.


dml1296 that would be great. that picture turned out good. so any other pages would be great. Thanks

[surveyor47]

Congratulations on owning one of the best carbines ever made. The more you know the Musketoon, the more you will appreciate it. The first thing that you should know about it is that the front sight is too low for 50 or 100 yard shooting and will have to be replaced. Mr. Bob Hoyte, a barrel maker does this for a nominal price. He installs a taller front sight that you will file down. Your rear sight should NOT be modified at all! With the ladder in the horizontal position and all the way to the rear, you are at the 50 yard position. With the sight moved forward to the first hump, the rifle is zeroed at the 100 yard position. It is the front sight that must be filed down. The idea is to acheive a height where the gun shoots exactly to point of aim at 50 and 100 yards, depending upon sight position. Mr. Hoyte can be contacted:

Mr. Bob Hoyte
700 Fairfield Station Road
Fairfield Pennsylvania PA 17320
717-642-6696

Your gun will probably like a bullet sized to 0.577 or 0.578. You will need to obtain sizer dies to swedge down your bullets to that size. Sizer dies are available through several suttlers, such as North-East Trade Company.

You will cast your bullets out of PURE LEAD. I like the RCBS minnie ball molds a lot. Buy one in excess of the bore size, such as the 580 diameter.

The nominal skirmisher load for these guns if 45 grains of FFF black powder.

Cleaning these guns is a snap if you use Ballistol www.ballistol.com (http://www.ballistol.com) It is best NOT to take them apart except perhaps once per year for inspection. I use ballistol instead of water. It does not hurt the metal or the stock. You pump your patch up and down the barrel with ballsitol out of the nipple and nipple hole. Ballistol neutralizes black powder residue. It DOES NOT work with PYRODEX!!! Pyrodex is GARBAGE and you should not insult a fine carbine with that stuff. Instead, connect with a team, learn the manual of arms and buy real live black powder.

Good luck1

[remington1858]

I live in Galveston. If you are willing to drive a little I can help you get the gun ready.

Wes Lerma
210-394-2277

[John Holland]

It's just plain Hoyt.....no "e" on the end.

JDH

[David Lapell]

I have a EuroArms 1853 Musketoon which should be very similar to your gun. Mine likes the .577 Minie balls, I bought mine supplies from track of the wolf. 60 grains seems to be a good load, and then with hunting loads, I use 55 grains of Triple 7 (I know its not traditional BP but its tough to get here, and for hunting loads I want the most reliable). You will be amazed when that guns gets dialed in how accurate it can be even with the short barrel. Last spring I took a silver medal in our local muzzleloading musket match for 100 yards offhand. If you like to hunt deer, well it does that too. I shot this 115 pound doe at 100 yards or so, also offhand. That .577 Minie ball dropped that deer where she stood after hitting her in the neck (best shoot I could get on her).
I would contact Dixie Gun Works or Track of the Wolf for any supplies you might need on the gun.


http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/Picture718.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/Picture047.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/muzzledeer2.jpg
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/muzzledeer.jpg

[mg2tx]

Ok so finally an update. Last week myself and a buddy decided it was the perfect day to go to the range. He was sighting in a new scope on his hunting rifle and I finally had all the supplies and felt I knew what to do at least enough to not blow myself up. So we loaded everything up and headed out. Once we got to the range I realized I had forgotten my powder flask. Luckily I had the can of powder so I had to try and pour the BP out of the can and into the powder measure. The only thing that saved me is the funnel that came with the powder measure.
On a side note, many people seem to absolutely abhor the use of anything other than “real” black powder. Well, our local Bass pro has got to have the worst supply of BP stuff so low and behold my options were Pyrodex or Pyrodex. So I picked up a can or 2F and set out. Although I have never shot real BP the Pyrodex was great and I had no issues. It does seem to be quite dirty though. Again I have no comparison.
At the range I got into a rythem and was able to load the rifle pretty efficiently. My only gripe with the day was trying to load the round balls. I was using a box of speer .570 lead balls with pre-lubed .011 patches. I have no idea how anyone is able to shoot anything thicker. Other than once or twice I could not load other than tapping the ball down to seat it. I thought it might be buildup from the BP so after every other shot I cleaned but still same thing. So now I am ordering some minie balls. That should help. I hope.
Other than the loading issues it was a very enjoyable time. The rifle is super accurate. Had to aim about a foot low at 50 yards but at 100 it was right on. Me and my buddy were amazed at how little kick (really a push) there was. I was using a somewhat mild 55 grains load.
After the range it was back home to do some cleaning. As suggested by my dad and a few other members I took the barrel off, cleaned it out and then set it in the bathtub full of hot soapy water. After some more cleaning I pulled it out, dried it off (the hair dryer worked great), oiled it and let it sit for the night. In the morning I re-oiled it and put it back together.
In the end this was a great first experience with black powder shooting. I had some issues with getting the proper equipment, it is a dirty and time consuming both shooting and cleaning but I can’t wait to do it again.
To everyone thanks for the help.

And Now some pictures first the rifle when i got it, then at the range...
http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz189/mg2tx/Pics_00001.jpg
http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz189/mg2tx/IMAG0156.jpg

[Lou Lou Lou]

What kind of groups did you get with the Round Ball?