Patterning a Westley Richards percussion shotgun

[@louisbailey4900]

This has got to be the best,most educational and honest channel on KZbin. This channel brought me back to traditional hunting...cap n ball or I won't shoot at all.

[@michaelconquergood9556]

Don't do it scam

[@louisbailey4900]

@@michaelconquergood9556 yep....tons of em on KZbin

[@justinji8634]

Absolute beautiful shotgun. What a piece of art!

[@RogierYou]

I want to shoot that fly 🤪

[@robertakerson7186]

The corn meal "wad" is a really interesting idea. I will try it! Thanks, Bob

[@hekpacobctac616]

Semolina is also good for wading. Corn starch is good to keep shot together

[@jackbquick584]

Thanks for introducing me to percussion revolvers. It is quickly becoming my favorite type of shooting.

[@TrainmanDan]

I have only had one percussion double go through my hands. I don't recall the maker but it was made in the 1920s. Apparently there was a revival of percussion shooting in the UK for people who didn't think that smokeless shot shells were here to stay! I only put a few loads through it just to make sure it was fully present and correct. I and a friend collected damascus barreled double hammered cartridge guns. We loaded up two boxes of black powder ammo each (50 rnds) and did some skeet shooting one afternoon with a pair of 12 bores. We had used plastic shotshells and wads and flushed the barrels out with a garden hose after to begin the cleaning process. The barrels were coated with plastic breech to muzzle and exuded a tube of plastic resembling a snake skin after molting! Thank you for another enjoyable video, cheers, Dan.

[@norton750cc]

That is why fibre wads are the only ones I use in my hammer gun.

[@bobhill3941]

I love this channel, it's so informative and relaxing. This was one of the best half hours I've spent here.

[@berkmachinc]

Just what I needed to see, thanks for a great tutorial! I acquired four different percussion shotguns in the last few months, 3 close to 16 gauge and 1 close to 12 gauge. I'll take one up north in October for ruffed grouse but planned to pattern them first and really had no clue as to what to do other than put out a 30" circle and count the pellets! I love the buffer of corn meal over the powder - I hope it gets your results too. Love all your videos, keep it up, Chuck from Texas

[@norton750cc]

Here in scotland corn meal is not widely available, but oat meal is in abundace. I will try it in my revolver.

[@jules-9372]

As ever, this was both demonstrably informative and an absolute delight to watch. Thankyou!

[@jumpinggazellerathe8733]

Its always a good day when capandball posts a video

[@IamtheIZ0D]

Thanks for the tips. I recently acquired an American-made 11 Gauge percussion shotgun and didn't know how I was going to proceed with patterning it. This helps immensely.

[@jamessulzer5105]

I recently purchased an old Austrian made 14 gauge percussion double barrel shotgun that needed some minor repair. However, the barrels are in great shape. I will be trying that corn meal wad as soon as I decide what load I will be starting with. Thanks for the information!

[@kylianvanhoorn2859]

I admire westley richards enormously, especially with some of their more recent modern pieces which can only be described as spectacular Looking very much forward to watching this video

[@johnworlein8581]

Great instructive video, although I've had a lot of experience with BP guns, I learn something new and fascinating with every video you produce. Thank you!

[@paulharding1621]

Lovely gun, I have visited the Westley Richard’s gun works and the Proof House in Birmingham. Both very interesting and informative. A friend of mine uses mixed shot sizes in his flint lock shotgun, apparently that was often done with those old guns. He is a knowledgeable gun smith and has written a number of books.

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

Beautiful gun and a fantastic video. I’ve had my eye on an American double percussion 10ga, but was hesitant because of past troubles with getting a good pattern from my 14ga. I think this has convinced me to buy it- and will definitely help building a load in both guns. Many thanks from Maine!

[@michaeldeangelo4818]

I really love this channel and all the work you put into it. I love old muzzleloaders. I find everything muzzleloader interesting

[@danny_decheeto8300]

I didn’t know how a percussion shotgun worked before, so this is nice

[@sidekickbob7227]

An excellent video! Really good information.

[@string-bag]

You have superb taste in firearms. Great video.

[@davemeise2192]

That's an awesome video. I have a Pedersoli 10 ga double percussion cap shotgun and I've been wanting to figure out the load. It's very nice to see one doesn't need a huge powder charge with the pellets. I know where to begin. Thank you.

[@stevebarzee7340]

Another fine video. And that is a superb shotgun. I enjoy your enthusiasm for all thing black powder.

