Can BP smoothbore use Brenneke slugs?

[Oleg Volk]

In general, seems like drag stabilization would provide better penetration than ball...any reasons why not use them?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Cost. If it works in smoothbore, it'll work in a blackpowder smoothbore. But for the price of the Brenneke slugs, can you achieve the same performance solid round ball? The Brenneke is suppose to fly farther and straighter than the round ball, hence longer range. A good musketman can place all his round balls into a piece of paper at 75 yards. Lawrence Babits discusses this in his book, "Devil of a Whipping: Battle of Cowpens." Using a replica Brown Bess, he not only achieved speed but got 5/6 shots onto the paper at that distance.

 

[RON in PA]

I'd be concerned about finding the right powder charge with the heavy slug, too much and you might have a KABOOM. With a proper charge the velocity might be so slow that the trajectory wil be very high. One advantage of the round ball is its higher velocity and flatter trajectory.

Have you ever shot a Brenneke slug in a modern shotgun, not a very pleasent experience. The most recoil I've ever experienced.

 

[Poodleshooter]

My as cast Lee forster style slugs run about .68-.69", just about right for a Charleville. That would be cheap shooting, but hell on your shoulder. It would probably provide better penetration than roundball, though.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Unless you have a black powder 12 ga. (I do) I wouldn't recommend it. the fluid steel barrels of mine are a lot thinner than a modern 12 bore.

Course if you were to wrap 18 dimes with a piece of cellotape and stuff it on top of 90 grains of FFg....

You'd make a pretty convincing slug.

 

[redneck]

Everything I've read says that you should only use pure lead projectiles in a muzzle loader. I always thought the brenneke slugs were harder, have some tin in them or something