Fowler vs. Smoothbore?
- Thread starter CoHiCntry
- Start date
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The difference primarily is in who is talking. A fowler is the one doing the talking. We have become accustomed to referring to the smooth bored gun (fowling gun) used for hunting fowl as the hunter (fowler) using the fowling gun. It's simply the evolution of word usage.
For turkey hunting, @CoHiCntry will want a smooth bored gun of a bore diameter allowed by his state's hunting regulations. He will have make the rest of the decisions on a gun that best fits his shooting methods.
For turkey hunting, @CoHiCntry will want a smooth bored gun of a bore diameter allowed by his state's hunting regulations. He will have make the rest of the decisions on a gun that best fits his shooting methods.
True fowling guns tended to be a little lighter and delicate compared to to a fusil
Today most of our barrels are heavier then originals, so a fowling gun might have the same barrel profile as a trade gun.
Generally fusils, guns made to shoot ball first were a little heavier than guns made for fowling.
Today, a New England style fowling gun and a fusil will run about the same weight, and it’s only the style of the stock that sets them apart
Today most of our barrels are heavier then originals, so a fowling gun might have the same barrel profile as a trade gun.
Generally fusils, guns made to shoot ball first were a little heavier than guns made for fowling.
Today, a New England style fowling gun and a fusil will run about the same weight, and it’s only the style of the stock that sets them apart
The term smoothbore encompasses all guns with smooth bores. Muskets. Fusils. Trade guns. Fowlers. Guns that look like rifles but have no rifling. Blunderbusses. I’m probably leaving something out.
Fowling guns fall into 3 broad classes. One is for waterfowl. Hudson Valley fowlers are an example. Usually big bore and long barrels and may weigh 9-20 pounds. These are used to shoot sitting ducks, though can be used in other ways.
Then there are upland hunting guns made for shooting birds over pointing or flushing dogs. Shorter, lighter, faster.
All- rounders are basically utility shotguns, used for buckshot, ball, or shot.
None of these definitions are definitive. Different folks use different terms, then and now.
If you want to hunt turkeys with a flintlock smoothbore, get used to getting them within 25 yards with cylinder bore guns.
The “turkey choke” barrels are awful to load and clean. Devotees say I’m crazy. True, but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Try getting a .62 wad into a .58 muzzle without mangling it. When wads are mangled, patterns are bad.
Within 4 minutes 11 people will tell me “you’re doing it wrong!”
Fowling guns fall into 3 broad classes. One is for waterfowl. Hudson Valley fowlers are an example. Usually big bore and long barrels and may weigh 9-20 pounds. These are used to shoot sitting ducks, though can be used in other ways.
Then there are upland hunting guns made for shooting birds over pointing or flushing dogs. Shorter, lighter, faster.
All- rounders are basically utility shotguns, used for buckshot, ball, or shot.
None of these definitions are definitive. Different folks use different terms, then and now.
If you want to hunt turkeys with a flintlock smoothbore, get used to getting them within 25 yards with cylinder bore guns.
The “turkey choke” barrels are awful to load and clean. Devotees say I’m crazy. True, but it doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Try getting a .62 wad into a .58 muzzle without mangling it. When wads are mangled, patterns are bad.
Within 4 minutes 11 people will tell me “you’re doing it wrong!”
That would be 11 wrong people!
well then.... your doing it wrong.... you asked for it. 
I’m a believer that ml shotguns should not have chokes, I know some boys shoot them well, but it’s too much of a pain to load one
The eleven are wrong
Jug chokes are another matter, from what I hear. I haven’t used one but would like to try.
Pete G
76 Cal.
All Fowler are smoothbores, but not all smoothbores are fowlers. 
Technically, there have been some fowling guns with straight rifling. Just to further muddy the waters!All Fowler are smoothbores, but not all smoothbores are fowlers.
I'm no expert, and don't play an expert on the internet. However in my mind a Fowler has a longer barrel than a standard smooth bore. In firearms that are unmentionable on this forum think Goose Gun compared to Upland Gun. I have SxSs with 26" barrels and SxS's with 32" barrels. Both may be smooth bores but only one is a goose gun. I think the same holds true for muzzleloaders and the market guns mentioned are in a different class than either standard fowlers or smoothbores.