[@paulsly7246]

A great instructional/informative video.For hunting I use mainly 12 bore percussion(2 original and 1 Pedersoli) and like you have a Westly Richards but in 16 bore,dated to about the same time as yours. And for it I use 60grains 2F,a 3.5 mm 12 bore OP wad .1 1/4 oz No 4 (English size) shot and a .5mm OS wad.Out to 25 - 30m the pattern is great. As the saying goes,If it flies ,it dies.Has worked well on rabbits and ducks.I was surprised at the result of using the cornmeal wadding,thought it might have opened up the pattern but it was completely the opposite.Thanks for sharing from Australia.

[@jasonmpd2946]

I thoroughly enjoy your channel and dedication to traditional firearms.

[@SlickSixguns]

Beautiful shotgun

[@donaldkamula7931]

Great video. So much useful information. I can’t wait to take my muzzle loading shotgun out to the range.

[@_FNQ]

Just great. Always brilliant information presented on this channel. Thankyou!

[@СавватийДонов]

Thank you wherry much for one more video about history of classical Olympic shooting sport. Hope you will make more videos also about precision rifle an pistol shooting.

[@swampfox7110]

Awesome video, I really enjoyed it.

[@evilfluff6634]

That is a beautiful shotgun.

[@waynedygert7355]

Excellent. Nicely done

[@johnstahl5437]

Excellent video as always and what a handsome shotgun. Thanks for sharing.

[@loupuleff571]

Very good video and excellent work with the shooting !

[@Bayan1905]

Those Westley Richards shotguns were works of art but they could perform so well in the field as well. We don't see them very often here in the US, but when we do, they stand out compared to the rest of the shotguns out there.

[@johnryan2193]

Your video's are a great insight into the ancient art of shooting, cheers!

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I love watching your channel always a mine of information. Thanks, happy New Year!

[@peterparsons7141]

Really enjoy your video’s. I had to laugh about your comments regarding the writing of Westley Richards. I have been researching a new “40 cal. Park Percussion rifle” made in Birmingham 1948, and I found some of Richards writing. Sure enough he began the discussion with the comments “..of my design”. I knew full well that he was not the inventor and did not hold the patent on the particular device. I believe it was a rifling pattern. thank you for making note of what Richards wrote because it made me question my research. Really enjoy your excellent video’s. I am switching from modern muzzle loading rifles, to original 1850’s percussion muzzle. We have extended hunting season for big game in Canada using muzzle loaders, and using traditional equipment appeals to me. I have successfully taken big game with modern scoped muzzle loader, with modern 209 rifle primers and modern powders and projectiles and excellent rifles, I think It will be more satisfying to use the same equipment they used 200 years ago. All the great information from your channel has helped me tremendously. Thank you.

[@jeffe.9904]

Beautiful Shotgun Cap! I recently purchased a Pietta muzzle loading 12 GA shotgun that was imported into the U.S. by "Navy Arms," and it's in terrific shape; Looks unfired. Anyways, I know its not a Wesley Richards but I love shooting it & I really enjoyed your video, thanks again. 👌

[@TheGrenadier97]

Can't disagree on why he called himself a jeweler: that shotgun is a piece of art. Great job sir!

[@earlyriser8998]

what a great video.I didn't know people did this and it is amazing to watch. I will have to look up more videos.

[@iduswelton9567]

The only cap&ball shootgun ive ever fired - terribly lol- was a 28 gage - all i can remember about it is that it was made in the mud 1860s and was made in Germany

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Absolute beautiful shotgun.👌👌👌

[@stevebarzee7340]

I too shoot BP percussion shotguns. I have several and 10,12,16 gauge. I never used a hard wad over the powder. I got vegetable fiber wads about .625” thick that fit snug to the bore. I found by cutting the thickness in half and lube them with vegetable cooking oil the pattern well. 1 1/8 oz of # 7 1/2 shot with a thin card paper over shot. Powder is 75 grains Goex FF works the best in my 12 gauge guns.

[@dirtyaznstyle4156]

Yep got me watching with the pic of the shotgun. Percussion 10 gauge? Beautiful, that’s a sizable black powder load too nice

[@fabricewinch4467]

Belle arme comme d habitude bonjour de la France!!!

[@opesam]

Fascinating content as always! 👌

[@NickSchoonwinkel]

I use corn meal in all my muzzel-loader guns, pistols and revolver. Never thought I could use it in my 2 shotguns.

[@curtforeman9014]

Sweet piece!!!

