Panzerschwein
member
Hey gang! Well the time has come in my life to buy a muzzle loading weapon, and I'm thinking that a Springfield 1842 .69 caliber smoothbore musket will fit the bill. I am looking at this one offered by Dixie Gun Works:
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3482
It has some great reviews, and I am most enticed by the history of this weapon. I understand it was used in the Mexican American War, and of special interest to me, the American Civil War. I also know later on some of these were rifled, but I am leaning towards the above smoothbore model. However, as this will be my first smoothbore musket (I know, that's redundant!) I have some questions:
1. What types of loads were used with this weapon in the Civil War? I assume it took paper cartridges, any links on how to make them? If not, what was used to load the guns in battle? I recall that buck and ball was used as well?
2. What type of period (ACW era) accouterments would the soldier have when issued this musket? I'm interested in getting a correct cartridge box, or powder flask & ball pouches etc. etc.
3. Being a smoothbore weapon, I know it was inferior to the rifled muskets in the Civil War like the Springfield 1861 etc. etc., how/why were these muskets issued during that conflict? I assume it was because of a lack of arms earlier in the war? What is the maximum range at which the gun can reliably hit a man-sized target-- is this gun even accurate enough to target shoot or hunt deer with?
4. Finally, where can I find musket caps for sale (I hear RWS makes the best for shooting) and what is a good source for .69 caliber lead balls?
Thanks everyone, I know this is a lot of questions but being very new to this I am frankly overwhelmed and the preliminary research I've done has left said questions largely unanswered.
http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3482
It has some great reviews, and I am most enticed by the history of this weapon. I understand it was used in the Mexican American War, and of special interest to me, the American Civil War. I also know later on some of these were rifled, but I am leaning towards the above smoothbore model. However, as this will be my first smoothbore musket (I know, that's redundant!) I have some questions:
1. What types of loads were used with this weapon in the Civil War? I assume it took paper cartridges, any links on how to make them? If not, what was used to load the guns in battle? I recall that buck and ball was used as well?
2. What type of period (ACW era) accouterments would the soldier have when issued this musket? I'm interested in getting a correct cartridge box, or powder flask & ball pouches etc. etc.
3. Being a smoothbore weapon, I know it was inferior to the rifled muskets in the Civil War like the Springfield 1861 etc. etc., how/why were these muskets issued during that conflict? I assume it was because of a lack of arms earlier in the war? What is the maximum range at which the gun can reliably hit a man-sized target-- is this gun even accurate enough to target shoot or hunt deer with?
4. Finally, where can I find musket caps for sale (I hear RWS makes the best for shooting) and what is a good source for .69 caliber lead balls?
Thanks everyone, I know this is a lot of questions but being very new to this I am frankly overwhelmed and the preliminary research I've done has left said questions largely unanswered.