Brown Bess or like item

[BrianHillsboro]

Hey fellas,
I recently joined the "Sons of the American Revolution " and now have an inkling to get into a rifle of that time.
I'm completely green on the subject, I googled brown bess and it looks like replicas are going around 1400$.
That's more than id wanna spend on one. I'm not looking for the Hipoint BB but more of a Ruger BB. Price wise. Yall got any suggestions? I'd like a replica that shoots.
Thanks!
Brian

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[JmacStrong]

Veteran arms has firing replicas for 799

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Are you looking for a rifle ....?
I am asking since your title states Brown Bess...which was / is a Musket and not a rifle....
But your post states :

and now have an inkling to get into a rifle of that time.

Musket's are smooth bore...and not rifled.


If you are wanting to portray an American militiaman then....

Muskets , fowlers and rifles are all options for the American Revolution period , but are all different firearms...
And some like rifles , were more popular in certain areas / regions of the Colonies that others.
For example I would bet that there were no rifles ( on either side ) at the battles of Lexington and Concord.

A Militia member could be armed with any of the above.
The musket could be a Brown Bess...more than likely a 1st Model or .maybe a 2nd model version.
Perhaps even a French musket of the French and Indian war period.
Depending on where you were in the Colonies...Spanish or other European muskets could be had.
It could even be an American made one with features of both English and French.

Rifles were popular with the Southern Colonies , especially Virginia .
Rifles were also heavily used along the western frontier of Pennsylvania
All that said...American Riflemen were used in all the theaters of the war..However they were not as common as myth makes them out to be.
( in many cases )
Rifle styles also varied from region and over time...lots of research here is needed if you want to get a historically correct American rifle of the period.

Fowlers are simply a single barrel shotgun and were very popular...since you could shoot roundball , shot or a buck and ball loading from it.
( The same as a Musket )
Often fowlers that did double duty as a militia arm , were made to handle a bayonet .
As a general rule fowlers were a bit smaller in gauge than a Musket...again a broad general rule...you can make a case for almost anything in regards to a Colonial era Fowler.
I would argue that a Fowler was the most popular / most commonly seen firearm for an American Militiaman ....especially during the early part of the war.
Andy

 

[Stomper]

Hey fellas,
I recently joined the "Sons of the American Revolution " and now have an inkling to get into a rifle of that time.
I'm completely green on the subject, I googled brown bess and it looks like replicas are going around 1400$.
That's more than id wanna spend on one. I'm not looking for the Hipoint BB but more of a Ruger BB. Price wise. Yall got any suggestions? I'd like a replica that shoots.
Thanks!
Brian

Are you looking or a rifle ....?
I am asking since your title states Brown Bess...which was / is a Musket and not a rifle....
But your post states :

Musket's are smooth bore...and not rifled.


If you are wanting to portray an American militiaman then....

Muskets , fowlers and rifles are all options for the American Revolution period , but are all different firearms...
And some like rifles , were more popular in certain areas / regions of the Colonies that others.
For example I would bet that there were no rifles ( on either side ) at the battles of Lexington and Concord.

A Militia member could be armed with any of the above.
The musket could be a Brown Bess...more than likely a 1st Mode or .maybe a 2nd model version.
Perhaps even a French musket of the French and Indian war period.
Depending on where you were in the Colonies...Spanish or other European muskets could be had.
It could even be an American made one with features of both English and French.

Rifles were popular with the Southern Colonies , especially Virginia .
Rifles were also heavily used along the western frontier of Pennsylvania
All that said...American Riflemen were used in all the theaters of the war..However they were not as common as myth makes them out to be.
( in many cases )
Rifle styles also varied from region and over time...lots of research here is needed if you want to get a historically correct American rifle of the period.

Fowlers are simply a single barrel shotgun and were very popular...since you could shoot roundball , shot or a buck and ball loading from it.
( The same as a Musket )
Often fowlers that did double duty as a militia arm , were made to handle a bayonet .
As a general rule fowlers were a bit smaller in gauge than a Musket...again a broad general rule...you can make a case for almost anything in regards to a Colonial era Fowler.
I would argue that a Fowler was the most popular / most commonly seen firearm for an American Militiaman ....especially during the early part of the war.
Andy

NERDS!










Just kidding!

 

[osprey]

NERDS!










Just kidding!

I have had a couple of "foul pieces" back in the day, does that gain me entry into the club?

 

[BrianHillsboro]

Are you looking or a rifle ....?
I am asking since your title states Brown Bess...which was / is a Musket and not a rifle....
But your post states :

Musket's are smooth bore...and not rifled.


If you are wanting to portray an American militiaman then....

Muskets , fowlers and rifles are all options for the American Revolution period , but are all different firearms...
And some like rifles , were more popular in certain areas / regions of the Colonies that others.
For example I would bet that there were no rifles ( on either side ) at the battles of Lexington and Concord.

A Militia member could be armed with any of the above.
The musket could be a Brown Bess...more than likely a 1st Mode or .maybe a 2nd model version.
Perhaps even a French musket of the French and Indian war period.
Depending on where you were in the Colonies...Spanish or other European muskets could be had.
It could even be an American made one with features of both English and French.