[@rebeccaback3287]

Verry informative! Interesting how you work up the paterns!Excellent shooting! Live the Wesley Richards 10ga double shotgun. On my mother's side of the family she was a Richards before she married.I plan on in the future of making black powder guns. David Back from Menifee county Kentucky USA.

[@levischenk9224]

Thank you for another excellent video! Always love the shotgun videos, and those with your jaeger rifles.

[@michaelreid5307]

That is certainly a beautiful shotgun.

[@СавватийДонов]

One more comment for supporting channel.

[@bobsmalser8304]

Love your channel. Modern plastic cushion wads with sleeves can also cause problems, as shot can get between the sleeve and the barrel wall. Mechanical reloaders fill shot from the bottom up in the column to prevent that.

[@woohu2u2]

Enjoy your channel from Utah, USA.

[@Flederratte]

Great video! Awesome shotgun! Seems like a lot of fun. You explained the procedures very well and good narration of history. I only see an issue with spreading lots of small lead particles. Is there some alternative to lead shot? Maybe copper or tin?

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

Bismuth shot is available, albeit extremely expensive. Steel shot also exists, but should be used in only modern guns, it’d destroy the softer barrels of older guns. Honestly, the lead from shooting is an insignificant pollutant compared to the plastics and chemicals we freely release into the environment every day. Hunting, you might take a dozen shots a year, and ranges typically take lead contamination into strong account. I cast bullets for reloading, and the majority of my lead comes from range scrap that is recovered when ranges periodically re-grade their berms.

[@Flederratte]

@@PrebleStreetRecords Bismuth shot sounds interesting. The problem with lead contamination is the accumulation in organisms and the long term damaging effects. Some chemicals are equally dangerous, plastics are probably much less damaging in the long term but appear in massive quantities.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

MY GOD! That is a Work of ART! still Working! The colors are Perfect! Love the wire welding visible. In the U.S. I would never shoot Pheasant with #7 shot this is a small game shot size "for ME" not enough to bring them down. I would go #4 for shot density and sized enough to knock down the Bird at 30 or 40 yards.

[@shadetreemech290]

I've killed many pheasants with 7 1/2 here in SW Pa. Make it your first shoot and the other/s larger.

[@capandball]

The shot I use for hunting is 3.1 mm, larger than this.

[@davefellhoelter1343]

@@shadetreemech290 I would LOVE to flush that close!!!! I Ca they Know You are Coming! They know what the dog is doing! I have had to push them on the run to the road at the edge of our field! then I have to wait to see! if dog is going to yank them down from 12' up, as they go horizontal?

[@Vishal.456]

I love this type of shotgun pattern testing video sir .very great full ❣️

[@tompuckett9937]

REALLY GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!! I have four cap fired shotguns. All of them do not like any kind of filler wads. I only use 1 or 2 over powder wads, and then the shot and an over shot card. Most all my guns like the same volume off shot and powder. My guns with no choke shoot improved cylinder and almost light modified patterns. My one gun bored modified and full will shoot 100% patterns at 32 yards. It took me almost every Saturday for two months to find the correct combination. But it’s worth the time invested. Thanks again for another super interesting video!!!!!

[@richardt.4224]

I have enjoyed your videos in the past and this one is no different, but this one interests me the most! As a BP muzzle loading clay shooter for many years (national and international) it got my interest. I had heard of using corn meal, but have never tried it. I have used those heavy fibre wads before but found they can punch a hole in the patern, so I make my own! I use a natural under carpet felt cut over size, then pushed into UNDERSIZE metal tubes and dipped in a melted mix of bees wax and vegetable lard, (animal will go rancid) ! These wads are put in between two cards which then obturate in the bore, seal and lubricate the bore. NB, they are also much easier to load than fibre wads! Sorry Capandball, but two areas I don't use of yours! I use a much thinner and shiny over shot card, just thick enough to hold the shot in place. A rough thick card can upset the shot column and also some shot can stick to it. Plus, I wince a little when I watch you thump the top of the shot column with the ram rod! As this will deform the shot which can upset the shot stream patern I retired from competition many years ago, but still hunt with my muzzle loading shotguns.

[@capandball]

Dear Richard, Many thanks for your comments. I will definitely try your suggestions. Best regards, Capandball

[@tomritter493]

I had a wesley Richard's double cartridge. Shotgun beat piece of work .it does take alot to pattern b.p gins but it's fun

[@Mytriumph650pre-unit]

Beautiful gun along with great information.

