CHM
Member
I took out my original 1863 yesterday for some test firing. I acquired this gun in an auction a few months back and found the barrel obstructed. I tried everything to get it cleared and even got a ball, wad and powder out. I ultimately had to send it out to Harpers Ferry to have the breech plug removed to clear the barrel. I received it back with a good amount of rust in the bore. I worked on it with numerous solvents and a bronze brush and got it reasonable clean. I thought firing it would help clear some of the corrosion. I loaded it initially with 50 grains FFFG and a Minie Ball. Put a cap on, pulled the hammer back, pulled the trigger - small boom. Cap only went off
. I reloaded another cap with the same results. Finally, I trickled some powder down the flash hole after removing the nipple. Finally, it fired. I then loaded it with 65 graind and also had a hard time with ignition, but when it finally fired - it was very sweet. I don't know why this is happening, but took the nipple out and gave it a good cleaning last night and this morning - boiling water first, BP solvent next, scrubbed the flash hole with pipe cleaners and the bore with a brush. I followed this with CLP and used a strong light to check the bore. The bore now is shiny with strong rifling!!! I will have to take it out again to check for reliability and - MAYBE - accuracy if I can get it to fire regularly. Just wanted to share this as you don't get to shoot a rifle that is 148 years old that often.
. I reloaded another cap with the same results. Finally, I trickled some powder down the flash hole after removing the nipple. Finally, it fired. I then loaded it with 65 graind and also had a hard time with ignition, but when it finally fired - it was very sweet. I don't know why this is happening, but took the nipple out and gave it a good cleaning last night and this morning - boiling water first, BP solvent next, scrubbed the flash hole with pipe cleaners and the bore with a brush. I followed this with CLP and used a strong light to check the bore. The bore now is shiny with strong rifling!!! I will have to take it out again to check for reliability and - MAYBE - accuracy if I can get it to fire regularly. Just wanted to share this as you don't get to shoot a rifle that is 148 years old that often.
