Shooting a jezail rifle

Ian · 2nd April 2021, 11:28 AM

Patrick,

Congratulations on getting it to shoot.

All pics need to be added as attachments.

Ian

SchildaBrit · 2nd April 2021, 11:51 AM

OK, got the photos attached, but I don't know how to get them in line, which would be better for understanding.

Anyway, please note that the rifle shoots dead centre horizontally. The poor group @ 50m should be improved by a serious powder charge. The POI being 9cm above POA at 25m and 15-16cm above POA at 50m shows that the drop is quite small, i.e. the long barrel is getting every Joule of energy out of the powder. However, the S3 is probably exhausted before the ball reaches the muzzle, so S4 should do better.

Watch this space!

Patrick

Jim McDougall · 2nd April 2021, 12:40 PM

Beautifully done Patrick!!!!
What a perfect augmentation to my 'jezail' thread of 2019, "Frontier Arithmetic"! You have nicely illustrated how formidable these tribal guns really were! Thank you!!!

Best regards,
Jim

SchildaBrit · 2nd April 2021, 02:10 PM

Jim, I must confess that this thread was the inspiration to get out and do it.

After weeks of Covid frustration, I had a great session at the range, shooting 3 extremes:

The oldest - Rouma bench-rest rifle from 1670.
The biggest bore - 2. IP Brown Bess.
The longest - the Jezail, which at 1 meter 60cm
makes the Bess look like a carbine.

SchildaBrit · 2nd April 2021, 02:37 PM

The jezail weighs in at a touch under 6 kilograms! With the centre of gravity being about 76 cm out from your shoulder, quite impractical for unsupported shooting. This must be thought of as a kind of bench-rest rifle.

However, the Khyber Pass being somewhat bare of proper benches, consider it a "rock-rest rifle". Maybe I'll get around to making one of those spindly bipods that are sometimes shown in old prints and photos?

Btw, I am still cleaning it. I had expected to find rust in the barrel. Instead, the grooves seem to contain a residue of pitch-like gunge. So far it has resisted all reasonable solvents (Ballistol, Ed's Red, paint thinner, even acetone and oven cleaner) and so I am stuck with shoot...clean...shoot...clean.

It will thus be a while before it reaches its full accuracy potential.

David R · 2nd April 2021, 05:13 PM

The residue might be cosmoline or old dried oil.

SchildaBrit · 2nd April 2021, 06:22 PM

Whatever it is, it's resistant to everything that I dare to put down the barrel!

I think the barrel might be some kind of damast, which is why I would not like to use aggressive chemicals.

Photos now inserted. Unfortunately the software limitation means that I cannot post the picture of the barrel with adequate resolution to show up the wavy patterning. Just use your imagination!

2nd April 2021, 02:10 PM	#4
SchildaBrit Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 33	Frontier Arithmetic Jim, I must confess that this thread was the inspiration to get out and do it. After weeks of Covid frustration, I had a great session at the range, shooting 3 extremes: The oldest - Rouma bench-rest rifle from 1670. The biggest bore - 2. IP Brown Bess. The longest - the Jezail, which at 1 meter 60cm makes the Bess look like a carbine. Attached Images

2nd April 2021, 02:37 PM	#5
SchildaBrit Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 33	It's heavy The jezail weighs in at a touch under 6 kilograms! With the centre of gravity being about 76 cm out from your shoulder, quite impractical for unsupported shooting. This must be thought of as a kind of bench-rest rifle. However, the Khyber Pass being somewhat bare of proper benches, consider it a "rock-rest rifle". Maybe I'll get around to making one of those spindly bipods that are sometimes shown in old prints and photos? Btw, I am still cleaning it. I had expected to find rust in the barrel. Instead, the grooves seem to contain a residue of pitch-like gunge. So far it has resisted all reasonable solvents (Ballistol, Ed's Red, paint thinner, even acetone and oven cleaner) and so I am stuck with shoot...clean...shoot...clean. It will thus be a while before it reaches its full accuracy potential. Last edited by SchildaBrit; 2nd April 2021 at 06:19 PM. Reason: C of G at 76cm

2nd April 2021, 06:22 PM	#7
SchildaBrit Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 33	Tar-like residue Whatever it is, it's resistant to everything that I dare to put down the barrel! I think the barrel might be some kind of damast, which is why I would not like to use aggressive chemicals. Photos now inserted. Unfortunately the software limitation means that I cannot post the picture of the barrel with adequate resolution to show up the wavy patterning. Just use your imagination! Attached Images Last edited by SchildaBrit; 2nd April 2021 at 06:49 PM.

2nd April 2021, 11:28 AM	#1
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	Patrick, Congratulations on getting it to shoot. All pics need to be added as attachments. Ian

2nd April 2021, 11:51 AM	#2
SchildaBrit Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 33	OK, got the photos attached, but I don't know how to get them in line, which would be better for understanding. Anyway, please note that the rifle shoots dead centre horizontally. The poor group @ 50m should be improved by a serious powder charge. The POI being 9cm above POA at 25m and 15-16cm above POA at 50m shows that the drop is quite small, i.e. the long barrel is getting every Joule of energy out of the powder. However, the S3 is probably exhausted before the ball reaches the muzzle, so S4 should do better. Watch this space! Patrick

2nd April 2021, 12:40 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Beautifully done Patrick!!!! What a perfect augmentation to my 'jezail' thread of 2019, "Frontier Arithmetic"! You have nicely illustrated how formidable these tribal guns really were! Thank you!!! Best regards, Jim

2nd April 2021, 05:13 PM	#6
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,116	The residue might be cosmoline or old dried oil.