Minie bullet vs buck and ball vs single ball cartridges 

2:36 damn that man can spit so hard he breaks the sound barrier

I've done a lot of smoothbore shooting over the years. In my experience, most smoothies shoot better at long distance than is commonly thought. Military style paper cartridges, however, are not the best for accuracy. Generally in my guns, a fairly undersized ball and pillow tick patching work the best. My .69 will throw scary good groups with an over powder felt wad, 3/4 ounce of six shot and patched round ball. It starts to throw flyers when you put more than 90 grains behind it. It's a useless load as far as the shot goes but it seems to cushion the round ball just right. It makes people really do a double take when looking at the results.

“But they might be real close friends” lmao that had me rolling

Well done. Great practical test of period ammo! I realize that this is test in an American Civil War context but did the buck and ball cartridge have any use in Eastern Europe?

you probably already know but your hat brim was interfering with your Flint lock

2:35 That timing when he spat out the paper....

capandball, what a great channel on RU-vid to watch. your love of historical fire arms is refreshing. keep it up. sean

the guy in the background at 6:50. Great video by the way

Do you know the 'Forgotten Weapons' channel?

I love your commentary and the video was as always superb! The practical accuracy demonstration of how a standing soldier would approach an enemy was as close as it could have been without an enemy firing back! Well done!

I'm surprised the buckshot got hits at 100. When I was at the museum at Sharpsburg MD, I was amazed by the amount of recovered buckshot was on display.

With that kind of accuracy, I wonder what the maximum range is.

That guy behind you, not only is he shooting an abomination, but he takes his sweet time loading it :)

I have a genuine question.. If ar-15's and semiauto rifles/ modern firearms were more accessible in Hungary would you still be as interested in black powder firearms? or was it a fascination since you were a child? Thank you; you have the best black powder channel on youtube.

Excellent video as always! Impressive results with the Buck & Ball at 100, no doubt.

Mr Infantryman, your shell jacket needs to be a frock coat! Nice video nevertheless.

Wow you're really good at aiming O_o

Great shooting, Sir! Consistent hits at 100m standing with those loads with a flintlock!! Perhaps a percussion smoothbore of the era would have shown slightly better results as the ignition is a little more reliable than the Flinter over that many rounds fired and far more common on the Civil War battle field. I think until the last years of the war there were far more smoothbores than rifles.

Nice confederate battle dress! Greetings and love from the south.

777th viewer. Lucky me especially for another capandball video!

Awesome video, thanks for posting! Surprising result from the buck and ball at 100m - I didn't expect the shot to stay on (or at least near) the target that far out. Have you ever considered doing any kind of penetration test for buck-shot propelled by black powder at that distance? It tore the paper, but would it penetrate flesh deeply enough to bother anyone?

Great video as always. I would like to know if you could ever do a video on antique air rifles like the Girandoni (Girardoni) air rifle or other air guns of the time? I wished that a manufacturer like Pedersoli or Uberti would reproduce these rifles.

very good video! i just caught a bit of cap fragment in the eye the other day, no injury thankfully, but I'll never go without eye protection again!

Do You have plans to make review on matchlock musket?

Outstanding! Clearly the best comparison of shot types I've seen. Thanks!

I swear on one of ur shots that didn't go off the hammer came down towards the cap but hit rim of your hat....was I correct??? great video love your channel...

Keep up your awesome work, and thanks for helping to keep the muzzle loader alive!

Cannot tell you how much I appreciate and enjoy your efforts! I have learned much. Thank you! Tom Clark, Snellville, GA, United States

People often forget that a single 30 cal ball at even 120-150 m/s can disable a soldier with peripheral hits. From a volley standpoint, the buck and ball is beyond acceptable. It’s downright superb within 200m

Love the channel, very interesting and informative videos. Very good shooting with the rifle! Not easy to hold those heavy guys on target at that range.

Greetings from Texas. thanks for the comparison shooting. I learned a lot, was very informative.

I would love to see how the buck and ball compares to just buckshot

Brilliant video. Forget the PC BS, You live as they did. Did I say great video, many thanks

Why is this loading method considered unsafe? It's how i've always done it.

Worst gun in the world in history ! 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

Great video. The greatest impact of the buck and ball cartridge was US Revolutionary war and War of 1812 buck and ball against the Brown Bess. At the Battle of New Orleans, although the Brits suffered disproportionate casualties, it has been noted that many of these soldiers recovered quickly due to only pellet wounds from buck, although they were out of the battle. Buck and ball, and maybe just buck were most likely effective against Native Americans in many cases although I don't know of the documented use at Militia heavy battles like Tippecanoe. Buck and ball was probably more effective at even longer ranges while the Minies effectiveness was not as great as might be thought as one, the soldiers were not particular effective in hitting anything once the smoke of battle started and it was important to just throw as much lead down the field as possible you could throw more lead shooting buck. There is a myth of civil war soldiers being country boys and great rifle shots. While that might have been true or those who shot with squirrel rifles in the East, much of the game was taken in the South with shotguns in the woods where shots were usually 10-50 yards. And a lot more squirrels were killed with shotguns and dogs than 'still" hunting with squirrel rifles and later rimfire 22 rounds. The Southern Fiest dog, we had one, were, and are, incredible squirrelers. It was amazing how our dog joyfully worked his circular pattern with no prompting, These were not a breed but small dogs with good noses, a yapping bark-which causes the squirrel to hunker down on the tree), and great discipline. There was nothing funnier than watching a Fiest look at you quizzically when you failed to bring down the squirrel. You would get that "Hey, I did my job" look. Before with just a bit of encouragement he would then take off in his hunting pattern and once you heard the treed "bark" you would run through the woods to the tree where the squirrel was most likely trying to make himself invisible on the tree trunk. This was shotgun work....and, there was a reason they called buckshot "buckshot". Additionally far more deer were taken with dogs driving them than is appreciated. A line of hunters would take position and then hound type dogs would be released that would drive deer to the hunters. It was a cooperative effort, and as the deer were usually moving, it was shotgun work.

your hat was affecting some of the shots accuracy.... great test of muzzleloader charges...AAA

ive been looking intently at the pedersoli 1798 Austrian for some time now and I loved seeing it in your video

Does anyone else get anxiety when he looks down the barrel 🥴

I'd love to see this done with ballistics gel. I'm 1 minute in and I love this guy already.

You have a new subscriber. Love these videos and the effort behind them. Well done.

Great shooting, Blaz!Tom I.

Those powder ignition reaallly close to your eyes. Really you should wear eye protection.

Subscribed. It always warms my heart to see folks having responsible fun with firearms outside of the United States.

Nicely done ! I appreciate your efforts. Keep up the good work ! E.C.

Did you ever get the email I sent you about loaning you the book "History of Colt Revolvers from 1836-1940" ? The email was sent from Ebay. (I'm the former Sherrif Deputy from Texas that bought the paper cartridge boxes from you)

The hammer frequently brushes your hat brim, this has no effect on accuracy via flinches ? Still a very interesting comparison. Your knowledge of these vintage arms is quite impressive. Wonderful presentation !

Balázs, you are an impressive marksman and obviously well informed. I enjoy and find all of your videos very well done. Thank you for all your hard work and please keep the videos coming.

You do realize that taking the cap off right after a shot. Is probably the most dangerous thing you can do. Instead pour and ram first then put a new cap on.

I hope nobody asked hits, and I apologize if this is a repeat question. However what is so dangerous about the military load in this case?

Hello, I enjoy your videos very much. I was watching tonight with my youngest boy, his comment was “ that man is good with a musket, he must be a musketeer” lol. Maybe someday you will visit Canada for our great waterfowl and deer hunts.

Excellent video.

Thanks for the great video! As always, I looked with pleasure!))) But you should not hold a finger over the flint and the chair, on the contrary, it is better to degrease the surface! Fat from fingers and palms contributes to misfire. I used to suffer the same way until this secret was found out, now 1 misfire in 30 shots!))) Good luck!

