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>how do, >I,m looking to buy one of your "ranger guns" and was >just wondering if anyone has had a problem with firing >hunting >loads in these muskets? I'll be doing f/i events, and >trek- >king mostly, but I will hunt some with it. > >>>Hi Folks, >>I have been making and using military cartridges for >>the last few years. I use a slightly sanded 3\4" dowel >>with >>one end Dremeled out enough so that a ball sits >nicely, >>then form your cart. around the former and ball, stick >>glue >>the seam,then tie the ball end with cotton thread. I >>add >>80 grains of FFF black stuff, fold and glue the end, >>and >>wax the ball end with melted bore butter or even bee's >>wax. >>I load and fire military style and get really good >>results. >>Never had burning paper problem and as a plus, the >>paper seemskeep the barrel a bit cleaner. 40 or so >>rounds from >>my Brown Bess is a good day at the range. Cheers. >>>I have had fairly good luck with a couple of >>>combinations. Both are based on 80 gr. of 2f >powder. >>>One is a .710 ball with a .018 pillow ticking patch. >>>The other is a .735 ball with a .012 patch. This is >>>now my preferred load and I took one of my deer in >>>November with it in the Bess. All patches are lubed >>>with a beeswax/olive oil mix and I have had no >>>problems with burning patches. >>> >>>I have also used paper cartridges. Again based on 80 >>>grains of powder and the cartridge is made up of >paper >>>from an old Dixie Gunworks Catalog. This is with the >>>.735 ball. Again pretty acceptable performance. >>>Never noticed any burning problems with the paper >>>either. Not saying it won't happen, just haven't >seen >>>it in the Bess or any of my other Smoothbores when I >>>have used paper cartridges. >>> >>> >>>>I bought a Brown Bess from Middlesex over the summer >>>>and got a chance to live fire it today. I used a .69 >>>>caliber ball with 70 grains of FFg black powder. My >>>>groupings were all over the place, even at 25 >yards. >>>> >>>>I was wondering what combinations of powder, patch, >>>>and ball people have found to be good. >>>> >>>>Also, does anyone fire the traditional way by >ramming >>>>the cartridge down the barrel? One of my patches >>>>caught fire today so I figure paper will surely burn >>>>up and it could be dangerous. Also, I wonder if >there >>>>would be an air gap between the ball and the charge.

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