English Big Game Rifle

[Feltwad]

Enclosed is a image of an original English big game rifle that may interest members .Built in the 1840-50 period only two ever built by William Powell and son it is a 62 calibre with a two grove rifle to take a belted ball  .
Feltwad

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[Winter Hawk]

Nice! 

[Hank in WV]

Is that original condition or a restoration? looks fantastic.

[Feltwad]

Restored by the previous owner in 1985 or there about by William Powel Gun Makers
Feltwad

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[Winter Hawk]

Woah!  I hadn't noticed the multiple (!) fold-up rear sights on that puppy before!  What distances is that calibrated for? That is cooler than cool!

~Kees~

[Bigsmoke]

Feltwad,
Some beautiful rifles sure do come across your hands.  It is a privilege to see some of them.
I also noticed the column of flip up sights on the rifle.  On my 8 bore, I had a set of three sights, and that was good for 200 yards and the number 3 sight wasn't nearly as tall.
I have no experience with banded ball shooting.  Any info you can give us on shooting that beautiful piece?  Powder charge, loading, etc?
Thank you,
John (Bigsmoke)

[Feltwad]

Woah!  I hadn't noticed the multiple (!) fold-up rear sights on that puppy before!  What distances is that calibrated for? That is cooler than cool!

~Kees~

Bigsmoke

Personally I have very little info  i  bought it has a collectors piece and to shoot it here in the UK the law will be very  strict ,if only a few shots it would have to go  on a firearms certificate and can only be used on a approved  militia type range. The shooting of game  eg deer  with any type of muzzle loader is not allowed .
The previous owner who I understood shot abroad and  had the gun restored in 1985  by the original maker  firm William Powel  I approached  them for a full report   ,load, range etc but they would supply but the cost was excessive so I left ii
Feltwad

[Bigsmoke]

Thank you sir.  I appreciate your response and I understand the problems involved with firearms in the UK.
Much like Canada, I would imagine.
Too bad William Powell and Co had to be that way with the information.
Regardless, you do have a very nice piece of firearms history there.
Enjoy!
John

[Feltwad]

 [ Invalid Attachment ] A better view of the top rib sighting  notice that the leaves have no V and the rib is marked off in intervals
Feltwad

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[Feltwad]

Not much response to this thread i entered because I thought it would have been of interest  but it seems not
Feltwad

[Ohio Joe]

Is there a mathmatical equation worked out for each (Front Sight Hieght) - (Rear Sights Hieghts) - (Sight Spacings) and anything else that may come into play?

One would really have to get there notes out if their memory is as bad as mine.  

[No Powder]

In addition to that, what is the proper way to use those rear sights without any v's cut  in them?  Surely they don't expect you to center the front sight, or put it  wherever it needs to be on that flat back sight do they. A little rough for splitting a playing card, don't you think?

[Winter Hawk]

I do see a vertical scribe line on each of the faces at the center so imagine you would line that up with the front sight.  If it is a bead up front you could have the bottom of the bead just kiss the top edge of the rear sight blade, centered on the scribe line.

But what are those other numbers on the top of the barrel, increasing towards the muzzle?  They are all the same distance apart so can't be more sight leaves which haven't been raised yet.  Very peculiar!

~Kees~

[No Powder]

More questions, not to make Feltwad feel better , but I know nothing about this type of gun and I thought my questions were dumb. Does a belted ball look like the planet Saturn?  And does it take this type of ball because of the 2 groove rifling. If that's the case, I would assume it can be as accurate , if not more accurate than a rifle that uses round balls. They say you learn something new every day. Times a wasting today, and I haven't learnt anything new yet today. 

[huntinguy]

what are the numbers down the barrel? at first I thought they were marks for the tip up sights... I don't think so...

belted bullet.... seems to me that in the back of my dusty mind... there was a British martial rifle that shot a belted ball... maybe something about a leather patched belted ball....

That looks to be a very heavy rifle...