[@wjgrind]

Great video as usual capandball, thank you. I also enjoy shooting the damacus old timers. I am now working on my Westley Richards that is very much like the one in your video. I just wish it was in as good condition as yours. Mine is a 14 ga. and I sent some cash and the serial number to WR to get a copy of the original entry of the guns build to see who it was built for and the year. I hope to shoot it this winter if I get the bore cleaned up to my satisfaction. My wood is also still in great shape with no cracks as some of my other SxS guns have.

[@Bayan1905]

As someone who has hunted a lot of small game over the years with a shotgun, others have called me crazy, but I have killed more game consistently with #7 1/2 shot and even #8 shot when compared with say #6 shot, whether it's squirrels or grouse which are what I mostly have hunted, and that goes from as small as .410 up through 20 and 16 gauge shotguns. I thought it was just luck but apparently it wasn't just me who thought that way about the smaller shot sizes.

[@elonmust7470]

The first waterfoul season (Canadian geese) of the year began 2 hours ago here in North Carolina. I'm not prepaired, but I'm excited about it! Great content! Definitely something I need to do with my Pedersoli 10ga.

[@ericgabriel4190]

Great video with excellent information as always. That is an absolutely beautiful firearm, I would love to add some more antique firearms to my collection. I would have never guessed that cornmeal could be used as wadding. I wonder if necessity was the mother of that invention?

[@megatrends]

Love this channel .... educational.

[@Joe3pops]

None of my 10 gauge shotguns are muzzleloading. But they are cartridge guns. Winchester 1901 lever shotgun, Parkhurst hammer coachgun and a Prussian era side lever hammer drilling 10x45-70 imported by Charles Daly. Well I fibbed, I own one replica flintlock blunderbuss.

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

Jolly good work Sir. thank you..!

[@swedeson6188]

Great video, thank you for sharing! At 1:11, what is that gun in the middle?

[@michaelconquergood9556]

All your videos are great keep it up

[@graypatriot1299]

thank you

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

One of the early loads I spotted a smoke ring coming from the side of the gun. I wondered what was caused it. The platinum vent holes! I'd seen them on old powder shotguns, and wondered what they were for.

[@borkwoof696]

Unrelated question: Can the 19th century range finder be calibrated to different sized targets, e.g. a wild boar‘s body?

[@bphidehunter]

Excellent information, thank you!

[@lawrencehudson9939]

My first observation of the loading and firing of a percussion shotgun. I would like to see how one cleans the gun after firing. Are there any real differences from cleaning a percussion rifle? Thank you for a fine presentation.

[@ringding1000]

Nope. I have cleaned all my rifles and shotguns the same way - Hot soapy water, some tight patches and oiling when done.

[@redtra236]

It's about the same as a rifle except the fouling tends to be easier to remove since there's no rifling for it to get down into

[@Scooter-dm3qo]

A fascinating video. Now I'm wondering how well corn meal would work in modern plastic hull. Because it would allow a lot more flexibility in regards to shot charges because the stack height could be set by the amount of corn meal used.

[@carlrav5660]

Cornmeal eh? Now I gotta try this on my Pedersoli! Thank you!

[@stuartcrane9409]

Might I suggest your powder charge match’s a velocity just in excess of 1200 fps. This normally produces the best patterns. I have worked over 35 years designing cartridges in the British Gun Trade. That Westley Richards is a fine example! Playing around like you have is a long way to find a result. By all means change wads to perfect it further

[@hawkenrifles]

Hello Balázs Nemeth. I also try to hunt in Spain with a muzzleloading shotgun. I have an AMR, made here in Eibar in the eighties, and an Italian Gallyon from Invesatarm. They are single barreled, 12-gauge replicas of course, but of good quality. I also do tests with different loads of Swiss powder No. 3 (2 FF), wads, and shot loads, to check the best patterns at 25-30 meters. I see that you use semolina as a wad and that you use the same volume of semolina as shot. You get very good patterns. Could you put in writing what charges you use for gunpowder, semolina wad and load of shot? Thank you very much. Greetings from Spain.

[@kieronjones5460]

Nice gun. Recently bought one myself from the same period, made by a Birmingham maker named Charles Osborne. Great video.

[@sanjuancb]

Extremely informative, thank you!

[@timothyruggles3031]

great information thank you..

[@chrisgabbert658]

👍 good information interesting 👍😊

[@frank64409]

Is this Corn Wet just a regular Corn Mill? is water added? to the Corn Mill so it will pack? Please explain.