High capacity Confederate rifles You dont NEED buck AND ball. Haha great video

i have found with my shootng that buck and ball is the worst when it comes to accuracy as well.

Here in the US especially where I live in the northeast was the height of the use of smoothbore guns from the 1600's on up through the Revolutionary War and into the Battle of Plattsburgh on September 11, 1814, where the militia units raised to defend northern New York against the British brought their own guns to the fight, most being smoothbore guns as well as the muskets used by the infantry. Also, from 1601 to roughly 1701 there what was known as the Beaver Wars between the Iroquois and the other Native American tribes all over the northeast from New France down to New Netherland, Maryland and Pennsylvania as the tribes all traded with the different European powers for guns, each trying to get ahead of the other. The Mohawk were able on most occasions to send 300-400 well armed warriors on raids or they would lie in wait for their enemies to come through and use ambush tactics with trade guns. The other tribes adopted the same tactics. Trying to imagine in the thick forests up here, even hunting today in the same forests, you rarely even can see 100 yards let alone imagine taking a shot at that distance. Most are anywhere from 35-60 yards. With that many guns at short ranges, the ambush tactics of the Mohawk for many years made them the most feared force in the whole of North America and at the time, they had more armed men than any of the countries that had set up trading posts at that time.

They must have been brave men if they realised just how accurate these weapons were at combat distances. The other side could hit you too! Scary stuff. You are a good shot with that minie ball at 100 meters "offhand". Nicely presented video as usual.

Dang, just shows you how much difference rifling can make even on just a plain round ball.

Things that I think some people may miss in the consideration of Buck and Ball loads. If they are aimed at shoulder height of the enemy front rank, whatever shot or ball that misses that rank may very well hit the rank behind. Also ,imagine the amount of lead that would be flying with a single volley of a company using Buck and Ball loads. Entire ranks of enemy men would be swept away, either dead or wounded, from volley fire. Terribly effective stuff for a smooth bore Musket. Imagine Burnsides bridge with all those Union soldiers packed together facing such fire from the opposite bank. Makes me shudder......

All design of this guns come from malaya about hundred years...

Balazs, thank you for showing the flintlock misfires! Its so reassuring to see others have the same issues I have at the range! :) Awesome comparison and ammo experimentation! I want you job!

I have never fired Buck -n-Ball, I'm going to have to try it.

Great video, you did do something important. The testing shows how deadly rifle is compare to smooth bore musket.

8:55 - watching that shot 'drop' into the target is awesome.

I would have to say that the third guy you hit with the smoothbore musket at 100 yards would most likely have been a fatality, especially if you went by the time period. I would say at the very least it was a broken pelvis and a good chance of damage to the femoral artery and with the size and the damage of the roundball, he wouldn't be getting up off the ground without being helped.

You have presented another great video with education in mind. ] Thanks for taking the time to share your videos with us You Tubers.

what about a buck load at those distances? I would imagine that would lead to the most injuries and kills,

Love watching these videos. I'm in the US where we have fairly lax gun laws. Yet I still find the most fun I have is when I pull out my cap and ball revolvers. Thanks for making these videos.

Very well made video, and a good test of the different loading's capabilities. Keep up the good work!

I always find your videos entertaining and informative. This is another great performance.

thank You very much! It's a greatest review I have ever seen. I was waiting it for a long time and even ask You to make this in my comments.

Always enjoy watching your videos , keep up the good work!

Solid as a pine tree even when the flintlock misfires. No flinching. :-)

Thanks for your videos, keep them coming.

excellent :)

I love the humour in this vid 3 man standing really close to each other they might be real close friends

Another nice presentation. I do like your vids!

Duelist1954 just did a similar test with buck & ball. He has commented that capandball is the premiere BP channel on RU-vid. Greetings from "Mayberry" North Carolina, USA.

Interesting comparison. Thank you!

Actually, you're not even using the proper military loading procedure. Check Hardee's Manual of Infantry Tactics.

amazing video! greetings from Luxembourg!

I enjoy your videos. That looked like fun!

