Shooting the Whitworth Rifle

We shoot the iconic hexagonal-bore Whitworth rifle-musket, using historically accurate paper cartridges. This rifle was one of the first long range target rifles, one of the first to ever use a telescopic sight, and had a fearsome reputation in the American Civil War.

[@britishmuzzleloaders]

Of course no elephants were harmed,..... you couldn't hit one at that distance... Great work Brett, Darrell and Marty! And kudos for persevering in making the cartridges!

[@duncanandrews1940]

Anyway Rob, elephants are out of season when there is a 'u' in the month. I thought everyone knew that! Fascinating video.

[@taproom113]

No elephants were harmed ... but some steel got the Shit beat out of it. Nice shootin' McFly! Generals ... learning the difference between intelligent and smart the hard way, since the beginning of time ... ^v^

[@jessestreet2549]

dang Rob, these gentlemen are kitted out as well as you.

[@tomjackson4374]

The name of the Yankee general was Sedgwick and he was the highest Yankee general to die on a battlefield. It was over 500 yards shot but I doubt it was a standing shot like here. I guess he saw the elephant and it was the last thing he ever saw. Damn fine shooting Sir.

[@yknott9873]

@@duncanandrews1940 And as Wallace Greenslade in the Goon Show explained, "There are no elephants in Sussex - they're only found in Kent! North of a line drawn between two points, making it the shortest distance."

[@samcoleman5705]

Before ballistic coefficient was a thing, it was a thing.

[@Ben_not_10]

Recently watched a review of the new Marlin 1895 and the reviewer had said something to the effect of “the 45-70 cartridge was not designed to be a long range cartridge because it drops to low past 100 yards”. Yet here Marty takes aim and fires and hits first time with a rifle that was designed a full two decades prior to the 45-70 governments introduction. I really enjoy how this channel gives accurate (to the best knowledge of the time) knowledge based on first hand accounts or historical record and not off of cliff notes from gun store fudd lore or poorly written and researched American Rifleman articles.

[@richardglady3009]

I hear Whitworth, I think Civil War…Confederate snipers. Thanks for the video. I really appreciate the variety of weapons that you discuss and, more importantly, show how they were fired. Thank you!

[@dannyw.814]

Great video. The first Whitworth bullets were also hexagonal matching the bore's hexagonal rifling. I've read 2 books on Sir Joseph Whitworth (father of engineering) a fascinating man. He standardized the inch making “true” drop-in parts possible. A ballistic mastermind including essentially teaching the British Navy the penetrating superiority of flat-nose (wadcutter / semi-wadcutter) projectiles. Apologies for rambling as I'm a Whitworth geek. Glad to have found your channel, Happy Holidays

[@Kräftstjärt]

A video of the construction and making of both types of cartridge would be really interesting.

[@johnmcdonald587]

Love to see a video of the cartridge's construction.

[@ToreDL87]

The early sniping stories I read made me immensely respect the Whitworth. And oh my dear maker, you had me positively wheezing at the first reload!

[@GunDoc39402]

The snap of the Woolwich cartridge being broken is so very satisfying!

[@alifr4088]

Also the snap of pritchett cartridge in p53 enfield being broken is very satisfying

[@peterd.1165]

What an interesting video - I live just a few miles from Joseph Whitworth's home in Derbyshire in the UK - He was a brilliant man.

[@tomaspabon2484]

James Whitworth basically kickstarted the industrial revolution. The three plate method, standardized screws, precision manufacturing.

[@Face2theScr33n]

I always wondered what kind of zipping sound one of these would make, thanks for confirming, Brett!

[@mattfaulk8724]

The artillery whiteworth made had the same sound as the munitions flew through the air... just allot louder

[@Chris_the_Dingo]

Holy crap, that's a very impressive rifle! I grew up near Fort Fisher, which utilized a Whitworth breechloading artillery piece during the war. I've been fascinated with the Whitworth story for years.

[@kennethswain6313]

I love your intelligent and humorous presentations I’ve learned so much please continue

[@DrTarrandProfessorFether]

I have three 1860 Henry Rifles, Uberti. Black powder rounds (I generally make my own) with 200 grain bullets give a slight kick. Only 30 grains 3F Swiss I can cram into the round… not 40. My guns are 44/40. Firing smokeless (Ten-X) has 1/3 more velocity but less kick… the rounds comes out faster. It is alway a hit on the firing range. Good aiming at 75 yards but starts to drop at 100 yards… it is only a pistol round in

[@rafalosiecki3083]

Great stuff. I have Parker Hale Withworth and still trying different bullets. Not easy rifle to shoot😉

[@1337penguinman]

A sniper rifle before anyone knew what that was.

