Thread: Any Whitworth shooters ?

Do any of you fine people shoot a Whitworth bore muzzleloader rifle

Will maybe pick one up in the next week to try out.
And the Dixon bullet mold.
There's plenty on line but it's always good to find someone local using local powder and products .
It's PH Whitworth so it will be pretty interesting to see one in the flesh.
Not sure if the guy I'm borrowing it off will know much about it or have fired it

Cheers

I have an original but I have never shot it. I do have pile of projectiles so I could give it a try one day after I pick up some top hats.

The rifle is famous for among other things general John Sedgwicks unfinished quote "they couldn't hit an elephant at this dist. ....." when trying to motivate his troops during the american civil war. You are very fortunate @gundoc in having an original. Pictures please.

Back in my BP days many many moons ago I seriously lusted after a PH Volunteer or a PH Whitworth. I couldn't afford either at the time. Over time though I did end up with an 1858 and an 1861. The Naval rifle was a beautifully accurate rifle and was the pick of the 53, 58, 61 that PH produced.

Back then originals were still not cheap relative to today's increased prices. Some clubs were able to run some divisions on their shooting days where you could only field an original. I think rhe World Black Powder Champs, that a core of NZ shooters used to attend had original only events.

Have fun with the Whitworth.

From my readings there were five different sharpshooters who tried to take credit for the fatal shot on general John Sedgwick

The hot rate at extreme range would have been very low
But hugely demoralizing to have the odd bullet zipping around you any time you were in the open

My expectations are modest
But I would be delighted to be able to him my 400m gong after a few sighters

Hit rate !

Originally Posted by akaroa1

Hit rate !

Might need to up the Hymn rate to hit 400 gong ??

Try the NZBPSF (NZ Blackpowder Shooters Federation). Those guys shoot some very long ranges with muzzle-loaders and there's bound to be some Whitworths amongst them.
https://www.sporty.co.nz/nzbpsf/HOME

Some pictures of my Whitworth (circa 1863).

Mint condition!

@gundoc Do you have its provenance?

Originally Posted by zimmer

@gundoc Do you have its provenance?

It came out of Trentham Base Ordnance Depot in the 1960's when they disposed of the few they still had in the stores. I got it from the late Robbie Tiffen a few years ago.

Well I'm getting closer

Have seen the bullet mold.
A Peter Dyson solid brass mold with hollow base bottom plug.
Nose pour and then punch out from the nose when the lead cools enough.

I expect it will be a slow exacting process

These seem to be around 590 grains and made to patch up to bore size.
Small hollow base to tuck the patch into and also so the pure lead obturates up to bore size



Next visit we have to try harder to find the rifle !

Of interest to some.
Brass mold is solid and has been blind spark eroded to get the hexagon and helix angle
So the projectiles cast up with a slight surface grain
Might work like the golf ball dimples

My bullets are hollow base, paper patched, cylindrical which apparently perform just as well as the hexagonal as they fire form to the bore as soon as they start to move.