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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 !
Might need to up the Hymn rate to hit 400 gong ??Quote:
Originally Posted by akaroa1
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).
Attachment 150990
Attachment 150991
Attachment 150992
Mint condition!
@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.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimmer
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
Attachment 151401
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.
Yes either way sounds to work wellQuote:
Originally Posted by gundoc
I expect the hex ones to be a lot more difficult to cast
But they do look pretty cool
Well it took a solid year to finally get the PH Whitworth .451 rifle
Attachment 181875
Near mint condition
Perfect for my purposes
Attachment 181875
Attachment 181877
Includes Dyson Whitworth hexagonal helical bullet mold and hex wad punch
Attachment 181878
Drool...
Very nice
A Whitworth or a Volunteer were always my dream.
Still have my Musketoon and Naval rifle.
Still looking for a P61
But this will entertain for some time
Got the Whitworth Dyson mold into action
Not as hard as I expected
Attachment 181931
Nice hollow base for the paper patch to tuck into
And the thinner lead edge expands into the rifling
Attachment 181932
Tapped out some heavy card over powder wads with the hexagonal punch
Attachment 181933
Now I can go find the right patch paper
And cast a heap more while I wait for the 9mm woolen felt to arrive
Had a play with the size and worked out that kitchen baking paper is the perfect thickness for the double wrap patches
The bullets are supposed to be an firm but easy fit in the bore
Attachment 181939
They wrapped in easily even dry because the paper folded into the base cavity holds the wraps tight
Attachment 181942
And I swapped out the original front sight for a Lyman 17A
Now I just need to find something sensible as a rear peep / tang sight and it will be ready to try
