Fowler kicking my tail

Buff1958 · Oct 15, 2024

I have a 20 gauge Kibler and I can not get it to group at 50 yards.
I had shot it at 25 and the best I could do was about 4" but last weekend we had to shoot the targets at 50 yards and I was all over the paper.

Today I tried.....
60 grains of FF with a .018 patch
70 grains of FF with a .015 patch
70 grains of FF with a .018 patch
80 grains of FF with a .015 patch
80 grains of FF with a .018 patch
all with a .600 ball

I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .610 ball ( had to start it with a mallet )

I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .600 ball with a shot gun wad over the powder and the best I was able to do was 8" at 50 yards.

Anyone have a secret load ?

flconch53 · Oct 15, 2024

With a smoothbore no way you should have to load it that tight. Are you shooting off a rest?

2 shots · Oct 15, 2024

Buff1958 said:
I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .600 ball with a shot gun wad over the powder and the best I was able to do was 8" at 50 yards.

are you using a wad or over powder card?? have you tried a bare ball?

Buff1958 · Oct 15, 2024

Shazam…….
I read an old post from 2008 where someone was using .570 balls in their 20 gauge.
Went out back and loaded 60 grains with a .575 ball and .018 patch.
First one was high so I moved the sight down a tad.
Next 3 were touching

I would have never tried that small a ball if I had not it on here

olskool · Oct 15, 2024

i built a Kibler fowler that i sold. but before i sold it i had to shoot it. i was surprised at the accuracy. i used a .570 ball because that is what i had. i used a .18 ticking and 65gr. of 2f it shot about a 2in group at 50yds. then i found some .600 balls and the groups opened up to 5in. that thing liked the 570 over the 600,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Buff1958 · Oct 15, 2024

olskool said:
i built a Kibler fowler that i sold. but before i sold it i had to shoot it. i was surprised at the accuracy. i used a .570 ball because that is what i had. i used a .18 ticking and 65gr. of 2f it shot about a 2in group at 50yds. then i found some .600 balls and the groups opened up to 5in. that thing liked the 570 over the 600,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

who would have thought it…… I wasted a half pound of powder mess with .600 and .610 balls today

Frontier's · Oct 15, 2024

Try 3fg

RiverRat · Oct 15, 2024

.570 rbs should be a dream in loading in a 20 guage. I am still waiting on my kibler 20g to arrive and I will definitely try some .570 rbs.

Rob M. · Oct 15, 2024

Interesting ... If I can keep all my shots on a paper plate , he!! , I'm happy but ....very interesting stuff here .

French Colonial · Oct 16, 2024

I have a 20 gauge Caywood, 60 grains of 2F, 600 ball and a .010 patch shoots very very good.

This could be a bedding issue, make sure the barrel pin holes are elongated and the barrel is well seated at the breech

Banjoman · Oct 16, 2024

Maybe this will help. 25 yards standing. Bottom 6 holes were me trying to figure out the sight picture since this gun has only a coarse front sight. 4 holes in the middle were after I figured it out. .60 caliber Fusil de Chasse, 65 grains Scheutzen 2f, .575 bare round ball and maple leaf wadding over ball since I didn’t have tow with me.

* But after reading this all again, I see you done figured it out. Good shooting! Ain’t these smooth bores fun! *

Loyalist Dave · Oct 16, 2024

Buff1958 said:
Shazam…….
I read an old post from 2008 where someone was using .570 balls in their 20 gauge.
Went out back and loaded 69 grains with a .575 ball and .018 patch.
First one was high so I moved the sight down a tad.
Next 3 were touching

I would have never tried that small a ball if I had not it on here

Absolutely LOVE how you marked the earlier shots. INGENUITY!

LD

dave_person · Oct 16, 2024

Hi,
I shoot 0.595" balls with 0.012-0.015" thick patches in my 20 gauges. A smaller ball like 0.580s or 0.575s will work fine as well usually with thicker patching. Thin patches often burn out with a tight ball and too much powder. I suggest go smaller with the ball, thicker with the patches, and 70-75 grs 2F or 3F should be plenty.

dave

acavdragoon · Oct 16, 2024

.61 bare ball 65 2F Swiss.

Buff1958 · Oct 16, 2024

Loyalist Dave said:
Absolutely LOVE how you marked the earlier shots. INGENUITY!

LD

My grandma always said "poor people have poor ways"

Hatchet-Jack · Oct 16, 2024

My .62/20g Chambers Fowler didn't do well with a .600 RB with wads/cards or patches and 2F. As soon as I switched to .595 patched RB with 80g of 3f I started hitting the 10x consistently at 25 yards, and getting tighter groups at 50. I used it to shoot the Silhouettes match at nationals. It's a lot of un smacking those iron targets over with that big ball!

oreclan · Oct 16, 2024

Buff1958 said:
My grandma always said "poor people have poor ways"

Was that broken bits of your ramrod!?

Fisherking · Oct 17, 2024

65 grains of 3f with a powder card over and under shoots exactly wherever i happen to be aiming. My groups are all my doing, not the load or gun. I tried all sorts of patch and wad combinations and both of my smoothbores shoot that best… or perfectly even. Loading is easy, components could all fit in a back pocket. Maybe its worth a try?

Even my step mom can do it.

waksupi · Oct 17, 2024

I use .595 RB, 60 gr. 3FFF, pillow ticking with moose milk. If I hold well enough it hits where I look. If you can't start a ball with your thumb in a smooth bore, you are loading too tight.

sportster73hp · Oct 17, 2024

This is helpful . I have a Kibler and have been using a tight .600 ball combo. I have .570 and .575 molds to try

Fowler kicking my tail

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