Thread: Anyone shoot a Brown Bess?

Finally got my mits on one.
There seem to be quite a variation on ball size and loading procedures online.(wads,paper patch etc) Im more inclined to shoot it with just a ball and patch. I dont want to buy a whole bunch of moulds so interested if anyone shoots one what they use. Its an early Pedersoli and is about .747 bore.
TIA.

I have a Bess mould sitting on my projects bench that I've borrowed to cast and try in my 10 gauge project shotgun

I will go out and flick the lead pot on and cast a few and see what the actual size is

If it's about what you need I will carry on and cast a few dozen for you

I would just find a patch that suites your bore and these balls
It's not like you will shoot it a lot ( probably )

These have come up plus of minus a bit but pretty well exactly .750"

Thank you. Id have to load these without patch if they are .750,and that would be tight as the bores .748 at the muzzle,no telling if its consistant throughout,but Id expect it to be close. How do you think these would go?
I think they might be a bit big especially with a fouled bore.
Cheers.

I can send some for you to try

Cheers for that. Worth giving them a go. Ill pm my details if you dont still have them.

How many grains does weight one of these big balls?

Originally Posted by Friwi

How many grains does weight one of these big balls?

Well over 500 grains which is max on my scales
But should be 550 grains or more

Heavy but slow

I learnt a trick on my wee lee bance beam scales this week. It only goes to 111grains but if I place two buckshot balls in the race.1 in hundy slot and other in ten slot add 2 on slider ....it's now zeroed for plus 100 grains...I can move the original ball in slider to check weigh projectiles between 100-200 grains.

My trick is beat the ball flat on the anvil, cut in half roughly, weigh and add together
Throw the halves in the remelt jar

Very high tech

Yeah depends on the exact size( makes a surprising different between .715 and .750 but as above somewhere between 500-600 grains.
I certainly wouldn't want to be in front of it!