AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: 4ster on May 31, 2011, 04:20:39 PM

Title: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: 4ster on May 31, 2011, 04:20:39 PM

So I've built my first rifle, its a reproduction of a British gun from the revolutionary war and shoots a .615 ball.  Now I'm thinking about the next gun.

In my past shooting life I have tended to shoot modern revolvers and ended up picking up a couple of lever guns in my revolver calibers.  Saved me reloading both rifle and handgun cartridges, and I just like lever guns.

So I am thinking of building a pistol that might have been carried by a soldier that carried my revolutionary war rifle.   If he carried a pistol at all, was it a common practice to carry one that shot the same ball as his rifle?

Steve

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: rich pierce on May 31, 2011, 07:25:05 PM

From what little I know, officers may have carried pistols but regulars and militia did not normally do so.  Good idea though and lots of fun.  I wish I had more caliber standardization.

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: bob in the woods on May 31, 2011, 07:44:27 PM

Most of what I've seen indicates that pistols of the Rev war era were mainly smoothbored.

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: bgf on May 31, 2011, 11:19:54 PM

Sounds like a great idea.  Pistols are small enough to focus on small details and still not take forever, and they are fun for plinking, easy on powder, and simple to clean while still satisfying the urge to make smoke; if it it is the same caliber as your rifle, then you already have all the accessories, which is a big plus, also.  They might not have been common, but I'm sure someone back then had one in his rifle's caliber for an emergency. 

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: Ezra on June 01, 2011, 12:52:19 AM

Twigg Officers pistol from TRS.  It's on my to do list.  Already have the assembled lock, well it's paid for anyway...still waiting...

http://therifleshoppe.com/catalog_pages/english_pistols/(732).htm


Ez

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: Daryl on June 01, 2011, 04:03:03 AM

The early martial pistols are probably some of the esiest of pistols to build. I think it's a grand idea.  A smooth .63 to .65 will allow the same ball to be used by varying the patch thickness. The larger size is due to a smoothbore's requirement for more windage, not having grooves to take up patch.

Title: Re: This time I'm thinking of doing it backwards
Post by: Pete G. on June 05, 2011, 05:58:51 PM

Incidentally, the pistol was the backup weapon for a sword or cutlass, not a long gun. Atlanta Cutlery is a good source.