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Thread: Duelling Pistols - accuracy? anybody into BP?

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  1. #1
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    I just like watching Stana Kadic.

    Bit skinny, but something about her.

  2. #2
    edbear2 Guest
    Interesting read with statistics here......

  3. #3
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    Originally they would be smooth bored which was checked before the match, I have heard of hidden rifling which ended a few inches short of the muzzle so as to be undetected!

    Not really cricket

    John

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    harvey_s is offline Lost love child of David Niven and Victoria Beckham
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    Accuracy wasn't high on the list of priorities and as someone has already mentioned, deliberate aiming was frowned upon and technically could see you prosecuted for murder.
    Returning soldiers who were used to performing under fire and could aquire the target more instinctively who would 'bait' less prepared 'gentlemen' was also a contributory factor in its demise...

  5. #5
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    i heard that they were made less accurate by the makers so that the duellers didnt kill each other and that way the gunsmith didnt lose bussiness
    atb
    jamie

  6. #6
    Jim McArthur is offline Frock coat wearing, riverboat dwelling, southern gent
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    Quote Originally Posted by bullbarrel View Post
    I just like watching Stana Kadic.

    Bit skinny, but something about her.
    Not sure what she has to do with duelling: but I agree!

    Jim
    UBC's Police Pistol Manager
    "Nasty, noisy things, revolvers, Count. Better stick to air-guns." Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone

  7. #7
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    Over 10 years I had an original cased pair of 58 cal Mortimer percussion duelling pistols and believe you me they were more accurate than me.

  8. #8
    harvey_s's Avatar
    harvey_s is offline Lost love child of David Niven and Victoria Beckham
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    Quote Originally Posted by bullbarrel View Post
    I just like watching Stana Kadic.

    Bit skinny, but something about her.
    Somehow, the whole duelling/accuracy thing became less interesting - tell me more about Miss Kadic

  9. #9
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    Original Pistol Accuracy

    If I can add my own experience. I shoot a Durs Egg flintlock made sometime in the early 1800s. My best with it, in an MLAGB competition was 96 using standard scoring (ball more than halfway across the line to count).

    I also shoot an original French percussion pistol which has won me a Gold and Bronze at consecutive World Championships. It regularly shoots high 90s. The last time out, I used it in a 15 shot, all to count match and scored 140 (with 3x8s and 8x10s).

    Needless to say they are both very rewarding pistols to shoot!

  10. #10
    Jim McArthur is offline Frock coat wearing, riverboat dwelling, southern gent
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    I'm guessing that the flintlock is smoothbore (as dueling pistols were generally?), and the percussion is rifled. (?)

    Jim
    UBC's Police Pistol Manager
    "Nasty, noisy things, revolvers, Count. Better stick to air-guns." Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone

  11. #11
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    Rifling

    Hi Jim,

    Yes, the flinter is smoothbore (only type allowed in MLAIC Cominazzo competition). The percussion has quite deep rifling and I use 15 thou patches in both. The flint needs that sort of thickness to keep the ball diameter down and to stop it burning through when 30 grains of Swiss 1 goes off behind it. The percussion needs it because of the depth of the rifling.

    Do you ever get to Friendship? We were there when the World Championships were held in Batesville and thought it was an amazing facility.

  12. #12
    Jim McArthur is offline Frock coat wearing, riverboat dwelling, southern gent
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    Quote Originally Posted by NickHarvey View Post
    Hi Jim,

    Yes, the flinter is smoothbore (only type allowed in MLAIC Cominazzo competition). The percussion has quite deep rifling and I use 15 thou patches in both. The flint needs that sort of thickness to keep the ball diameter down and to stop it burning through when 30 grains of Swiss 1 goes off behind it. The percussion needs it because of the depth of the rifling.

    Do you ever get to Friendship? We were there when the World Championships were held in Batesville and thought it was an amazing facility.
    Nick, your excellent scores certainly prove that those old pistols could be extremely accurate: even the smothbores, even out to 25 meters.

    I've never been to Friendship. I was never really able to get started in black powder: been too busy with air and cartridge guns, and lacking a nearby range to shoot them.

    Jim
    UBC's Police Pistol Manager
    "Nasty, noisy things, revolvers, Count. Better stick to air-guns." Sherlock Holmes, The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone

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