[@kevinbarnes5200]

Very interesting. Thanks. I enjoy your videos. Being from North Carolina though, I have no understanding of what near zero humidity feels like

[@paraplegichistoricalsports5700]

I'm in NC too, Sampson co, and I am a muzzle loader enthusiast. I will save my money and own this rifle. I've got to add it to my collection.

[@kevinbarnes5200]

James Sparhawk Carteret County. You should do it!

[@ScottKenny1978]

530gr bullet? Woof! That will leave a mark! Hard to find commercially available bullets that heavy today, seems to max out at about 400gr for either muzzleloader or air rifles. Good shooting!

[@mannequinfukr]

I've seen some 520 grain .454 bullets before (meant for air rifles). I think they're made by hatsan

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@mannequinfukr cool, will have to look at those. I keep getting distracted by that Sam Yang .45 cal airgun.

[@mannequinfukr]

@@ScottKenny1978 i cant say how well they shoot through an air rifle but I'll say they shoot decently out of my sharps in 45-70 (despite being .454 diameter)

[@PaulAJohnston1963]

Brilliant, I work on Sackville Street, the address on the card in the opening page. It's one of the engineering buildings of the University here in Manchester UK>

[@jeffadams9807]

Gen. Sedgewick Was Shot Under The Left Eye, By A Pvt Ben Powell (CSA) From A Laser Measured Range (By The Park Service) Of 560yds...

[@garykrogers1437]

Sigh ... A Whitworth was already on the "to acquire" list ... now this video helped advance it to a higher priority. Great video as always. I enjoy them so, especially the humor. In the south, we would say "bless his heart" ... LOL ...

[@DMEII]

I just ordered one two days ago. Caint wait to get it.

[@thinkingbill1304]

I stumbled onto this channel a few days ago. Great stuff! Subscribed.

[@peterburgess2831]

Excellent video Brett, keep up the great content.

[@ChristianThePagan]

The tea breaks were a very nice touch :-)

[@mikehoare6093]

the honourable Lord Rivers, cannot be bothered with the common loading chores of rank and file !

[@peterparsons7141]

Really Nice shooting. Should be more than capable for deer hunting. Well told story. excellent rifle for modern recreational long range shooting, and hunting.

[@SillyGoose2576]

Sexy gun, and excellent marksmanship by Marty!

[@williamhower3636]

WOW! I was sent here from another page I just subbed to...... FTG Military History: The Ministry for History. ANyway. 70 gr of powder and hitting hard enough to kill at 475 yards!!!!! I hunt with a flintlock muzzleloader and use 72 gr of powder. I would have thought I could catch the ball in my teeth at 500 yards! Obviously two different animals of a gun but still. Outstanding video, and even better shooting by your Confederate Marksman!

[@doonhamer252]

In late 70s was in an armory in Rhodesia, and they had Whitworths on display on racks..

[@dominiksotysik7479]

Great Video, most professional. I would love to buy some of these cartridges and learn how to make them.

[@paraplegichistoricalsports5700]

Yaw done very well with this video! I just subscribed to this channel. I love everything to do with black powder.

[@stevendee2831]

Brilliant! Well done!

[@matthewsullivan5713]

You all need a wet-plate photographer to photograph you all in your clothing, gear, and rifles! Excellent video!

[@knightman4574]

So I sorta spoiler myself, shouldn’t be watching this yet.. so anyway, the Withworth’s new idea for cartridge is a genuine idea! I was amaze of how they think of a way! Salute! 💂‍♂️👏😉🍷💂‍♂️🇬🇧

[@txgunguy2766]

The way I heard it, Sedgwick was hit right in the middle of saying "distance" and he never finished the word.

[@benrobertson7855]

Small correction.this rifle was adopted by British forces.and used in New Zealand.I have a original military nz one…. D360 . Used in small numbers, they created a special crack shot unit equipped with two band versions with bayonets too…used in several battles.it’s well documented in contemporary sources,they stayed in the nz military armoury up to the 1980’s when they were sold or destroyed…..!

[@35southkiwi16]

Interesting rifle and presentation

[@slade7354]

Can't hit an elephant at that range, but a general? Well, that's a different matter. Just subbed!

[@duncanandrews1940]

Looks like my next rifle will be a Whitworth - provided the Memsahib doesn't find out!!

[@brandbienedell7971]

Outstanding work

[@MAACotton]

I lol'd hard when you took a tea break while loading

[@pauldockins9635]

Was nicely done

[@rogerdeacon5878]

wow that's very accurate

[@Roy-tp2iy]

In today's cnc world be nice to see a high quality barrel of winworth design and paper pacth it like p53.

[@ykdickybill]

My daughter lives in Manchester and I’ve walked down Sackville street where there is lots of Whitworth history to see. Cracking shot Marty by the way. Incredibly impressive. Would love to know the fps of the round….

