.54 smoothbore pistol

[Blackbruin]

Just wondering, the effectiveness of a 12" smoothbore pistol, maybe 35-40 yards with a patched roundball? with a rear sight. would you say 15-20 yards with shot? Not a primary weapon just a side piece for a longrifle. Obviously you would have to play with loads, but is this obtainable? Thinking of getting one made, thanks for you input!

 

[Don]

Maybe the advice of the more capable pistoleros would be more useful but I would limit a smoothbore pistol to coup d' gras use. Although with practice it may be fine for hunting at the short ranges you mentioned. How's that for a definitive answer?

Don

 

[FishDFly]

In NMLRA line matches, there is a match for flintlock smooth bore pistols, round ball only. It's shot at 25 yards, 13 shots and best 10 count.

Some decent scores are turned in.

Finding the loading combination is the secret to winning, combination of wads and shot cards and patching thickness.

Seems there is a larger following in Europe than the U.S. for smooth bore pistols.

Seems the trend is, bigger the caliber the better, that is what wins.

I shot a .62 on loan so I could shoot the Pedersoli match and actually placed.

The recoil was like shooting a .44 Mag, one handed, with a 14" barrel, it was a hand full.
More like a truck gun than an horse gun.

After shooting smoothbore rifles in line matches,
I would limit smoothbore pistols to 25 yards maximum.

 

[Wes/Tex]

You didn't specifically say what your actual targets would be so I'm just going to point out that "pistol shot" was 60 feet...back in the day. Just remember that pistols don't need to be souped up to work well. 25 to 40 grains is usually comfortable loads. Good luck.

 

[Blackbruin]

My thought was side piece for hunting, in combo with your longrifle.

 

[hawkeye2]

"My thought was side piece for hunting, in combo with your longrifle."

What are you hunting? Mice or Moose? :grin: There is an upper limit of how much powder you can effectively use in a pistol and that determines the killing power. On an animal like a whitetail I would think that killing power or lack of would be the limiting factor rather than accuracy. With some work developing a load a smoothbore pistol is capable of accuracy that would surprise the uninitiated.

If you are hunting mice I would suggest you close till you can get a clean head shot. The charge of a wounded mouse is a terrifying thing to behold. :haha:

 

[theoldredneck]

I built two smooth bore single shots to play with using shot. Barrel on one is .313 the other is .430. Played with shooting bullets and patched round ball out to 30 long steps. Where groups started to open to being more of a pattern than group. Shooting a soft lead 240 grain bullet I use in 44 special loads at 25 yards it groups 3 to 5 inches with many going through the target sideways. The energy of these slugs is impressive. I have no doubt they would exit on a broad side shot of a small deer. Long ways on armadillo they make really ugly exits. Patch round ball is more accurate. My next project time permits is a 20 gauge smooth bore muzzle loading handgun. It will be for hunting and patch round ball is what will be tried first. A rifled barrel will give more accuracy but the smooth bores shoot shot better. I enjoy shooting shot so the smooth bore is fine for me.

 

[frogwalking]

I made a 20 ga. flint pistol that is dandy with #4 buckshot.

Yes. I know it is kind of bulky. One of these days, I will take a rasp to it and correct this, but not today.

 

[matthew.heilgmail.com]

I think it's awful purdy the way it is!