Getting started with a Blunderbuss....

A few of you wanted me to post something about the Blunderbuss or Coach Gun that I acquired. Thought I'd show a picture thread of what it takes and the steps required to use this 1700's technology...enjoy!


It takes a brave soul to load 90-100 grains of black powder into a short tube, at a pile of .32 cal ball on top and let it roar.... or forum member Lord Slashcat is the happy volunteer...I served as the cameraman and scribe..



Pouring in a measured charge of powder, in this case FFg at 90 grains.



Adding the over-powder card...and seating it on top of the powder.



Next comes the cushion wad...it too is seated on top with the ramrod.



Add the magic...a small charge of .32 lead ball for our test fire.



And finally the over-shot card to hold everything in place...at this final step we have built the shot column.



Priming the pan with a little ffffg...


And finally the results....a nice opening pattern at 5 yards....





Giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Thanks. Very impressive! Were original blunderbuss barrels that thin?

T-Star

T-Star,

Actually the end of the barrel is coned and tapers to a thinner edge. The barrel itself is very heavy walled...

giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Where did you pick up the blunderbuss? That is something I have been wanting to get for years, just couldn't find a source.

todd

Very cool!

(How's Lord Slashcat's shoulder doing?)

I'm always fascinated by the old technology. Thank you for
sharing this project. TACC1

....I was waiting for a more substantial boarding party....still, it looks like fun. Is it in the new S&W catalog?

Wonder if the Cowboy Action folks would let me use it in the Holy Black category???

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Saw a replay of the new TV show Pawn Stars where a man came in with a blunderbuss, and it was authenticated as an original by some expert they had on the show.
They gave something like $4000 for it, and then took it to the range and fired it! Whoever the large guy in PawnStars is said it was great stress relief to shoot it!

Guess you guys confirmed that it was fun and relieves stress!

Too cool thanks

cool giz
I always wondered why the bell shaped muzzle...do you know?

Makes it easy to load.

Does it have the lock?

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jj

The Large Guy on the Pawn show? Non of those guys look like they missed a meal lately. They are ignorant and stupid about fire arms. Anybody who tests fires a supposed antique for the first time from the hand deserves whatever they get.


Searoom

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searoom

That's a fine looking smokepole you have there! Shooting it looks like lots of fun. I have been shooting muzzleloaders for over 40 years and I think they are great fun and can teach people what real marksmanship is about. That's particularly true with rockscrapers. If you can hold your sights steady and keep you aim while all that sparking and flashing is going on in your face, you are a true marksman. Of course, with your blunderbuss, you don't need to be that precise. Thanks for the great pictures.

The flared muzzle wasn't there for psychological intimidation or to "spread the shot" as some have claimed. As Willy says, it was a built-in funnel to help out the guy trying to reload it from the back of a bouncing, swaying mail coach. Similar to the reason some revolver shooters chamfer the chambers of their combat pieces.

Nice looking coachgun! Great pics.....shoots a bit to the left though. Run that site over a couple clicks.

How many shots do you usually get from a decent flint before it's totally used up from knapping the edge, etc.

As I understand the bell shaped muzzle was easy to load and held an intimidation factor.

Might not be the truth...
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Dang, it's hell to be 1 page and 3 hrs behind in a post.

Oh well maybe that'll learn me to pay attention...

On a good English flint, about 20 to 25 shots before dressing the edge. Alot depends on the alignment of the flints bevel to the area it strikes the frizzen...


giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

I finally found a couple of sources for blunderbusses:

Kits: Tennessee Valley Manufacturing: Makers of Muzzleloading Rifles & Components



Finished: 18th Century Blunderbuss (Black Powder Muzzleloader)

You know, I had never considered how much flash would be present when a flintlock was touched off. Considering that, those who fought in our Revolutionary War had to be an exceptionally tough bunch of Men. Not only were the conditions generaly miserable, the food lacking or rancid, they were probably getting powder burnt with every shot and didn't even have any eye protection.

Do suppose they could have ever imagined that they were fighting for a government that now seeks to take away their guns, and mandates ridiculous safety standards for things much tamer than firing a flintlock with no OSHA-mandated eye protection???

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LEO since 1981.

If our Founding Fathers saw some of what is going on today they would probably be carrying Battle Axes into Congress on a head hunting mission.

One of my Dad's favorite sayings was "throw the Bums out". Well, all of Congress and 1/3 of the Senate is up for re-election this year so we have an excellent opportunity for a good start.

Well fashizzelmanizzel.
Cool thread Giz. Love the sound of a BP charge touching off.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired