Range Test of My GRF 20ga. SB with a .572" RB

I've been experimenting with my Green River Forge 20ga. NW Trade Gun with no rear sight (.618" - .619" bore as best as I can determine). Generally, I use a patched RB between .597" and .604" (Lyman mould, which casts .600" - .604"). I even had Tanner Ball Moulds make me one to fit the bore, i.e., .618" Although the Tanner RB casts well, accuracy wasn't as good as the smaller RB's. Today, after heeding Waksupi's advice about a looser fitting (thumb started) RB, I took the plunge and tried a .572" RB (actual diameter, pure lead) that I cast from a newly acquired Lyman mould.

About the new Lyman mould. I got it from eBay at a good price as it was almost certainly new. Although it was marked .575", it casts a bit smaller @ .572", but it casts extremely well and a smaller mould was what I was looking for anyway. Since I knew what patch thickness - RB diameter worked with the ~.600" diameter RB's, it didn't take long to come up with the magic number( patch ball diameter) even if it meant using two patches. After searching through my fabrics, I settled on a .020 + .014" patch with the .572" RB, with a brief side excursion into tow wads fore and after for 3 shots.

What you see below are two targets, The first is with patched ~.600" RB's (Tanner, Lee, and Lyman. The bore size RB results aren't shown). The second target is from earlier today and shows tow wad results (80gr. GOEX FFg and the largest group), 5 shots using the .020" + .014" patch combination (70gr. GOEX FFg and second best group), and lastly a 3 shot group with 2 pillow ticking .014" patches.(70gr. GOEX FFg) and the smallest group. Btw, all shooting was done with front and rear bags at 25 yd. Patch lube was 1 Ballistol : 6 water and no swabbing of the bore.

Waksupi's right: a smaller patched RB may be something you should try.

Nice write up! I too have been experimenting with going smaller in the 70 caliber trade gun, but I’m trying to get down to 54 caliber round ball. Experimenting with plastic shotgun wad and a patch. Haven’t shot it yet till I get a couple more ideas so I can test em all out. Some people don’t like this stuff but I think it’s fun, thanks for sharing and hope you continue with it. It’s always fun to make a gun more versatile

lbothell said:

Nice write up! I too have been experimenting with going smaller in the 70 caliber trade gun, but I’m trying to get down to 54 caliber round ball. Experimenting with plastic shotgun wad and a patch. Haven’t shot it yet till I get a couple more ideas so I can test em all out. Some people don’t like this stuff but I think it’s fun, thanks for sharing and hope you continue with it. It’s always fun to make a gun more versatile

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I agree, they may be smoothies with no rear sight, not bench guns, but that doesn't mean we can't monkey with them in order to improve accuracy. Indeed, that's part of the challenge/fun!

Maven said:

I agree, they may be smoothies with no rear sight, not bench guns, but that doesn't mean we can't monkey with them in order to improve accuracy. Indeed, that's part of the challenge/fun!

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I’m right behind you on this lil rodeo. I’m going to the range tomorrow with my new Fowler and will take some pictures of my targets. I’m glad you shared your experience and targets. I have some .024 denim dipped in melted goat tallow. I’ve only .575 from a Lee mold to play with but intend to try the larger ones next.

Maven said:

I agree, they may be smoothies with no rear sight, not bench guns, but that doesn't mean we can't monkey with them in order to improve accuracy. Indeed, that's part of the challenge/fun!

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Well you definitely got the challenge part right my thoughts are that smoothbores can fussier than a princess.

WALT53 said:

Well you definitely got the challenge part right my thoughts are that smoothbores can fussier than a princess.

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Ah yes, but when you hit upon that magical load formula, how sweet it is!

I remember my .63 doing quite well with a .562 and two thick patches.

Britsmoothy said:

I remember my .63 doing quite well with a .562 and two thick patches.

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My 58 smoothy likes .562 with patch or wasp nest .The troubles I’ve had lately is with 2f I get a lot more flashes in the pan and when I clean it’s gooped up pretty good but not with 3f .

Maven said:

I've been experimenting with my Green River Forge 20ga. NW Trade Gun with no rear sight (.618" - .619" bore as best as I can determine). Generally, I use a patched RB between .597" and .604" (Lyman mould, which casts .600" - .604"). I even had Tanner Ball Moulds make me one to fit the bore, i.e., .618" Although the Tanner RB casts well, accuracy wasn't as good as the smaller RB's. Today, after heeding Waksupi's advice about a looser fitting (thumb started) RB, I took the plunge and tried a .572" RB (actual diameter, pure lead) that I cast from a newly acquired Lyman mould.

About the new Lyman mould. I got it from eBay at a good price as it was almost certainly new. Although it was marked .575", it casts a bit smaller @ .572", but it casts extremely well and a smaller mould was what I was looking for anyway. Since I knew what patch thickness - RB diameter worked with the ~.600" diameter RB's, it didn't take long to come up with the magic number( patch ball diameter) even if it meant using two patches. After searching through my fabrics, I settled on a .020 + .014" patch with the .572" RB, with a brief side excursion into tow wads fore and after for 3 shots.

What you see below are two targets, The first is with patched ~.600" RB's (Tanner, Lee, and Lyman. The bore size RB results aren't shown). The second target is from earlier today and shows tow wad results (80gr. GOEX FFg and the largest group), 5 shots using the .020" + .014" patch combination (70gr. GOEX FFg and second best group), and lastly a 3 shot group with 2 pillow ticking .014" patches.(70gr. GOEX FFg) and the smallest group. Btw, all shooting was done with front and rear bags at 25 yd. Patch lube was 1 Ballistol : 6 water and no swabbing of the bore.

Waksupi's right: a smaller patched RB may be something you should try.

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I’m back from the range and thankful you posted your experience with your load. It worked well for my new Fowler that I’m learning to run. Thanks

Not bad groups! What was the distance?

Taevers said:

I’m back from the range and thankful you posted your experience with your load. It worked well for my new Fowler that I’m learning to run. Thanks

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I had the best luck with double patches. 1 greased, one dry. Wouldn’t have thought of doing that with my own brain. Last target I shot 5 shots offhand at 25 yards. Like several mentioned. I too was amazed at hitting so close to 10 ring without a rear sight!

RiverRat said:

Not bad groups! What was the distance?

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25 yards. I’ll try 50 next time.

This has started some fun shooting! Well I finally did do some shooting with the plastic wads out of my .70 but instead of shooting a .690 or even a .610 I wanted to go even smaller… I wanted to shoot some .530 with success. Well I got it dialed in and really the only thing I had to figure was my elevation. It shot consistently left and right the whole time. Now again no rear sight, and it’s a 4.75 lb trade gun with a big lock on it so I never expect perfection just weather or not it can kill when asked to do so. Once dialed in I took two final shots bc I was running out of time and got them both in the paint can from about 45 yrds. I’m very happy with this.

what worked best was 60g of… well I don’t know I just had a horn with 2f 3f and 4f all mixed hahah yeah I don’t like to waste but it worked… anyway 60g down then a thicker nitro card? I think thats what it’s called I don’t normally used them but for this I did for compression sake… run the card down… I then put a thick denim patch in the plastic shot cup and pushed the roundball in. Once it was in just fix it up so it’s not lookin like a fat kid after thanksgiving dinner… push that in the barrel and run it home as well. Everything stayed in nice and tight and shot great and I got really good consistency… let me say i did swab after each shot bc I wasn’t using any lube but for hunting situations I think it will work out just fine.

Some people will ask why, but i say why not. Let’s be honest going to the gun store and finding .690 round balls… not anywhere near me, but I can fined .530 all day and plastic shotgun cups yep another easy find. I do cast my own .690 round balls but figured this might be fun too not just for the convenience of being able to find everything I need at the gun store but also to save on some lead. And one more thing I pretty much used the same patch the whole time and picked up all the plastic shot cups to reuse as well so it’s even efficient too! Only thing I burned up was the cardboard card. Give it a try you might like what you see!