Tower and Baker Conversion

[Cottonwood]

My newly acquired Tower and Baker conversion rifle .45 cal that was in a local pawn shop, looking lonely as can be... so I had to give it a home.

I'm hoping to get out with it today, as I just purchased some .440 dia roundball while down in Missoula yesterday.. there was non to be had where I'm at in Kalispell, MT I have several pounds Elephant FFFg on hand




The "Tower Baker rifle conversion" refers to the Baker rifle, a British military rifle produced from 1800 to 1837, which was not exclusively manufactured by Ezekiel Baker but rather under the "Tower of London system". This system involved Baker subcontracting parts to various gunsmiths, including those in Birmingham and London. The Baker rifle was also converted to different patterns, such as the socket-bayonet conversion, during the Napoleonic Wars.

Key aspects of the Baker rifle and its conversions:

Tower of London System:
The majority of Baker rifles produced were made under this system, where Baker subcontracted out the manufacturing of parts to various gunsmiths.

Variations and Conversions:
The Baker rifle was produced in several variations, including the 1801 Pattern West India Rifle, the 1809 Pattern with a larger caliber, and the 1800/15 Pattern Rifle with a socket bayonet.
 
Socket-Bayonet Conversion:
The 1815 socket-bayonet conversion replaced the previous sword-bayonet.

Accuracy and Accuracy:
The Baker rifle was known for its ten times greater accuracy compared to the standard Brown Bess musket, but it was more expensive to manufacture and slower to load.

Baker's Innovation:
Baker himself claimed the innovative rifling system of his rifles as his own, which involved a twist rate of one turn in 120 inches, giving the round ball a more rapid spin and theoretically greater accuracy.

Building a Baker Rifle:
Building a Baker rifle kit requires significant time and effort, including metal and wood working skills, and knowledge of gunmaking.

[No Powder]

Very interesting. Hope she shoots good for you and looking forward to a range report.

[Bigsmoke]

Are you bringing it to Hungry Horse RDV in Cyr?
If you do, I'd sure like to see it.  1:120 rifling?  WOW, that's pretty slow for a small bore.  It would be interesting to chrono test it and see what load gives the best accuracy.
I know the big bore sporting rifles that went to Africa and India had twists up to 1:144, so a larger charge of powder could be used, like 400 gr Fg in a 4 bore, etc. and still retain good accuracy.  We've proven that with rifles we used to produce.
Anyway, hope you go to HH, looking forward to meeting you.  I will be driving a grey Toyota pulling a white Freedom Express trailer.

[Cottonwood]

The range shooting today with it proved dismal at best.. the trapdoor barrel is a 45-70 barrel and not designed for .440' patched round ball.  Four our club I need a round ball shooter and this isn't it.  I'm thankful that the pawn shop I got it from on Friday, has a two week try and if you don't like it, return it.  I also discovered with the slider missing from the ladder sight, it pretty much doesn't hit the side of a barn... I should have done more research on this prior to jumping on this one.

The 1:22 barrel twist of the flintlock needs this miniball - The barrel on the flintlock was originally from a trapdoor rifle that is 45-70 and would need the .45 minie ball like in the photo.  The Lyman Minié ball (575213OS, Old Style) weighs 460 grains. The bullet at left shows a pin-hole in the hollow base because the mould and molten lead were not hot enough for perfect casting.

Unfortunately these are not available at any gun stores that I know of..... if I were wanting this flintlock for hunting, this would be a great load for it.

Unfortunately these are not allowed on the trailwalks for hitting the steel gongs.  I could probably hang onto the flintlock and shoot the patched round balls hoping to hit the gongs....

See photo of miniball
https://www.riflemagazine.com/Media/Articles/2019%20Issues/6%20Nov-Dec/MV-03.jpg

For the Flathead Valley Muzzleloaders our rifles really need to be period correct pre 1840 instead of the flintlock that really is civil war based.

[Hanshi]

In the photos the rifle looks great and I'm surprised it turned out to be disappointing.  What's the problem you found that excludes use with prb?  A 1-22" twist is indeed fast for a 45 prb.  Are the rifling grooves shallow or fairly deep?  If they are deep enough there is still a good chance for accuracy with a prb.  Are you returning the rifle?