Author Topic: 69 cal. tower pistol  (Read 1404 times)

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Offline Tad Houston

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69 cal. tower pistol
« on: April 20, 2008, 09:40:17 AM »
Does anyone know what round ball, or minnie ball fits this pistol? Bore measures .691. I was wondering if the .690 Lee round ball mould is actually .690, or does it drop out less than that. I would like to get one of these guns, but want to make sure i can feed it first.

Thanks, Tad

Offline Cowpox

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2008, 11:53:51 AM »
Tad Houston,  I had one of these back in the early 70s. I was hoping someone who was using one now would respond, so we wouldn't have to rely on my 20 minute memory, but it looks like that is all we have.
    I never tried a minnie ball in mine, because they weigh about an ounce and a half, and I found the round ball at just over an ounce supplied enough recoil with any meaningful powder charge. 
   While I don't recall the measurement, I used a round ball cast in a 69 caliber Ohaus mold. It did fit a little loose in a clean barrel, but not loose enough to allow a patch. To keep it in place, I forced a 12 gauge card wad over the ball. I found that ramming subsequent balls was quite difficult, unless I put a dab of Crisco on the down side of the ball, to keep fouling soft.
    After the first shot, the ball fit better in the bore, and I would omit the over ball wad, unless it was going to be carried a while  before shooting again. I'm sure you know how important it is to keep that ball against to powder, to keep it from acting like a bore obstruction !!!!
    I don't remember the charge I settled on, but I do remember starting at 20 grains of FFG, and working up until I was getting enough apparent power and recoil.
    What I mainly loaded mine with was 3/4 once shot loads. I used 12 guage cards (tough fit at .730) over the powder, 16 guage (.670) fiberfelt cushsion wads, 3/4 ounce of 8 shot, with two 12 guage cards over the shot. If memory serves (it don't always), 40 grains of FFG took teal over decoys, at about 25 yards, when I did my part correctly. Once again, for ease of ramming, I used Crisco on the bottom of the over powder card.
   
I rode with him,---------I got no complaints. ---------Cowpox

Offline Cowpox

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2008, 04:43:39 PM »
Thought I should add the accuracy with the single ball was not exciting at all. I would guess the loose fitting ball had something to do with this, but smooth bores weren't known for accuracy under the best of conditions.
    This was why I started loading it with shot. That resulted in turning it into a very fun shooter for rabbits, gophers, and other small critters. It did so well, that for two duck seasons, on opening day, when local blue wing teal were plentiful, it seen lots of fun shooting from the duck blind. I would probably still have it, but had a chance to sell it for much more than I paid for it ? 
I rode with him,---------I got no complaints. ---------Cowpox

Offline Tad Houston

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2008, 05:22:36 PM »
Thanks cowpox! Thats what i was looking for for now. Got the pistol coming, and it sounds like a real hoot! This should be some serious smoke and fire -shock and awe. ;D

Offline Longknife 76

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #4 on: May 02, 2008, 05:13:32 AM »
Tad, you really need to use a much smaller ball, about .025 to .035 under bore size in a smooth bore. This will allow you to use a thick lubed patch to keep the fowling soft. Trust me on this, The Charleville muskets in .690 cal use a .662 ball available from Lyman.  Don't expect ANY accuracy with a round ball but give 'er a try, anyhow, lots of fun. My own 11 ga. .740 bore pistol uses a .715 ball , same one I use in my .750 Brown Bess Try a load of #4 shot, its deadly on squirrels at 20 yds!!!!!...Ed

Offline NickSS

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2008, 11:33:16 PM »
A .690 ball is too big get a mold around .650 and use a lubed patch.  expect to hit the chest of a man target at 15 to 20 yards and that is about what accuracy you will get.  The tower pistol I got had  a soft frizzen and I had to harden it to get a good spark.  Once hardened it went off with great regularity.  Aside from round balls I also fired buckshot, bird shot, 12 ga slugs cast from a lyman mold with the base filled with crisco.  I used 16 ga wads except for the overshot wad which was 12 ga for a tight fit.  Best man stoppin load was 9 375 dia balls over 50 gr of FFG. Made lots of hols in target at 15 yards.

Offline longcaribiner

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Re: 69 cal. tower pistol
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2008, 03:18:06 AM »
Back in the mid 1970's some 69 cal Tower pistols were imported from Asia and sold s both repro shooters  they had two piece barrels with an octagon breech area about three or four inches long and a round barrel screwed into that.  The frizzens were extremely mild steel, as were the barrels.   They blow up if they do spark.  There were companion muskets with foot long octogan breech areas and round barrels .  Several thousand were sold and they are unsafe.   The fit and finish was totally schlock. 

Anything made today should have proof marks and be safe, but if by chance you run into one of those old guns be careful and don't let anyone fire them.