Pedersoli Brown Bess Review

The Pedersoli Brown Bess Musket, or “Brown Bess”, is a beautifully crafted historical reproduction of the Short Land Pattern Musket. First introduced in 1722, the Land Pattern Musket became the standard issue firearm for the British Empire’s Army, Navy, and Marine military divisions. While the origin of the nickname “Brown Bess” is unknown, it definitely became the commonly used name for the rifle within 50 years after its introduction. The Brown Bess served as the main weapon of the British military for decades and saw action in the Seven Years War, American Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, and Mexican-American War. The musket was so prolific that it even saw limited action as late as the American Civil War. With the invention of the percussion lock and barrel rifling becoming more popular, the flintlock production of the Brown Bess ceased in 1839 and brought an official end to the mainline production of the musket. Many of the Brown Bess muskets were converted to use a percussion ignition, allowing them to be more reliable in the field and prolonging their life of use well into the mid-1800s.

Due to the smooth bore of the musket and large .75 caliber bore, the Brown Bess could be fired 3-4 times a minute by most standard infantrymen. In later models, rifling was intentionally left out of the Brown Bess to aid in faster reloading times and less residue buildup. The smoothbore musket was notoriously inaccurate and was not effective much further than 50 yards away. This led to the mass line and volley fire tactics seen during 18^th and 19th-century warfare. Grouping close together and firing in volley allowed the firearm to deal lethal damage en masse and the long length of the gun allowed it to serve effectively as a spear for bayonet charges. While the Brown Bess was not the most reliable rifle in existence at its time, the sturdy design and ease of use made it the rifle of choice for many European armies and was undeniably the gun that forged the British Empire of the 18^th and 19^th Centuries.

Pedersoli has done an excellent job of reproducing the Brown Bess to historical specifications with world-class craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each musket features a beautiful walnut stock with brass furniture that includes the butt plate, trigger guard, ramrod guides, and nose guard at the muzzle end of the musket. The stock is smoothly carved with an elegant and ergonomic design, allowing the gun to fit comfortably in hand. Additionally, the lock features the signature of William Grice, the noted British gunsmith, and is stamped with the year 1762, an engraving of the crown and the letters ‘GR’ for historical accuracy. The .75 caliber smoothbore barrel measures 41 3/4 inches and the overall length of the gun measures 57 11/16 inches long. Pedersoli has included a steel ramrod as well as two installed sling brackets that will accommodate a variety of slings. Overall, the fitment of the components along with the quality of the stock, lock, and barrel is impressive and is both smooth in function and aesthetically pleasing. Due to Pedersoli’s attention to detail and world-class craftsmanship, the Pedersoli Brown Bess is certified for historical reenactments in the USA and throughout the world.

The Pedersoli Brown Bess Musket is built to be fired and is ready for use in the field for a variety of applications. To fire the Brown Bess, we recommend a powder load of 70-grains of FFG black powder or black powder substitute along with a 0.735” diameter lead round ball coupled with a dry or pre-lubed shooting patch. For the flash pan, FFFFG (4FG) black powder is the best choice as it easily ignites with the spark produced from a flintlock ignition.

Pedersoli has been a front runner in the muzzleloading industry for years and is one of the most trusted brands for high-quality muzzleloaders in the world. The Pedersoli Brown Bess brings one of the most iconic 18^th and 19th-century firearms back to life and offers us the experience of connecting to the rich history of our past. For enthusiasts who would like the opportunity to craft their own piece of history, Pedersoli offers the Brown Bess in a build it yourself kit option that includes all of the premium quality materials and components found on the pre-assembled musket.

For more information about the Pedersoli Brown Bess Musket please reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable customer service team at 855-236-5000 or via email at sales@muzzle-loaders.com.