muzzleloading shotgun
- Thread starter m1978
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In my opinion, a smoothbore muzzleloading shotgun is far and away THE most versatile blackpowder firearm you could ever own. Just like its breechloading counterpart, the blackpowder shotgun can be used for everything from birds to rabbits to deer or bear.
As a matter of fact, one of my favourite pastimes as a kid was to go "tent caterpillar" hunting. These critters would make huge nests in trees, and when they hatch would devour most of the leaves. I used to load a light charge of blackpowder, a wad, a charge of fine sand and an overpowder wad and BOOOM! One mangled caterpillar nest and zero damage to the tree (other than cleaning the bark really well!)
I really like my side-by-side blackpowder shotgun for deer hunting, too; I have two shots instead of one, and load one barrel with a charge of 00 buck and the other with a rifled slug. If the deer is 25 yards or less, he gets the buckshot barrel and I can easily keep the slug into a deer sized target out to about 60 yards.
I use pulled Winchester foster-type slugs, coat them with moly-graphite lube and load them over a stiff charge of blackpowder and these shoot VERY accurately out of my shottie.
The only thing you MAY not be able to do with your shotgun is waterfowling, as steel shot is required and you have to be very careful if you plan on using steel out of your blackpowder shotgun. (Make sure you use shotcups designed for steel shot and don't let the shot come in contact with the bore.)
Anything you can hunt with a breechloading shotgun can be hunted just as effectively with a BP shottie, and the versatility you get with your in-the-field handloads is amazing. I highly recommend it!
As a matter of fact, one of my favourite pastimes as a kid was to go "tent caterpillar" hunting. These critters would make huge nests in trees, and when they hatch would devour most of the leaves. I used to load a light charge of blackpowder, a wad, a charge of fine sand and an overpowder wad and BOOOM! One mangled caterpillar nest and zero damage to the tree (other than cleaning the bark really well!)
I really like my side-by-side blackpowder shotgun for deer hunting, too; I have two shots instead of one, and load one barrel with a charge of 00 buck and the other with a rifled slug. If the deer is 25 yards or less, he gets the buckshot barrel and I can easily keep the slug into a deer sized target out to about 60 yards.
I use pulled Winchester foster-type slugs, coat them with moly-graphite lube and load them over a stiff charge of blackpowder and these shoot VERY accurately out of my shottie.
The only thing you MAY not be able to do with your shotgun is waterfowling, as steel shot is required and you have to be very careful if you plan on using steel out of your blackpowder shotgun. (Make sure you use shotcups designed for steel shot and don't let the shot come in contact with the bore.)
Anything you can hunt with a breechloading shotgun can be hunted just as effectively with a BP shottie, and the versatility you get with your in-the-field handloads is amazing. I highly recommend it!
Steel shot should only be used in a modern gun, that the manufacturer has specifically endorsed for use with steel shot, and only with the proper shotcups, as scout3006 has pointed out. Care must be taken in loading, to insure than steel pellets don't escape the cup. You don't want a steel pellet caught between a shotcup petal and the bore.
Bismuth shot would be an alternative in a modern gun. Personally, I would be reluctant to use anything other than lead in an antique, couldn't recommend bismuth, and steel would be a very bad idea.
My goose hunting days go back to the period before shot restrictions. The days of waterfowling with original guns is probably over.
I use an antique 14ga percussion double, and a modern 24ga flint tradegun replica. Just tested an antique 17ga single & plan on using it as well.
I have loaded from shot and powder flasks, with loose wads, but have used paper cartridges more often. Make these from brown paper, and the cushion wad is glued to the closed end of the powder cartridge. Tear the cartridge, dump the powder, and ram the paper and wad unit. Tear and dump the shot, ram the paper as top wad. Or, I've made heavier paper shot cartridges, and used the cartridge as a shotcup.
Some modern guns have choked barrels. A ml shotgun will shoot just as well as a breechloader with similar choke or loads. Reloading is a bit slower, though. scout3006 has mentionned just how versatile these guns can be. I'm sure that this is why smoothbores were much more common than rifles during their period of use.
Have shot round balls, but havern't experimented with slugs. Can't see why they shouldn't work. I have a Lee slug mould, should see if the slugs would fit any of my barrels.
Bismuth shot would be an alternative in a modern gun. Personally, I would be reluctant to use anything other than lead in an antique, couldn't recommend bismuth, and steel would be a very bad idea.
My goose hunting days go back to the period before shot restrictions. The days of waterfowling with original guns is probably over.
I use an antique 14ga percussion double, and a modern 24ga flint tradegun replica. Just tested an antique 17ga single & plan on using it as well.
I have loaded from shot and powder flasks, with loose wads, but have used paper cartridges more often. Make these from brown paper, and the cushion wad is glued to the closed end of the powder cartridge. Tear the cartridge, dump the powder, and ram the paper and wad unit. Tear and dump the shot, ram the paper as top wad. Or, I've made heavier paper shot cartridges, and used the cartridge as a shotcup.
Some modern guns have choked barrels. A ml shotgun will shoot just as well as a breechloader with similar choke or loads. Reloading is a bit slower, though. scout3006 has mentionned just how versatile these guns can be. I'm sure that this is why smoothbores were much more common than rifles during their period of use.
Have shot round balls, but havern't experimented with slugs. Can't see why they shouldn't work. I have a Lee slug mould, should see if the slugs would fit any of my barrels.
ben hunchak said:
Probably because they are quietly waiting for the smoke to clear so they can see down the range again.
Kidding aside I have been trying to figure out how the Mossberg 500 black powder barrels work, but I don't know anyone that has one.
Also the 3rd Edition of Shotgun Digest (page 165) has a really interesting article on Black powder shotguns, and how to use them etc. I found my copy at a garage sale.
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tiriaq said:
I have fired both Foster type and Brenneke type pulled slugs in my Pedersoli 12 Gauge Double. The fosters fit nice and snug - no overshot wad required.( I use an overpowder wad and a felt shot wad under the slug - much better accuracy that way as the slug's base doesn't get deformed upon firing.) The Brenekke's were substantially tighter and required a bit more force to get down the barrel, so I stick with the Foster type slug. I would imagine the Lee cast slug would be the same as the foster.
Try it - you will be in for a nice surprise! (Either way, MUCH more accurate than a plain ol' punkin ball!)
