Range Report

mooncoon

mooncoon

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Vancouver Island
I traded for a cape gun recently and just got back from the range and trying it out. Seems to have lots of potential. It was described as being belgian but I am inclined to think it may have been american made with european barrels. One barrel may have the remains of a belgian proof on it and the other a crown over J which I am guessing is a maker's mark rather than a proof mark. It is .43 caliber x 12 guage and I shot a .425 ball with a .010" patch which is a bit tight to load but so far is shooting quite accurately. I changed the sights on the gun an so far am only out to 25 yards but the gun appears capable of having all shots touching at that range. Next is refinishing the damascus barrels and cast some more balls.

cheers mooncoon

Capegunleft.jpg
 
Out to the range again today and shot the cape gun some more; I remain pleasantly surprised by it. Tried it with 30 and 40 grains of 3F in the rifle barrel. The 3 - 30 grain shots seem to be all touching while the 4 - 40 grain shots strung sideways. I am using a tight ball and thin patch (.010") and I think that if I go to a smaller ball and thicker patch, I may be able to maintain a tight group with heavier loads. Definitely blowing the patches although the bore is smooth (ie rifled but not rough) Then tried 3 shots from the shotgun barrel; 70 grains of 3F plus a cushion wad and a patched .690 ball. Great joy --- at 25 yards it shoots about 1" below the point of aim but is grouping well while the rifle is shooting about 1" above the point of aim. Gun is definitely going to be a keeper.
Almost forgot, I drawfiled the barrels and rebrowned them to bring out the damascus pattern and am quite happy with that as well.

cheers mooncoon

CapeGuntarget2.jpg
 
Doug
I think I shot the smooth bbl with 80 or 85grns of 2f and the poi was closer to the rifle bbl and I put a felt wad under the ball in the rifled bbl and used the .395 ball.
Good luck and happy shooting
 
doubleman said:
Doug
I think I shot the smooth bbl with 80 or 85grns of 2f and the poi was closer to the rifle bbl and I put a felt wad under the ball in the rifled bbl and used the .395 ball.
Click to expand...

I guess I am thinking in terms of using a ball around .415 to .420 and a patch around .020 but will have to try punching out some wads for the rifle barrel. If I can particularly ambitious I might try making a mold around .710 for the shotgun barrel. When the bullets string sideways, I am never sure if it is the load or my eyesight :>( but the rifle barrel definitely seems pretty accurate. I am a bit reluctant to drop down to .395 even though they worked well for you :>) just prefer to load about .010 under bore diameter

cheers Doug
 
I went to the smaller ball to get more patch thickness but ended up going with a wad anyway which should help your patch burning problems while still allowing you to stick with the .415 ball. Regarding the stringing the heavier load should string to the right in my knowledge of double rifles as to light of a load causes barrels to shoot across each other. I looked at the pic and thought the string should be to the right as the rifled bbl is on the right. In my smooth bore guns I usually shoot a nitro card on top of the powder as I find the cook the patch worse than a rifle and then a felt or cork wad in my rifles both seem to improve my groups.
I'm glad to see you are enjoying the cape gun
Regards
 
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