[@timothym2198]

Just purchased what I believe is a Westley Richards Shotgun, produced sometime around 1870 (I believe). What may be a good source on these early shotguns that I might use to understand more about my new piece? Thank you!

[@tomaspalm2909]

A dream gun i always wanted a 10 bore! but 10 bore is not used for hunting in my country and also now days black powder hunting is also forbidden and hunting with lead most of areas also. But i have a percussion shotgun that are much more effective then a smokeless shotgun.When loaded correct with a load from 90-120 grains of swiss or tripple 7 (swiss is more powerful and volatile in my test so only use tripple 7) the pattern and hit birds is 70 meters safe and beyond with direct kill accord to hit pattern and no miss. whit a Baretta brand new hunting rifle and the tightest pattern tube the spread in 25 meters was ca 50cm with bird shot, with my percussion it is 5 cm just a big hole and in 50 meters it is like a melon in size. for the same pattern versus the modern rifle i must be beond 50 meters to get what the Beretta makes at 25 meters but it must be the load the orginal load is alot of powder and make the pattern tight and fast but i use around 70 grains max 90 nowadays max load give blood taste in my mouth and headache all day after firing and 70-90 grains not much different at close normal range

[@lancegodbey6450]

Is that why number Winchester seven shot is called universal?

[@filippos13]

Great shotgun! The insects were a bit annoying though

[@capandball]

:) part of the summer chill at the range.

[@michaeldeangelo4818]

How do you properly clean all of your old muzzleloaders? I'm considering getting an old style muzzleloader but I'm concerned about it getting fowled and corodided because I didn't clean it properly

[@sawyere2496]

Hot soapy water is what most people use.

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

I clean my muzzleloaders by taking the barrel off, removing the nipple or touchhole liner, and sticking the breech end in a bucket of hot soapy water. I then use a tight fitting cotton patch on a cleaning rod to pump the water up and down the barrel, with it going in and out through the touchhole. After that, I wash the lock work with hot soapy water, then give everything a rinse with boiling water to flash off any dampness as steam. Any remaining water is displaced by a spray of WD-40 in the lock and down the bore, followed by a thin coat of gun oil. It takes a little bit longer than cleaning a modern gun, but isn’t too great a hassle.

[@Joe3pops]

You know you have purchased British quality firearm when your muzzleloader has platinum blowout plugs.

[@ArgoPower]

Do you know maybe why caps aren't available almost everywhere? Have you ever seen H&C kit as substitute for it?

[@ROE1300]

👍 What was the white substance you used as a cushion over the powder?

[@moosemanmagee4495]

I enjoyed this video Thank you. The English put as much thought into their shotguns as they did their steam engines. But it must have been pretty hard pheasant hunting with the mule kicking in the shoulder all day.

[@finflask1862]

I just picked up a Westly Richards 16 bore percussion shotgun. I contacted them and got the original owners name and date of sale. It was July 16 1841. Did you contact them for your guns information?

[@Nicoli-bg8lp]

How much corn meal do you add? Same as powder volume?

[@jordanhaelterman731]

Was the over-powder filler corn mill?

[@garyhammond2213]

I'd like to have that WR 10 gauge.

[@benjaminbauer2947]

Can you hunt with the corn meal?

[@lobster8009]

If you load two barrels and then fire one after the other, 100% the load in the second barrel will have slipped some and skew the results. Does it matter? No clue, but its true.

[@nkralli4]

very interesting the use of polenta . Have you any idea about the velocities that you have using corn meal ?

[@capandball]

I never measured it, but I do not feel differences compared to my breech loading shotgun.

[@Afro408]

Beautiful gun! 😁 Very good information here. Another dictum, was to make sure your choice of shot ‘chambered’ in the bore. They did this by fitting a card wad, down in the muzzle about 6mm or so, then putting one layer of shot on the card to see if they all sat together with no holes or standing on others. I have a lovely Richard Redman 16 bore, underlever cartridge gun, with patent choke bores, circa 1870 and it is still tight. Not a ML unfortunately. Just what is this ‘Corn wad’ stuff anyway?? That’s all I’ve ever seen, not a picture of its package or anything! Is it a breakfast cereal? Ground up corn cob media? 🤷‍♂️

[@capandball]

Tony, that's an excellent information. Do you have a contemporary source for that?

[@Afro408]

@@capandball The author was Murray Mitchell and the book is called ‘Brother to the Dingo’ self published. It is his account of his shooting adventures. Excellent read if you can get a copy.