.500 round ball in 28 gauge

Potashminer

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So, a bunch of stuff in a lot on the way. I was mostly taken about the various 28 gauge shot wads that were included - but also there is stuff from Ballistic Products about "Small Bore Slug" - actually, .500" Round Ball with a wad thing that fills up a 28 gauge shell to put roll crimp, etc. So, what would one use that for?? .500" Round Ball in a 28 gauge shotgun? I found ads - some fellow duly popped a 140 pound hog in Texas (?) at 40 yards - pictures show a head shot. I know we used to slaughter dam sight larger hogs than that and they were put down with head shot from .22 Short - but not at 40 yards.

So, has anyone tried these? Loads from the Ballistics Products Small Bore Manual seem to suggest 1,900 fps muzzle velocity - what should I be thinking for, say, 50 yard accuracy?? Able to hit a 4 litre milk jug? To hit a 1/2 litre milk jug? Does choke matter? If they have adequate accuracy, can not see them a whole lot different capability than the .490" / .495" 50 caliber Round Ball Muzzle loaders at 1,400-ish??
 
So, a bunch of stuff in a lot on the way. I was mostly taken about the various 28 gauge shot wads that were included - but also there is stuff from Ballistic Products about "Small Bore Slug" - actually, .500" Round Ball with a wad thing that fills up a 28 gauge shell to put roll crimp, etc. So, what would one use that for?? .500" Round Ball in a 28 gauge shotgun? I found ads - some fellow duly popped a 140 pound hog in Texas (?) at 40 yards - pictures show a head shot. I know we used to slaughter dam sight larger hogs than that and they were put down with head shot from .22 Short - but not at 40 yards.

So, has anyone tried these? Loads from the Ballistics Products Small Bore Manual seem to suggest 1,900 fps muzzle velocity - what should I be thinking for, say, 50 yard accuracy?? Able to hit a 4 litre milk jug? To hit a 1/2 litre milk jug? Does choke matter? If they have adequate accuracy, can not see them a whole lot different capability than the .490" / .495" 50 caliber Round Ball Muzzle loaders at 1,400-ish??

I have shot a few of them , and still have lots. I keep a few in case of coyotes while hunting with the pointers, in the past we have had a few issues with the buggers, and one bear as well, so it's handy to have them in the vest " just in case"
They print pretty tight in my SxS at 25 yards.
Cat
 
I have exactly one 28 gauge shotgun left, and it is an Over/Under - so likely what I would use them for - "just in case", especially if I can actually hit 4" or so at 25 yards with the shotgun sights. About the most perfect, in my mind, for shotgun to walk about for grouse or huns, but then there are those damn coyotes, bears, and other things that one runs into. In the truck, is easy to have a "real" rifle along - not so practical to be lugging that along, on a September walk in the poplars!!!
 
Occassionally Marstar produces some older shotshells that they found somewhere. Most likely from estate sales.
I remember seeing older Dominion or Canuck pumpkin ball loads. Kind of had fuzzy almost horsehair wad was protruding slightly around the RB.
Not sure if these paper shells were smokeless or black powder?
They were 28 gauge.
 
It would weigh about 185 grs, so should have enough energy with a 1900 fps MV to kill pig-sized animals at 50 yds. Will it be accurate though - you'll need to try to find out.

When I had my Snider, I loaded 0.600" round balls in a wad in 24 ga shotshells over smokeless and could keep them on paper at 100 yds.
 
"Will it be accurate, though?" - yeah, will be fun to try them out - 65 year old eyes, shotgun bead, smooth bore, Round Ball without patch - what could go wrong??? Haha!! There is an empty cardboard box here - 20" wide and 24" tall - ought to make a good target to start with!!!
 
I've killed about a dozen deer quite efficiently while using my .50 cal muzzle loader and round ball loads at 1800 fps muzzle velocity. As long as the 28 ga. is accurate enough to hit vitals, the round ball will do the trick within 100 yards.
 
For sure, the possible accuracy will be the main limiting factor - I think the limits of the potential lethality of that kind of projectile and velocity are reasonably well established - since Daniel Boone days. For now, a 28 gauge with .500" round ball would be about 10th or 12th or even further down the list of what I would grab to go get a deer, but who knows what goofiness comes down on us next. Will be "nice to try"; "nice to know for this gun" - even for those "just in case" things that come up.
 
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