Rifles were popular with the Southern Colonies , especially Virginia .
Rifles were also heavily used along the western frontier of Pennsylvania
All that said...American Riflemen were used in all the theaters of the war..However they were not as common as myth makes them out to be.
( in many cases )
Rifle styles also varied from region and over time...lots of research here is needed if you want to get a historically correct American rifle of the period.

Fowlers are simply a single barrel shotgun and were very popular...since you could shoot roundball , shot or a buck and ball loading from it.
( The same as a Musket )
Often fowlers that did double duty as a militia arm , were made to handle a bayonet .
As a general rule fowlers were a bit smaller in gauge than a Musket...again a broad general rule...you can make a case for almost anything in regards to a Colonial era Fowler.
I would argue that a Fowler was the most popular / most commonly seen firearm for an American Militiaman ....especially during the early part of the war.
Andy

Beautiful!! Thank you for taking the time to draft this, gives me a starting point to look for.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Beautiful!! Thank you for taking the time to draft this, gives me a starting point to look for.

You are very welcome...if I can help or add to any confusion...please let me know....
Andy

 

[Will_White]

Other then being heavier and the wood being wrong the Veteran Arms, or Loyalist Arms Brown Bess are good quality, they're closer in pattern then the Italian replicas once you refinish the stock.

 

[Stomper]

I have had a couple of "foul pieces" back in the day, does that gain me entry into the club?

I "occasionally" use "foul language".... and have been told ever now and then that I "smell foul" (especially on Taco Tuesday's)... does that qualify me to get in?

 

[Mark W.]

I think if I were to follow your path a .62 cal 20ga Fowler would be the direction I would head. If I was to specialize as Andy mentioned as a rifleman then one of the period correct .40 - .54 cal Pennsylvania style rifles would be the way I would lean.

 

[Mark W.]

As an example the Gun Works in Springfield has a 69cal Fowler in their used section for $650.

 

[Mark W.]

As an example the Gun Works in Springfield has a 69cal Fowler in their used section for $650.though it is precussion

 

[tac]

If you go to the Gun works, give my best to Suzi and the gang - tell 'em I'll be over as soon as I can!!

 

[Aught Six]

Hey fellas,
I recently joined the "Sons of the American Revolution " and now have an inkling to get into a rifle of that time.
I'm completely green on the subject, I googled brown bess and it looks like replicas are going around 1400$.
That's more than id wanna spend on one. I'm not looking for the Hipoint BB but more of a Ruger BB. Price wise. Yall got any suggestions? I'd like a replica that shoots.
Thanks!
Brian

Do you want a real firearm or a play thing?
If you want a real flintlock era rifle. Id head over to https://kiblerslongrifles.com/
Just about everything else is cheaper and junk.

 

[tac]

Do you want a real firearm or a play thing?
If you want a real flintlock era rifle. Id head over to https://kiblerslongrifles.com/
Just about everything else is cheaper and junk.

Er, not strictly true. Pedersoli continue to win world championships with their muzzleloading guns, rifles and smoot, flint and percussion - in fact, one shooter holds the world record 50m flint target rifle AND percussion 50m target rifle - both from Pedersoli.

I'm sure that while Jim Kibler would be pleased to sell another of his excellent rifle kits to the OP, for him to build, as yet, he does not make a Brown Bess or Charleville musket, although hopes in ML circle are high.

The USA is knee-deep in custom rifle builders of the very highest quality - look at Dave Persons, for instance, whose works are in the Smithsonian and other elite museums around the globe. Every one of the rifles used by Mel Gibson in 'The Patriot' movie was made by Mike Brooks, yet another rifle builder of extreme skill.

I recommend joining up with a huge number or us ML'ers around the world an latching on the muzzleloadingforums.com - I've been there since 2008.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Speaking only for myself here....

Kibler rifles have excellent components and are quality guns.

However....
They are also "cookie cutter" guns......as in they all look the same.
CNC machine stocks and the like make 'em too perfect for a 18th or 19th century gun.
This is not to say that guns from those eras were sloppy...but they did not have the perfectly made lines like a computer made gun.
Such as what Kibler offers.

Please note that I am not trash talking Kibler guns....
He makes a fine firearm.*
If , however , you want it to actually look like a firearm from the 18th or 19th century....
It is a good start...but you will have some work to do...

Again...
it is all in what you want.
If you want a beautiful rifle ..inspired from a firearm from the 18th or 19th century....
With quality parts and material....
Kibler is one of many makers who makes a fire firearm .

If you want your firearm to actually look like a firearm from the 18th or 19th century ....
You will probably have to do some research...and work on your firearm...no matter who made it.

To say that "just about everything else is cheaper and junk"....
Is a broad blanket statement that does not cover as much as one might think.

Andy

* Yes....I know that Kibler guns are kits...that the owner needs to assemble.
Which is a good thing..since you can work on it , while it is in the "white"...to make it look more like a firearm from the 18th or 19th century.

Edit to add....
Again to be clear ...
Please understand that I am not bashing Kibler firearms.
They have high quality parts and are machined to perfection.

I am however against broad , blanket statements...
"just about everything else is cheaper and junk"....simply ain't true.

I also want my firearms look like something from the 18th or 19th century ....
Which will require research and working on the firearm , no matter who made it , if it is a modern made firearm.
Not everyone is in to that....and that is okay.