1863 Merrill Carbine - original

[Old Savage]

Met the fellow in this video at the range today. He asked me to chronograph this rifle for him. This would be the oldest rifle I have fired.

He was also hitting the 420 yard 18x24" plate with a 1861 Springfield replica marked US with Trenton underneath. I chronographed two rounds with that for him 933 and 934 fps. He has his routine down for consistent velocity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPpeyQrexf8

[kimwcook]

Really cool. You're a lucky man of been able to shoot something like that.

[rjohns94]

that was very high on the KEWL factor

[gamekeeper]

Boy, that carbine spoke with authority Thanks for posting.

[Borregos]

Lucky you
Thanks for posting

[Hobie]

Got the dog's attention! I don't know how they set up the microphone(s) but that came across as very loud. Neat that they had a .45-70 equivalent during the Civil War (other than the Sharps). Never realized that. Had to make note of it for the grandson... One of his great grand-daddies might have been shot at with one of those. Oh, yes, cool is the operative word.

[Bill in Oregon]

I was fortunate to own and shoot a Merrill for a few months several years ago. I tracked one down because my great-granddad may have carried one in the Third Wisconsin Cavalry during the Civil War. It was a lot of fun to shoot with proper bullets (thank you Tony Beck!) and I was not only impressed with the design, but the the incredibly deep rifling. Also had a Maynard for a while. Miss that one, too.

[Nath]

I enjoyed that, Thankyou, it would make a good deer thumper today.
Got any diagrams of how one works any body ?

Nath.

[CowboyTutt]

I'm with Nath on that! Large caliber BP guns always sound so good. Nothing quite like them.

-Tutt