Spent some more time chasing big bucks, no luck on them but I did put this guy in the freezer with my 14 bore William Moore belted ball gun.

Now that’s a classic sporting rifle! Very nice.

Nice rifle , so by saying 14 bore , do you suggest this is about 69 caliber round ball .?
Nice buck also ...

The rifle shoots a .69 caliber belted ball.

Steve

I have a very nice English double rifle (percussion) along those lines. I think the bore is closer to .72 caliber and I’ve shot one deer with it several years ago.

skb,

Did you buy or build that rifle? I would be interested in the particulars.

Congratulations on the deer too.

Nice gun and some premium meat. Thanks. Be Well, Packy.

Love the belted ball!
So, you have a half cock and a full cock safety?

Awesome rifle! I like that

Steve, what a wonderful achievement. No need for a bigger buck. I assume you had a mold made to cast that belted ball? Please tell us more about your rifle and load when you have a moment.

Bill

why do you keep that 14 bore william Moore in the freezer?

Jeff Tanner made the belted ball mold for me before he passed on. I do not know what the ball weighs, over the 500 grains my scale will handle. The load I use is 90 grains of FF Swiss, topped with a lubed felt wad and a patched ball. The rifle has half cock and a bolted safety which locks the hammer in the half cock notch. I;m not sure exactly when the rifle was made, the best I can tell between the late 1830's and mid 1840's.

Steve