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capnray
Newbie
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 1
Location: Santa Claus, IN
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 Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:24 pm Post subject: New to forum |
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As the subject states, I am new here as well as new to muzzleloaders. I haven't hunted in over 35 years. I have also lost the sight in my "gun eye" (left). I would like to add at least target shooting to my retirement activities. I have seen that most modern muzzleloaders are in the .45 to .54 caliber range, though some as small as .36 are available. I have seen on History channel that the muzzleloaders used in the formation of our country were .55. Does anyone have a history of various muzzleloader caliber, and why the larger size? |
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saskie
Moderator/Bull Whacker
Joined: 23 Dec 2002
Posts: 1110
Location: West Carleton, Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: |
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First of all - Welcome to BGH forums.
That's an interesting question...I would suspect it would be that those same weapons were also used (and possibly originally designed for) military or at least protection applications, but were pressed into service out of neccessity as hunting rifles.
I know there's one or two traditional m/l emthusiasts here who certainly will know more about it than I do.
C'mon in, pull up a chair and chat for a while 
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"Be still, and know that I am God" |
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ElkFreak
Buck Master
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Sequim, WA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure why they chose those calibers. Prior to the Civil War, most muzzleloaders were smoothbore. I have an 1843 springfield and it is .69 cal. The ones during the American Revolution seem to be in the .72 cal. Most of the rifles made were individually crafted, not sure about the barrels though. I would imagine that nowadays it is all about standardization. I'm curious too, now. |
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Fisher King
Sportsman
Joined: 04 Sep 2007
Posts: 317
Location: Muskoka Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:34 am Post subject: |
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I Can only gess but I would say the larger calibers were due to knock down power. Using black powder and patched round ball 50 cal R.B.= 227grns at 1600 fps looses momentum preaty fast at 100 yrds.
My 2 cents F.K.
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Thats why they call it hunting and not groceryshopping |
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Tatertot45
Buck Master
Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 69
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:59 am Post subject: |
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There are a number of options out there for this info. A quick Google search should provide some results. Also, the History Channel did a wonderful job on their series "Tales of the Gun". I would check that out. tons of fascinating stuff on that show, though it hasn't run for some time. Aside from that, the library would be a great resource. i know in the Minneapokis metro area, you can research all the books you want from the your home computer, then head to the library to just get them.
I do enjoy this topic, so let's keep this up to the top. |
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Kirrmeister
Sportsman
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 253
Location: Bavaria, Germany
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| Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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In the era of smoothbore muskets the .75 was the most common cal. (Prussia, France, GB, Austria). The french were the first who reduced the cal. from .75 to .69.in order to use less powder. This cal. was common until the upcoming of rifled muskets. Then.58 rised up together with .54.
In the civil branch rifles were always more common and here the .45 cal. and after moving into the West the .54.
Regards
Kirrmeister |
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