Shooting an antique BP shotgun

[Sardaukar]

So today I went out and shot my antique BP shotgun for the first time. I just love the cloud of smoke!

It's a Tipping & Lawden, from the 1850's, i've been told. This thing could have been bought new by my great-great-great-grandfather. It is still in a beautiful shape.

As you can see, my technique is quite crude. Paper ball wadding, some #4 shot, and that's it. I mostly just wanted to make a nice bang. I might take it grouse hunting some day.

Feel free to criticize!

[youtube]ji1DGwsUDZQ[/youtube]

 

[Skinny 1950]

That looked like quite a kick for paper wadding, research your loads before firing lead projectiles. Be safe it is an old gun.

 

[Sardaukar]

That looked like quite a kick for paper wadding, research your loads before firing lead projectiles. Be safe it is an old gun.

No, I mean I just use a ball of paper as wadding, no shot cups or cardboard wadding. I was shooting some #4 shot that I somehow got a bunch of.

Reading it again I see it was confusing.

 

[Skinny 1950]

Sorry missed the #4 shot, but still do some digging around as per the right amount of powder etc.
I am sure there are others that know a lot more than me about BP shotguns but the thin barrels make ME nervous.

 

[Sardaukar]

I went by the equal load of powder and shot, by volume. 1 ounce each IIRC. And I put a little less shot. I measured the loads quite a while ago. I only got to shoot it today.

 

[Felix]

Looks like that gun is a good time! I just bought/ordered a BP shotgun from a CGN'er the other day and I can't wait for it to show up.
Today I tried shooting a BP rifle for the first time ever. I got try a few different models out, it was great!

 

[tiriaq]

If you are going to hunt with it, you will get better patterns with properly fitting wads, although paper wadding has long been used. 1 oz shot, equal volume of powder is a good starting point. Sometimes a bit more shot than powder, by volume, patterns better. 3F powder will produce higher pressure than 2F or 1F.
I cut wads from card, felt and cork. 1 dry wad over powder, then a lubed filler wad works. If you are not using flasks, making paper cartridges for powder and for shot speeds loading up a bit. One sytem I have used is to dump the powder, ram cartridge paper as wadding, ram a lubed filler wad, dump shot, ram cartridge paper as top wad works.
Got 19 ptarmigans one day with that receipe, #6 shot.
Lots of room for experimentation.

 

[Goldenlakepete]

I've been using paper as wadding in my black powder smoothbores since 1960.
My upland game loads are 70 grs FFg black powder or Pyrodex with 1 oz of shot, 80 grs FFg with 1 1/8 oz shot and 90 grs FFg with 1 1/4 oz shot. I use a few leaves of hornet nesting material as a buffer between the powder and the wadding.
I've found that I get much more power by really "whanging" the ramrod down rather than just pressing it.
The standard of muzzle loading shotgun power is to have your load penetrate a tin can at 20 yards (as per Dixie Gun Works).