[@jonahtaivalkoski322]

Is that crown protector part of the ramrod?

[@DMEII]

Hello brett, loved the video. I would love to see a video of making a Confederate Whitworth cartridge. What is used as the little pull tab or trap door for powder? Also, what is the little brass muzzle protector on the ramrod. On pics I have seen of repro ones it is a plastic muzzle protector. I like the brass one in your video, where did you get it?

[@Derecq]

Gently seating the bullet on the powder. Makes a change from watching people pounding on the bullet and compressing the powder in the belief the rifle will become a pipe bomb if there's any space between powder and ball.

[@joshuakuehn]

Wait, the gun shouldn't blow up every shot?

[@ronrobertson59]

I had one in about 30 yrs ago it was a massive disappointment. I could never get it the fire acutely. I didn't have the Whitworth bullet and couldn't find a mould. I was using an over sized round soft lead bullet. I traded it for a Uberti 1873 Winchester clone.

[@papercartridges6705]

They can be very frustrating to figure out what loads they like. Mine likes a heavy greased felt was between the ball and powder.

[@mattyallen3396]

It saw action in the New Zealand Land wars as a marksman rifle. Waikato Battles

[@erikschultz7166]

Does the tube act as a false muzzle?

[@craigmignone2863]

The average infantry weapon of that period was designed for volley fire, not for sharpshooters. The Union probably used more Whitworth rifles than the rebels. Albert Sidney Johnston, the highest-ranked officer, was killed. He ranked Jackson.

[@fedxman202]

Great video. Great info and appreciated the uniforms.Outstanding shots for all the shooters. Glad to see that Confederate Sharpshooters, get a ration of Pringles. 😆

[@papercartridges6705]

It's a fun rifle. And there's another reason for all the Pringles... the cans happen to fit perfectly in our Coehorn mortar.

[@jonasjeaggi4575]

Lovely stuff, as always, hope to se more on the Whitworth in future! PS: just out of curiosity, what would charge of powder would be "normal" for target shooters using the WW rifle?

[@henryofskalitz2228]

I use 85g or 100g depending on how much power and range i want

[@MrDavidTiller]

Bret, I see you are set up for a Vernier sight on the wrist of your Whitworth. I am using the Pedersoli setup right now that uses as screw on metal extension to attach the sight to. Can you tell me what you have on your rifle there and what sight you are using?

[@papercartridges6705]

David, I’m using the regular iron sights and have never used the vernier on the small of the stock. I bought the rifle secondhand and it did not come with any other sights. I’m 8000 miles away from my Whitworth so I can’t tell you much more about it, until I get home in a few months.

[@calvingreene90]

The Confederate Marksman never admitted that in his whole two days of shooting he never hit the long service sergeant that he was aiming for. //snark//

[@johnfisk811]

Well done Brett. Loved the watch in the introduction. Good to see you shooting standing up as a gentleman should. Joe Whitworth stole the bore off the younger Brunel but that is par for the course for Joe. Where did you find the Royal Laboratory cartridge pattern drawing?

[@diggernash1]

Where was the long funnel? :)

[@climbscience4813]

Interesting, I think Boxer's father was an ancestor of mine. I know that I have an ancestor named Boxer who was a marine admiral, I just cannot remember his first name. So, I might actually be related to the guy who invented the paper cartridge shown here. :-)

[@henryofskalitz2228]

I want one so bad

[@patrykswiatkowski3055]

Pedersoli repro whitworth ?

[@Vo_d_kontra_o_norMAL]

Hey tell me what you guess - is more dificult to a third world home gunsmith build a modern pointy bullet kind of sniper weapon or a oldschol exagonal bullet sniper rifle ?

[@alexbaker3958]

With old-school hexagonal it should theoretically be easier to make an accurate weapon but do your research on this gun. Read as much as you can

[@silentseawolf]

yes, the cost of elephants is out of control

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Would of been neat if it had its scope.

[@Dragineez774]

Wish you had a period accurate scope to use with it. Then you could have tried targets 800 yards out.

[@andyedwards9222]

Why was the non compression of the powder important? Was it a safety or an accuracy issue?

[@papercartridges6705]

It was for accuracy. If the powder is compressed, it changes the burn rate, which in turn changes the velocities.

[@andyedwards9222]

@@papercartridges6705 thank you. That was my thought but wasn't sure if it might be a pressure issue with the breech.

[@olympicblackpowderrifles3155]

Love it!

[@leadshark9461]

How about a " 1859 Berdan Sharps vs Whitworth" video one day? The 2 rifles that people associate with Civil War Sharpshooters.

[@papercartridges6705]

I'd be happy to try that, just need someone to loan us the 1859.

[@jochenheiden]

Where were you shooting this? This looks like SOCAL where I live. Let me know if you come out this way again!

