Smoothbores, 12ga. vs. 20 ga. ?

Flinter 2 · Jun 13, 2024

I love smoothbore muzzle loaders, over the years I've owned about a dozen flintlock smoothbore fowlers, one percussion TC .56 SB, and one original 15 ga. English sporting side x side shotgun, one of my Fowlers a custom New England Colonial Fowler was a 12 ga., all my others were in 20 ga.
I loved the NE Colonial 12 ga. Fowler for it's light weight and comfortable fit, but I wasn't a fan of the cost of shooting it, it took allot more powder, shot, and the .72 cal. balls weren't cheap either, admittedly, I didn't give myself a chance to like it, I only shot it a few times in the decade that I owned it, most of my smoothbore shooting was done with my .20 ga. fusils and Trade guns.
Lately I've been thinking I may have made an error in judgement by trading it away.
I'd like to hear from some of you shooters that prefer 12 ga. fowlers over 20 ga., what if any are the advantages of the 12 ga. over the 20 ga. in a muzzle loading fowler ?

RiverRat · Jun 14, 2024

I really can’t comment on a 12 gauge smooth bore vrs a 20 gauge. But I do own a custom New England Fowler in 10 gauge. I don’t hunt anymore but I do enjoy shooting in my home range. That .740 rb really packs a punch. I am getting over some heart surgery and my chest rib cage is still healing so shooting long guns are of the question for now. Using large bore fowling guns are definitely an advantage especially when using shot. They are not the most economical gauges to shoot but the thrill I get from shooting them is well worth it. I use to own a 20 gauge Fowler, but I traded it away and had 28 gauge smooth rifle built. That gun shoots like a rifle with a .520 patched rb. When I shoot in smooth bore matches mostly against 20 gauge smooth bores, I feel like I am cheering because that small 28 gauge is so accurate.

SOLANCO · Jun 14, 2024

I love my 16 GA unmentionables. Anyone make a 16 GA flinter?

Clark Badgett · Jun 14, 2024

SOLANCO said:
I love my 16 GA unmentionables. Anyone make a 16 GA flinter?

Jim Kibler has an up coming 16 ga fowler kit. You can also find barrels of that bore size if you like to roll yer own.

Loyalist Dave · Jun 14, 2024

Flinter 2 said:
I love smoothbore muzzle loaders, over the years I've owned about a dozen flintlock smoothbore fowlers, one percussion TC .56 SB, and one original 15 ga. English sporting side x side shotgun, one of my Fowlers a custom New England Colonial Fowler was a 12 ga., all my others were in 20 ga.
I loved the NE Colonial 12 ga. Fowler for it's light weight and comfortable fit, but I wasn't a fan of the cost of shooting it, it took allot more powder, shot, and the .72 cal. balls weren't cheap either, admittedly, I didn't give myself a chance to like it, I only shot it a few times in the decade that I owned it, most of my smoothbore shooting was done with my .20 ga. fusils and Trade guns.
Lately I've been thinking I may have made an error in judgement by trading it away.
I'd like to hear from some of you shooters that prefer 12 ga. fowlers over 20 ga., what if any are the advantages of the 12 ga. over the 20 ga. in a muzzle loading fowler ?

Referencing Cylinder Bore Barrels:

I'd say that 10-12 bore has an advantage when going after water fowl, especially geese, and if one is foolhardy enough, to go after Brown Bears with solid ball. Now it's true a lot of guys these days put a really heavy load into a 20 gauge and proclaim it's doing the same thing that the 10-12 bore, but when shooting birds on the wing, the larger diameter shot column does have some advantages.

16-20 bore, the majority 20 bore, were well known to be popular for Big Game up to Moose, in Canada. It also does well on everything else, and can get you ducks and geese, even though perhaps not ideal. My 20 cylinder bore does quite well providing I get the game up close.

With the use of the famous Skychief type of load, the only way that one is outdone by a rifle is at longer ranges, for the most part.

LD

Johnny Too-Tall · Jun 14, 2024

For roundball 20 gauge is the way to go. For shoot buck and ball or shot I still prefer the 20 gauge. For turkeys I also prefer the 20 gauge but then again I get them close a 1.5 oz load of lead is just plan deadly in any smooth bore at the right distance. 20 gauge is lighter too. My fav is the 20 with 36" barrel nice and light and perfect balance and swings quickly.

hanshi · Jun 15, 2024

I had a nice dbl barrel 12 ga. percussion smoothbore for years and I had more fun shooting it than should be legal. I just never hunted with it more than a couple of times. My smoothbore for the past 15+ years is a 20 ga flintlock with a rear sight. This gun has hunted with me. It's easier to feed, of course, than a 12 ga. and the gun's performance leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. Patched round ball groups at 50 yards consistently stay under 3".

