How accurate and effective are Enfield Musketoons?

[Shortround]

I found one for $100. It's in fair shape.

How well do one of these things shoot? Does it have an effective range of 100 yards? I want to use this weapon for deer hunting & want to use common caps and black powder loads. It's a budget thing.

Thanks

Bill Hensler
Lansing

[Boyd Miles]

Depends, is this a .577 rifled version by a decent maker or is it .70+ smooth bore made in India? If it is a decent Italian made (or English marked Italian made parker-Hale) then it should be fine at 100 yards. I have one I bought from a hunter and he had very good luck with it but was replacing it with an inline that could take a scope. You do need to practice as the sights are kind of randomly placed so you need to know just where the point of impact is, my brother and I both have Parker-Hale three banders that consistantly hit low and to the left of point of aim and once you know that you can hit the mark most of the time.
The musketoons are right handy brush guns and easier to deal with in a tree stand than the longer versions.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

As shared, it will depend upon whether you have a British Parker-Hale, an Italian Parker-Hale, an Italian clone, or one of the three levels of Indian model guns or decorators.

In brief and to over generalize...

These are replicas of the Pattern 1861 Artillery Carbine which was the "musketoon" version of the P1853 4th Model rifle-musket not used in the ACW.

The rear sight was calibrated to 600 yards.

That being said, one can work up the optimum load combination of sized Minie ball, and powder charge. Or just go with the military cartridge. And then sight it in for 100 yards. That is a side discussion, as around here, most all deer at taken at about 35-45 yards, so some lads sight in for 50 rather than 100. Shooting a 100 yard sight at 50 has the ball's POI really high. Some lads try to shoot patched round ball rather than Minies. That is a longer discussion as the rifling's rate of twist is not the best for stablizing a round ball. But, at distances under 100 yards it is somewhat not keenly critical -especially under 50.

Some cross-over hunters like the "musketoon" as its 40 inch overall length (24 inch barrel) makes it easier to tote, and go through brush and trees.

There are some disadvantages. Some lads find it harder to shoulder and aim when bundled up bulky in winter clothing. And with a shorter barrel, with its shorter sigth radius, it is easier for an inexperienced and unpracticed shooter to pull a shot off target.

My brothers-in-law prefer the two-banded rifle version for their muzzleloading hunting.

Others' mileage will vary...

Curt

[cardshark]

a friend of mine has been using a parker-hale for years for deer hunting and he loves it. "light" weight and packs a decent punch.