[@papercartridges6705]

I used to live in California. This was near Victorville.

[@jochenheiden]

@@papercartridges6705 BROOO. I was born and raised in Barstow and now I live near Temecula. Too bad you don’t live out this way anymore, I’ve been wanting to get into black powder shooting but I need help and no one I know out here does it.

[@iainsmith6643]

Ok. What medal ribbons are on display.

[@matthewwaddington2777]

Of course, if you want to use this in a pitched battle...You'd better pre-load, and go with the 'Highland Charge.'

[@RonanMacQuarrie]

Great video! Why is it important not to compress the powder charge? How is it any different from an Enfield?

[@henryofskalitz2228]

The hexagon rifling made it expensive and extremely accurate.

[@presidentlouis-napoleonbon8889]

Marksman : I loaded my Whitworth!! Guy next to him : Great, now take out that officer next to the colour. Marksman : Good. Man it took me a minute... BANG! Guy next to him : Did you get him? Marksman : I think so...wait. DAMN. I gotta load it again. Guy next to him : Yeah, you missed, oh the officer is gone. NVM

[@morganfrmn]

1. Is the modern bullet a long square twist like the ancient ones? 2. I shot with some re-enactment people and I was shocked at the low volume of powder used. 70 gr really. I can't imagine that. When I shot I shot a 100. Gr.

[@bushcraft_in_the_north]

I have a original Whitworth rifle.never tried it.👍

[@alexbaker3958]

Probably best to keep it as a historical artifact but of course it's your call. I just like the idea of this crazy gun being intact somewhere for many years to come

[@greggwilliamson]

I was worried about all those elephants y'all were killin'.

[@cgdeery]

Any lead hardening? Or just roofing type?

[@papercartridges6705]

I use pure soft lead, which was also used historically for the military cartridges made for the British Army. The paper patch usually does a good job preventing leading. Sometimes hardened hexagonal bullets were also used but were far less common than the cylindrical softer lead bullets.

[@cgdeery]

@@papercartridges6705 thanks for that..a friend has an Enfield volunteer and uses hardened lead.

[@RonanMacQuarrie]

Where can I get that diagram for the Col. Boxer cartridge?

[@papercartridges6705]

It’s in Christopher Roads book “The British Soldiers Firearm”.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

11:23 the real quote is "why they couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...." He didn't finish the word 'distance'

[@ChaikhiamMunowkhiam-cm9yq]

So smart 😄😄

[@TheMwarrior50]

ITS HERE HUZZAH

[@amaree9732]

If only they had the M82 sniper rifle at Gettysburg. We'd all be speaking Confederate now.

[@johnsmith-yj2cn]

even a k98 would have ben a massive advantage

[@amaree9732]

@@johnsmith-yj2cn True dat! My great, great, grandfather fell at Gettysburg. He tripped on that monument they have there.

[@Zakalwe-01]

What a bleedin’ brilliant channel. Très amusing loading scene. I wish the whole tea thing was a mere cliché, but it’s not. 🫖🇬🇧

[@georgegordonmeade5663]

Let’s see… a 45 caliber lead slug backed up by 70 grains of powder. If you combined those measurements, you’d have 45-70! Was the Army inspired by this combination or what?

[@puhoyzzee4364]

Holy crap

[@fortusvictus8297]

At that distance, they were likely as not ducking when they saw the shot. There is actually time to duck between seeing the smoke and the round passing by. Otherwise, yeah, ducking when you hear a shot is simple reflex and not a practical skill that would save your life.

[@jt6366]

I’m a whitworth!

[@brucebehner4142]

Very dramatic showing but it was very time consuming, I doubt many snipers took more than one shot in the same position. It was only used as a sniper's weapon anyway. The cartridges you made werent exactly accurate either, the cartridge was broke, leaving part of the paper in the barrel, like the enfield after flipping to load the bullet, then rammed home.

[@tomjackson4374]

No price is too high to kill a damn Yankee General.

[@MilkshakeDuck1861]

Oh yesssss.

[@jeffadams9807]

Just WAY To Slow In Re-Loading...

[@taggartlawfirm]

No one really knows what Sedgwick was hit with.

[@nickf2170]

My God, please tell me that man did not just place his face directly over the muzzle after he charged the rifle with powder?? Please stop doing stupid shit and putting it on the internet.

[@Rkolb2798]

Funny how the victorians were trusted with firearms , but modern humans can not with some exceptions . So what does that say about modern humans

[@mickeyholding7970]

Beautiful crack upon firing

[@fatbloke6223]

I live in Woolwich….It’s not green or pleasant

[@papercartridges6705]

Dark Satanic mills now I suppose.

[@toomanyhobbies2011]

How to stretch a 2 minute video into 16 minutes...

[@wilbo09]

Hwitworth