I no longer hunt having stored away my camo over 6 years ago. And there is nothing wrong with prb loads, or even bare ball, when it comes to deer hunting. That .600" patched ball hits like the hammer of Thor. The sights work just as well for shot as they do for prb.

The 20 ga. is my favorite and I've owned more 20 ga. unmentionables than any other gauge.

Flinter 2 · Jun 15, 2024

hanshi said:
I had a nice dbl barrel 12 ga. percussion smoothbore for years and I had more fun shooting it than should be legal. I just never hunted with it more than a couple of times. My smoothbore for the past 15+ years is a 20 ga flintlock with a rear sight. This gun has hunted with me. It's easier to feed, of course, than a 12 ga. and the gun's performance leaves absolutely nothing to be desired. Patched round ball groups at 50 yards consistently stay under 3".

I no longer hunt having stored away my camo over 6 years ago. And there is nothing wrong with prb loads, or even bare ball, when it comes to deer hunting. That .600" patched ball hits like the hammer of Thor. The sights work just as well for shot as they do for prb.

The 20 ga. is my favorite and I've owned more 20 ga. unmentionables than any other gauge.

Thanks for the comments my friend, I'm a life long shooter and hunter, most of my long gun shooting has been with shotguns, Trap, Skeet, and Inglish sporting clays competitively.
My shotgun of choice for most of those years was the 12 ga., how ever I have owned some very sweet 20 ga. guns as well, like you I don't hunt much anymore, when I do my companion is usually my SKB made Ithica model 100 side x side, when hunting with muzzle loaders my favorite was an original London made 15 ga. percussion sporting shotgun made around 1850, a beautiful bird gun.
Today my two Centermaark Fusil de Chasse are my go to front stuffers, easy to carry, point like a dream, and accurate to a fault, but somewhere in the recesses of my thought I'd still like to get back my custom New England 12 ga. fowler.

Rob M. · Jun 26, 2024

I certainly prefer the 20/ga. but I'm hardly an expert on the 12 ga. I see no advantage to the 12 at all . Round ball is rediculous , the 20 ga. ball will take down anything up to a buffalo and less lead and recoil and you can put an ounce and half of shot in a 12 or a 20 gauge Muzzleloader ...doesnt matter which one you have . Even 24 ga. is d@mn good too but I prefer the 20 .

WALT53 · Jun 26, 2024

Rob M. said:
I certainly prefer the 20/ga. but I'm hardly an expert on the 12 ga. I see know advantage to the 12 at all . Round ball is rediculous , the 20 ga. ball will take down anything up to a buffalo and less lead and recoil and you can put an ounce and half of shot in a 12 or a 20 gauge Muzzleloader ...doesnt matter which one you have . Even 24 ga. is d@mn too but I prefer the 20 .

I’d say it all depends on what your gonna use it for .

Rob M. · Jun 26, 2024

WALT53 said:
I’d say it all depends on what your gonna use it for .

Yep ... If I'm hunting elephant that day .... I'm grabbin the Brown Bess 12 ga. !! I hate when those things charge me !! GEESH !!

SOLANCO · Jun 27, 2024

Waterfowl 10 or 12 GA. Upland 16 GA. Doves 20 GA.

Ruark was writing about big game in Africa, but "Use Enough Gun" applies on any continent or game.

Clark Badgett · Jun 27, 2024

Rob M. said:
Yep ... If I'm hunting elephant that day .... I'm grabbin the Brown Bess 12 ga. !! I hate when those things charge me !! GEESH !!

Don’t forget to fix that bayonet.

Jeff Latz · Jun 27, 2024

I have used a 28 bore flint fowler. It is fun to use. A 15 ga. sxs percussion is good on clays. I like 12 ga. sxs originals that do well with clays. As for one being better than the other - it depends on what one is comfortable with.

Rob M. · Jun 27, 2024

Clark Badgett said:
Don’t forget to fix that bayonet.

Oh yeah !! Dont forget that !!!

sheriff john · Jun 27, 2024

I just like the 12 gauge. All my m/l shotguns are 12's. Don't use them for deer. Whatever turns your crank.

Smoothbores, 12ga. vs. 20 ga. ?

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