62. cal fowler,, you hunters,, need suggested load range needed

[Tajue17]

looking for the minimum effective powder charge size to use on deer,,, I want to start with the minimum charge and work my way up to the "sweetspot" or max charge while sighting in a round ball (not sighting in but seeing what gives the best groups) So if my gun likes 60gr instead of 80 then I want to be sure its effective on deer and not too light..

I have both 3F and 2F here in Goex, shuetzen & Swiss brands,, let me know what works for you..

 

[dhobbs]

Tajue,
I have always shot 60 grains of 3F and most shots on deer have been complete pass thrus. The last buck I shot(an 8pt that is on the wall)the ball did not exit but was located under the skin on the opposite side. Big deer and I belive it hit the shoulder blade on both sides. Hit him like a ton of bricks and dropped him on the spot. :grin:

Good luck,
David

 

[robertdale]

some years back I shot my N.S.W Chiefs gun over a cronograph. 36 " barrel, 65 grns of goex 2ff,.600 rnd ball. ,.015 patch, spit lube.
was fired 3 times. average was 1290 fps.
this is a comfortable load to shoot, and I feel has more that enough energy to kill a deer at 50-55 yards, shot placement is everything with any gun.
but you must be able to aim without the thought of a kick from the gun.
pratice is the key. good luck,save the liver for mee :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Stumpkiller]

The "standard service charge" for a 20 gauge is about 68 grains FFg. Your 60 gr charge would be plenty to spoil a deer's whole day. More important to have it shooting small groups where you're looking than the added speed 8 grains would give you.

Of course, if 80 gr shoots as well and your shoulder still approves the added ooomph might be beneficial in less than ideal situations.

 

[Mike Brooks]

I have a friend that found his 20 bore shot best with 45gr. That's what he hunted with and was quite successful with it on deer. Of course we rarely shoot past 50 yards around here.

 

[RC]

80 gr. 2ff goex, 600 rb, bear/deer tallow greased .020 patch..hunting...(use 70gr. 3fff at range shoots w/ spit patch)) proven out to 75 yds.. use 2ff huntin in n.y. .........it works better.. :wink:

 

[rabjr]

Mine likes 78 gr 3F Kik, half of a fiber wad bear greased with a .595 ball wrapped in a bear greased .020 pillow ticking patch. :thumbsup:

 

[Amikee]

Hello

I had great results with 70gr ffg Goex, .010 patch, .590 cast ball. Dead center at 50 yards.
This was done with Centermark Fusil De Chasse.
The highest I shot was 70 gr and after that groups opened up, but I didn't bother with different combo since this one worked out great.
Good luck!

 

[RC]

Mine likes 78 gr 3F Kik, half of a fiber wad bear greased with a .595 ball wrapped in a bear greased .020 pillow ticking patch. :thumbsup:

dang fergot the wad!!,,in beargrease of course! gees,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'da remembered come loadin time,,,I hope!

 

[hanshi]

I've found 60 grns of 3F to be an easy shooting, accurate load. While I'm loaded with 70grns this season, I don't really have a good answer as to why.

 

[Tajue17]

wow! as low as 45grains out to 50yds,,,I have been at the range using 80gr to start and it seemed the spruless ball was floating around a bit @ 50yds and this was bench rested so I was thinking I might have too much push behind it and didn't feel comfortable with the grouping enough to hunt deer all last season wityh this piece.

you folks are way more experienced than me so thats what I'll do I'll start @ 45 grains (on the scale) and clean the barrel after each shot and with volleys of 3 each I'll go 5 grains up til I get to 70 and and see what the groups do. if I get the range to myself maybe I'll take some pics and make slide show out of it and post it back with the results..

if anyone reads down this far my fowler is a 1730 english that I bought finished from TOTW a few years ago (if you go to the fowler kits my gun is the exact finished gun with the walnut stock you see in the pics by Dave Motto but it never mentioned what barrel), but based on your experience if a barrel on a gun is not a good one barrel can it throw wide groups (all over the target) or is it usually a case where it hits to a certain side only (example; shoots 5" right @ 50) just curious if I get no where trying different loads.

thanks again for all the help and YES Santa the Liver is yours,, maybe I'll throw in a couple lobsters where I'm a 1/2 mile form Plymouth Rock..

 

[RC]

if ya happen to have any wads...try them...always seems to help.... :thumbsup:

 

[Tajue17]

are you talking over powder cushion wads? I have them here,,, do you use one over the powder and seat the patched ball on top or is the ball loose with a shot card (or 2) or another cusuion wad over it???

I'll try anything thats worked for anyone here to save time.

 

[Rifleman1776]

are you talking over powder cushion wads? I have them here,,, do you use one over the powder and seat the patched ball on top or is the ball loose with a shot card (or 2) or another cusuion wad over it???

I'll try anything thats worked for anyone here to save time.

First use a dry cardboard wad over the powder then the cusion wad. The cushion wads are usually lubricated to make follow up loading easier. That lube could contaminate the powder for subsequent shots and prevent firing. DAMHIK :redface:
BTW: on another, now defunct, forum a member reported using up to 90 grains bp for large game. He has killed moose and bison with his 20 ga. smoothie.

 

[Stumpkiller]

. . . and it seemed the sprueless ball was floating around a bit @ 50yds and this was bench rested so I was thinking I might have too much push behind it and didn't feel comfortable with the grouping enough to hunt deer all last season wityh this piece.

--

If anyone reads down this far my fowler is a 1730 english that I bought finished from TOTW a few years ago (if you go to the fowler kits my gun is the exact finished gun with the walnut stock you see in the pics by Dave Motto but it never mentioned what barrel), but based on your experience if a barrel on a gun is not a good one barrel can it throw wide groups (all over the target) or is it usually a case where it hits to a certain side only (example; shoots 5" right @ 50) just curious if I get no where trying different loads.

I had a 16 bore (Bess carbine, 42" barrel) that would put three patched 0.648" balls in 4" at 50 yards but at 60 yards the groups started to fly erratically all over. I called it the "knuckle ball effect" and that has been the subject of several threads here. May also be that without a rear sight that's where my Mk I Eyeball sighting system is beyond the limit.

 

[Rifleman1776]

that's where my Mk I Eyeball sighting system is beyond the limit.

Isn't that the 'Stump 1 sighting system'? :haha:

 

[Stumpkiller]

S.T.U.M.P.- Squint at Target and Usually Miss Procedure

 

[RC]

are you talking over powder cushion wads? I have them here,,, do you use one over the powder and seat the patched ball on top or is the ball loose with a shot card (or 2) or another cusuion wad over it???

I'll try anything thats worked for anyone here to save time.

i load powder... then wad...then patched ball..push wad an prb down together....i grease mine fer huntin,,,never had a problem w/ powder but loading clean gun too...

 

[rabjr]

Same here. :thumbsup:

 

[Tajue17]

very good,, I have some home work to do and I'll report back with the results for curiosity..

thank you T