Whitworth Rifle.

[Col4570]

The top Rifle is a Whitworth match Rifle in the unusual calibre of .568".Any information regarding Bullet design I would be gratefull for details.
The bottom Rifle is a Military style Whitworth patent Rifle by Beasley in the standard .451 calibre.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

They were the best sniper rifle of the CW that the South got from England.

 

[72coupe]

Do you know if they use a Whitworth bolt or an ordinary style bullet or ball?

 

[Col4570]

72 coupe,I have a hexagonal mould for the 451 Rifle.At present I am experimenting with a Hollow Base and Hollow Nose wooden Pluged Bullet for the large Calibre Rifle.I have obtained some info regarding tests with the bullet designed by Joseph whitworth for this Rifle.The 451 rifle has a 1 turn in 20" Twist and the .568 Rifle has a 1 turn in 25" Twist.The Nose Plugged Bullet will be plain for paper patching.There is evidence that the Hexagonal Bullet was not necessary since the Paper Patched Conical Bullet would expand into the hexagonal Bore.For the larger calibre the previously described bullet skirt would expand into the bore just as the normal Minie Bullet does.

 

[4v50 Gary]

The bottom Whitworth is the snub nose pattern that was sold to the Confederacy. I'll have to look up my books on the bigger Whitworth bore gun. I think a few were issued on experimental basis to various British regiments.

 

[MattShlock]

You can buy swages to squeeze hexagonal belted bolts out of ball (or true-up rough cast hex bolts... I have one or two. I know Dixie used to sell them.

 

[Col4570]

Mattshlock,I have a .451 Peter Dyson Mould as illustrated in your attatchment.

 

[Col4570]

Gary,Yes some of the large calibre Whitworths where issued for experimental purposes.My Rifle differs in that it is a Match Rifle.There is a research programme by Bill Curtis and De whit Bailly,they are recording whitworths so far this rifle is one of Three they are aware of in the MatchRifle configuration The date of my Rifle is 1863.Its number is E698.

 

[72coupe]

Very nice rifles. Can you post some pictures of targets you have shot with them?

 

[RevGun]

What is your load for a Whitworth, hex bullet, 3f powder? 60 grains?

Love advice/insights!

Pedersoli has one now- $1800

Thanks!!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Col4570 hasn't posted in two years.

 

[Col4570]

Apologies Gentlemen for not responding,Please refer to MLAGB Forum Rifle section I have quite a lot of correspondence regarding the Whitworth Rifles Regards.Nov 10th 2016.

 

[Col4570]

Yes refer to the MLAGB Forum,Rifle and Musket Section page 3.Regards.

 

[Ozwelder]

I nearly had a Parker Hale Whitworth like the bottom one but the bloke changed his mind.

Never mind, according to the research I did ,it was revealed that the mould would cost nearly as much as the rifle.

I desperately wanted a long range black powder rifle to beat the Quigley's that everyone seems to have.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Very nice. I know Pedersoli of Italy is going to make a reproduction Whitworth rifle, but for some reason it is not the correct snub nosed Confederate sniper rifle version.

Those damn Italians can never seem to get it right.