small bore shotguns

mooncoon

mooncoon

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A question for the group; from time to time, I run across small bore percussion double shotguns; bores between .54 and .60 I am going to speculate that double barrel shotguns were made for shooting moving targets and the point is that these guns have such small charges of shot that they are good only for 25 yards or so before the pattern becomes too open to reliably bring down a bird. It is also unlikely that the barrels are regulated enough to be useful when loaded with a ball. The question is therefore why were such guns made ? I would also suggest that single barrel guns of the same bore diameter were useful in the sense they could be used with shot for things like sitting grouse and were accurate enough when loaded with a ball to be used for large game

cheers mooncoon
 
mooncoon: Interesting post. I've run across a few mentions of these smallbore guns(generally 32-36 bore), from time to time. Seem to have been moderately popular between 1840-1850. Mainly in England. But, likely on the Continent as well.

The consensus seems to be the same for their larger-bore counterparts: Versatility. Gamekeepers likely finding these guns quite useful. These smallbore guns would likely serve well at short range, for small game, ie: rabbit, snipe, quail, etc. As well as for varmint control, ie: Rats, stoats, badgers, fox, etc. With the ability to load with ball for red deer, etc., as occasion arose. Depending on the maker, the bores might be regulated quite well, or poorly.

The nearest contemporary counterpart would be about 28 gauge(about .56cal.) Have one of these smoothbore barrels as a compliment to a .50 cal. percussion muzzle loader. Works very well on small game, out to 30 yards or so.
An interesting look into firearms history. Thanks for sharing.

Al
 
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Monkey guns for distant colonies?
Jungle distances, fairly large target. Hence the relatively poor locals can feed themselves without giving them a 44-40 or 30-30 carbine. Trente trente has plenty of reach. Makes the district commissioner or prefecture nervous.
Monkey shotgun just one step or two above a 9mm flobert. Low firepower, limited range.
On a side note India had to make do with 410 Lee Enfields to guard prisons. Is the same mentality.

Edit: I understand Belgian gun makes built muzzleloading monkey/bird guns for the Congo right into the 1950s.
 
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It’s an interesting question Mooncoon. I don’t have a definitive answer but I have seen a higher percentage of vintage small bore percussion doubles than we might expect. It may have been a holdover from earlier times when smallbores like 20, 16 and 14 gauge were at least as popular as the larger 12 and 10 gauge guns. Smaller bore guns would keep the weight down on these double guns, especially flintlocks and early alternate priming attempts like the scent bottle, tube lock and various pill locks that preceded the percussion cap, these guns were not lightweights. Then again it could be that the surviving smallbore guns were intended for women, youths and disabled shooters and received less use and abuse over time. In fact, a 16 gauge at .663”, a 20 at .615” or even a 28 gauge at .550” would have been perfectly adequate for most upland bird and small game hunting the same as they are today.
 
Interesting thread. I have a 40 cal. smoothbore I purchased on this site a few years ago. I bought it with the intentions of grouse in the Rockies, this that and it never happened. It would be like a .410 shotty I figured. I'll have to bring it to the club and try it for trap one day.
 
I had a TC Renegade .56 smoothbore I picked up off the EE here. Traded it with my brother.
I used 28 gauge wads with it for birdshot and thick patch for .54 (.535 rb). I never had it long enuf
To actually take afield but would be good for birds and wabbits but could also drop something bigger.
 
Ashcroft said:
It’s an interesting question Mooncoon. I don’t have a definitive answer but I have seen a higher percentage of vintage small bore percussion doubles than we might expect. It may have been a holdover from earlier times when smallbores like 20, 16 and 14 gauge were at least as popular as the larger 12 and 10 gauge guns. Smaller bore guns would keep the weight down on these double guns, especially flintlocks and early alternate priming attempts like the scent bottle, tube lock and various pill locks that preceded the percussion cap, these guns were not lightweights. Then again it could be that the surviving smallbore guns were intended for women, youths and disabled shooters and received less use and abuse over time. In fact, a 16 gauge at .663”, a 20 at .615” or even a 28 gauge at .550” would have been perfectly adequate for most upland bird and small game hunting the same as they are today.
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I think it still comes back to a single barrel gun could be used with patched ball or shot while double is very unlikely to be regulated and therefore good only for shot. In terms of range with shot, I owned a Hudson Bay co Imperial #4 percussion double around 58 cal ( can't remember) but foolishly traded it off because the pattern was so open, Choke boring didn't come in until around 1875 meaning that muzzle loaders were certainly open bore and comparisons with modern small guage cartridge guns do not apply. I am currently trying to resurrect a Hudson Bay Imperial #2 which is a double percussion, in this case made in Belgium, and I am curious to see how well it shoots patched ball

cheers mooncoon
 
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