Ontario Muzzleloader Deer Season - with buckshot?

wasa

wasa

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
169   0   0
Location
SSW Ontario
In Ontario, certain WMUs offer "Muzzle-loading Guns and Bows Only" while other offer "only muzzle-loading guns are permitted" for whitetail deer hunting. While I personally would use my CVA Wolf inline muzzleloader, one of my buddies was discussing using an antique black powder shotgun with buckshot as his firearm (greater than 20 gauge, buckshot greater than SG or #1 buck as per regulations). Based on my read of the Ontario Hunting summary, a muzzle loading shotgun with buckshot would be legal ("A muzzle-loading gun is a gun that is loaded through the muzzle.")

Has anyone here used an old percussion cap muzzleloader with buckshot for deer? Other than the standard advice of (i) pattern your gun, (ii) only take shots within (say) 20 yards, etc, what other advice would you give? I actually have Pyrodex and Hornady 0.35" buckshot for making black powder buckshot shotgun shells already.

I guess as an alternative, he could measure his bore and try to find a round lead ball that fits his barrel (no rifling though) so a foster-type slug or "pumpkin ball" would also work.

Thoughts? To be honest, this sounds more like the "traditional" hunts vs the inline muzzleloader with 209 primers and 45 caliber sabots in the "50 caliber inline muzzleloader".
 
If you are going to use say two pieces of 3/8 fibre wad, leave the one closest to the powder dry and only place a bit of bore butter (or other lube) on the top wad only.
Means you have less chance contaminating your unfired powder load over a period of time.
Also it's really important your top wad especially is a tight fit. Say 11 gauge over 12 gauge actual bore size.
 
Buddy hunted a few years with an old double sidelock, I believe in 10 gauge. Four .45 cal round balls cast into a wax slug for easy loading. Spray and pray but within 30yds it was more than capable usually on running deer.
 
hunter148 said:
Buddy hunted a few years with an old double sidelock, I believe in 10 gauge. Four .45 cal round balls cast into a wax slug for easy loading. Spray and pray but within 30yds it was more than capable usually on running deer.
Click to expand...

I used something kind of similar in 10 gauge black powder 2 7/8 inch brass hull.
I crazy glued three .33 pellets together in tight triangle as the base. On top a .490 round ball. This was very accurate 10-20 yards from full choke double barrel shotgun 85 grains of 3F Goex. As long as it was perfectly centered inside the hull. I used a cardboard tube made from magazine subscription paper so it would not contact the barrel and helped to center the payload. Two fiber cushion wads under the shot. A circle fly shotcard on top siliconed in place.
 
Why bother? The only time I use buckshot is when I’m dogging and have running deer inside of 40 yards...usually closer. If I had one shot, it wouldn’t be buckshot and it wouldn’t be at a running deer.
 
0faustus0 said:
Well, a PB12 wad helps to get a decent pattern .... with #1 buckshot ...

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1906813-Pedersoli-SxS-Muzzleloader-Slug-Gun-Buckshot-Patterns
Click to expand...

Thanks! Will forward the info, and if he decides to hunt we'll try some of those things. You mentioned "Track of the Wolf". I don't immediately see anything on their website for shipping to Canada. I take it from your comment that you have successfully purchased items from them and had them shipped to Canada?
 
wasa said:
Thanks! Will forward the info, and if he decides to hunt we'll try some of those things. You mentioned "Track of the Wolf". I don't immediately see anything on their website for shipping to Canada. I take it from your comment that you have successfully purchased items from them and had them shipped to Canada?
Click to expand...

Wasa, yes ... I have ordered several times from Track of the Wolf ... and never had a problem with them ... packages arrived here without a problem.
 
Ontario law for transporting a mulle loader use to be only say not have the primer in the gun. Now no bullet and powder are allowed in the gun so with that type of gun the only way to unload is to fire it. At least with all the newer muzzle loaders they can be taken apart to take the charge and bullet out without firing it but you cant do that witg the original old one.
Something to think about as he would have to fire it just before end of shooting time and every time he's finished hunting and traveling with it
 
Generally speaking, to unload a muzzleloading shotgun, after removing the priming, screw a worm into the top wad, and draw it out. Dump the shot charge, retaining it for future use. Screw the worm into the over powder wad(s), and remove. Pour out the powder.
 
dilly said:
Why bother? The only time I use buckshot is when I’m dogging and have running deer inside of 40 yards...usually closer. If I had one shot, it wouldn’t be buckshot and it wouldn’t be at a running deer.
Click to expand...

I've never missed a running deer with buckshot and I limit it to 60 yards.
 
tiriaq said:
Generally speaking, to unload a muzzleloading shotgun, after removing the priming, screw a worm into the top wad, and draw it out. Dump the shot charge, retaining it for future use. Screw the worm into the over powder wad(s), and remove. Pour out the powder.
Click to expand...

This!!!

Imagine you forgot the powder charge ... (and don't ask me how I know) ... you can try to shoot your muzzle loader but only the primer/cap will go bang. There aren't too many options left ... you have to get the worm out!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom