20ga Fowler hunting loads

[Texcl2]

What are you guys using as hunting loads in your 20ga flintlock Fowler? I’m talking for larger birds like sharp tails, pheasants and ducks ect….

 

[Loja man]

Kitchen sink
;-)

 

[Trigger]

Pheasant... #5 lead or #6

That list is the Kitchin sink.

#6 or #7 lead for the grouse ..

#6 for both

Ducks I think I'd try #4 or #5 bismuth? I don't hunt duck.

I don't have that gun.. im just listing the shot size I'd be thinking.

Your pattern looked good on the other thread for that #3 30 yards?
Just change shot size accordingly.

 

[Brokennock]

62/65 grains real black powder, thin card, lubed felt wad or lubed faux-tow wadding, about 1 oz (75 grain powder measure) of #5 lead shot, two more thin cards.
When I get a chance I'll spend some time and resources at the patterning board using just thin card wads like @Britsmoothy he gets more time afield than most, and posts his results, doesn't just tell ya something works "well enough" without showing you that is does.

 

[Britsmoothy]

I hardly ever pattern board anything unless something is very wrong, like birds not falling out of the sky...
I don't think it is necessary to chase the perfect pattern because it's rarely, once you've printed a perfect pattern, repeatable anyway.
As long as there isn't a huge hole in the middle because you've over wadded it just crack on.

 

[French Colonial]

I hardly ever pattern board anything unless something is very wrong, like birds not falling out of the sky...
I don't think it is necessary to chase the perfect pattern because it's rarely, once you've printed a perfect pattern, repeatable anyway.
As long as there isn't a huge hole in the middle because you've over wadded it just crack on.

Let me boil down Britsmoothy's advise.......

Just shoot it!

This should be the reply for about 80-90 percent of the questions on this site. JMHO

 

[Brokennock]

unless something is very wrong, like birds not falling out of the sky...

I usually attribute this to a little thing called,,,,,, missing.

(Although occasionally I'll just accuse gravity of not doing its job)

perfect pattern because it's rarely, once you've printed a perfect pattern, repeatable anyway.

100% absolutely true. The most frustrating thing about pattern testing,,,, and a large part of why I avoid it.

 

[Trigger]

Those birds somtimes. Like one this year.

Boom boom boom on the other side. Big rooster flying good my way. I'm watching it thinking I'll go flush that see where it lands.. and it just falls out the sky hits the ground solid.

I was calling you got it. You got it. Nothing. Walked up hill to the other side. No one there.

Just a strong birds that thing was flying dead. Those shots were not close.

Sorry if off topic.?

I suggest #5 lead if doing more Pheasant. Especially if there is no dog to find dead birds.

 

[Texcl2]

I’m using #6 lead and #3 bismuth, I was wondering what a typical powder and shot charge would run. I’m more accustomed to using 12 & 10 muzzleloader. I used to shoot a lot of modern .410 and was told to never pattern them because it would ruin your confidence if you saw it lol.

 

[Trigger]

I got a powder chart.

My 10ga I use a 12ga powder charge 10ga shot charge.

For the 20.. I'd try 28ga powder charge. 16ga shot charge. And that would probably be fine.

1oz.. 55grns 60grns.. 3f

 

[Brokennock]

There is a handy chart in a "sticky" post near the tip of the general muzzleloading section, a post of helpful charts and graphs, that lists what a given powder measure in grains by volume will give you in ounces of shot by volume.

I tend to like roughly a 10 grain powder measure more of shot than powder.

 

[Cruzatte]

Let me boil down Britsmoothy's advise.......

Just shoot it!

This should be the reply for about 80-90 percent of the questions on this site. JMHO

Amen!

 

[hanshi]

I used to shoot a lot of modern .410 and was told to never pattern them because it would ruin your confidence if you saw it lol.

You certainly have a valid point there.

 

[ADK Bigfoot]

A patterning board (I have and use 2) tell you little about what the pattern is like on game. Unless you are shooting standing birds or game! The target tells you nothing about the STRING of the shot which arrives first, later, and latest on moving game.

ADK Bigfoot

 

[Cruzatte]

A patterning board (I have and use 2) tell you little about what the pattern is like on game. Unless you are shooting standing birds or game! The target tells you nothing about the STRING of the shot which arrives first, later, and latest on moving game.

ADK Bigfoot

I've never thought the matter through like that. You've convinced me.

 

[Spikebuck]

In my .62 cylinder bore smooth rifle I use 50 gr 2F, an 1/8" lubed felt wad, and around an ounce of #6 lead shot, followed by an overshot card. This is for smaller stuff like squirrels, grouse, rabbits. I don't duck hunt, but this might be light for them?

I up the load for turkey to 75 grs of 2F, 2 thin lubed felt wads, and about 1 1/2 oz of #6 lead shot with two thin overshot cards.

When I say "about" x amount of shot: In my process I don't measure out the lead shot charge. I put in the measured powder charge. Next I put the thin felt wad(s) into the barrel and use my index finger to push down the wads based on how much space above them (from experience/observation with measured shot) I need for the desired amount of shot. I pour in shot to the crown, put the cards in, and shove the whole load down on the powder with the rammer. Done.

This gets me good results out to 25 yards and sometimes I stretch it to 30.