Does musket length make a lot of difference in accuracy? Some blackpowder guns seem really long and I'm curious if that added much velocity/accuracy compared to shorter barrels.

A smooth bore can be VERY accurate up to 100 yards, no surprise there !!! I would also say, if you have to push the ball in with both fingers, your paper is too thick !! and it is unsafe !!

You have one of the coolest channels I've ever seen! Keep up the good work!

If you are loading per the manual the barrel should be away from you, and the ramrod towards you. It just looks like you are struggling to withdraw and return the ramer over the barrel. This from Gilham's Manual- Load in nine times. 1. LOAD. (Whenever the loadings and firings are to be executed, the instructor will cause cartridge boxes to be brought to the front.) One time and one motion. 150. Grasp the piece with the left hand as high as the right elbow, and bring it vertically opposite the middle of the body, shift the right hand to the upper band, place the butt between the feet, the barrel to the front; seize it with the left hand near the muzzle, which should be three inches from the body; carry the right hand to the cartridge box. (Fig. 43.) Here is the link: www.47thva.org/gilham/article3.html#142

The primary strength of buck and ball was when whole units were firing smoothbores with the load, thus filling the air with lead. And they didn't fire at much over fifty yards, so you have given us "proof of concept," to coin a phrase. Since every Confederate soldier shot during the War Between the States was said to have cost "a hundred pounds of powder and 900 pounds of lead," all those balls had to have improved hit ratio, whether the soldiers were killed or not. If hit in an extremity, the buckshot would have been less likely to break long bones, and thus would have been somewhat less severe than a hit from a Minie or round ball.

Back then most wounds were fatal... they probably were more effective, every wounded soldier would require the attention of multiple troops for addressing their wounds, removing from battlefield, etc...

Your foot work is wrong with the spring field and you placed the weapon in the wrong place. That is why your arm was over the rifle. The musket goes between your feet in the V position. With Ramrod facing to the inside. I was trained by the American NPS. In historic weapon . Plus I have been doing this for 25 years . I can send you a page from Hardy’s showing the loading position if you wish

Love the vide Love your channel. But I have to disagree on something. I spent 12 years as an Army Medic, Smoothbore ball at 100 yards the target on the right is not wounded, he is dead. Shattered hip or shattered femur, that soldier would have bled out within a minute. Keep making the videos!

Imagine smoothbore muskets of the 18th and early 19th centuries had used buck and ball rounds, or pure buckshot rounds rather than single ball rounds. Which battles would have been conducted differently? Which battles would have been decided differently if one side had used these rounds? Would there have been a need for rifles at all until late 19th century warfare? Discuss.

Those thirty calibre balls look very useful if you miss with the sixty calibre one. At least it's doing SOME damage.

very interesting video. thanks for posting this.

Excellent video really cool results, thanks

Long delay on the flintlock shows that the weapon is in bad order. Touch hole is probably dirty. A well maintained hole will fire as fast as a cap. Frizzen not sparking well and the initial 3 FTF's shows it's probably the problem child. Probably poorly hardened or dirty. The regular powder used needs a good spark to ignite.

My friend hit a 12" steel target at 60-65 yards with a harpers ferry .58 pistol. It was loaded with a round ball and 40 grains of FFg. It was divine intervention.

Haha. At 2:32 I can just feel the judgement radiating off of the guy with his bolt action, bi-pod equipped muzzle-loader.

This is a very peculiar video. An EU channel about the US Civil War, apparently for the US audience? Very peculiar.

The first 3 smooth bore shots fairly much destroyed the opponents liver. I noticed the shooter jerking the gun on igniition with the flintlock. I became proficient against modern rifles in competition to use the finger-tip only and keep the aim small and true. Shot-for-shot at distances up to 150 yards, a smoothbore flintlock is as accurate and deadly as a modern firearm if being used by someone well versed in its nuances. Also...take time to seat your flint. There should be no more than 1 misfire in twenty touches. OH...and that 1790's musket with the brass furniture is a beauty.

I really enjoy watching your videos 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻.