And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Brown Bess musket
An X ray of a 1769 Brown Bess musket recovered from a shipwreck, and showing that the old musket was loaded with buck and ball. Repel boarders? Indeed it would!
As a proud Brown Bess owner and shooter (of about 30 years now), I can tell you that the .75 caliber patched round ball is a game changer at close range (no sights - - you aim over the rear tang screw and the bayonet lug). Add buckshot and it's downright lethal.
Usually a buck-and-ball load was the first shot because it took longer to load for repeat shots in a combat setting. At Breed's Hill (Bunker Hill) they loaded with buck-and-ball until the ammo ran out and flat wiped out the British in their efforts to move the patriots with the bayonet.
As a proud Brown Bess owner and shooter (of about 30 years now), I can tell you that the .75 caliber patched round ball is a game changer at close range (no sights - - you aim over the rear tang screw and the bayonet lug). Add buckshot and it's downright lethal.
ReplyDeleteUsually a buck-and-ball load was the first shot because it took longer to load for repeat shots in a combat setting. At Breed's Hill (Bunker Hill) they loaded with buck-and-ball until the ammo ran out and flat wiped out the British in their efforts to move the patriots with the bayonet.
I beg you to post a picture of your Bess! That's just downright awesome!
DeleteI'll do that in the next couple of days.
Delete:-D
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