.62 cal smoothbore flintlock

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TwoDogs

Pilgrim
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I will be getting a .62 caliber flintlock smoothbore with a jug choked barrel. Does anyone have any experience loading one of these with shot to see what the best pattern they can make is. The barrel is 13 inches with a small siler lock. I really want to take a turkey with this gun, but I need to come up with a load that will get me out to 25-30 yards maybe. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Randy
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

About the nearest thing to your pistol I can think of is a Howdah so here's a link to a rather lengthy post about it.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/...tid/296202/post/1507461/fromsearch/1/#1507461

Also, before you go out hunting with your new gun, be sure to check your States Hunting Regulations.

Many States Game & Fish rules do not allow hunting some game animals with short barreled guns.

As you know, black powder burns a little slower than modern smokeless powders so with the short barrel on your gun can really limit the velocity of the shot, even with a large powder load.
(I'm sure you know that shooting smokeless powder in your gun will create a bomb).

Good luck with your new pistol. :)
 
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TwoDogs said:
I really want to take a turkey with this gun, but I need to come up with a load that will get me out to 25-30 feet maybe.

I fixed that for you. 25-30 yards, that's full size fowling gun distance.
Still, a worth while project but have realistic expectations. Plan to get close. Turkeys are pretty tough.
 
Many have tried to get tight distance groups with pistols. In fact Ely brothers started business making small wire cages to hold shot and keep it tight until air resistance ripped the cage apart. People have tried all manner of tricks and gadgets to tighten groups, even papermache and wooden shot capsules. If someone had been successful, te history of firearms might be different.s.
 
let us know how you make out. i acquired a very nice custom piece with a brass barrel made by Bud Siler some years back and was thinking the same as you. however this gun appears to have never been shot, so i'm not sure what to do with it.
 
Old Ford said:
Hi,
A general rule is, if you can't hit and fully penetrate a steel ( not aluminium )soup can, you won't be eating bird.
Fred
Is that a full can or empty, and are we talking both sides or just the facing side?

{I know that sounds facetious but it is a real question.}
 
Cynthialee, you crack me up. Of course, the can should be empty, a full one would leave quite a mess, LOL. I was told that if a load penetrated a tuna fish can set on edge, (through the bottom),you will be good. So, one side would be plenty. BTW, 2dogs is my #1 son and he pleases me greatly........robin :hmm:
 
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I will let everyone know what load works when I get it next week. I plan on doing some heavy testing to make sure it penetrates a can and see how far it will let me get before the velocity peters out.
 
Tuna cans have stood the test of time for figuring what will take a bird. And yes, our Cynthialee is quite a lady! :wink:
 
I had often wondered why the tuna can was the determining factor. I guess many people just like shooting tuna cans...
 
rodwha said:
I had often wondered why the tuna can was the determining factor. I guess many people just like shooting tuna cans...

Actually any old 303 can will do teh job...in fat any can reguardless of size. Tuna, cat food or dog food cans are all small and easy to use.
 
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A small anchovie can that ya get from Papa Johns Piza is near perfect, same steel and about the size of a turkey head/neck. I have nailed em to a tree and shot at em, if they penetrate with 3-4 hits I say good to go (this after I have patterned).

And dont be bad mouthin anchovies! 500,000,000 million catfish cant be wrong :rotf:
 
Reply to Cynthialee,
In my case a very large soup can ( the kind they use in commercial kitchens) you know, the four quart cans. :wink:
I'm not a very good shot!
One side is good, but both sides are better.
Have a great day! Eh? ( Canadian )
Fred
 
blackpowder62 said:
let us know how you make out. i acquired a very nice custom piece with a brass barrel made by Bud Siler some years back and was thinking the same as you. however this gun appears to have never been shot, so i'm not sure what to do with it.
Shoot it...?
 
+1 of course you must shoot it!

I have pissed off a few guys n the past by shooting NIB guns! One a chief crazy horse commemorative (or was it a john wayne?) I bought from my boss. Stipulation was he planned on buying back in a few months. NP. He was HORRIFIED when I brought it to him with a few remaining rounds and told him I was sad to have to sell back as it shot so good :rotf:

:idunno: I cleaned it well :idunno:
 
eggwelder said:
blackpowder62 said:
let us know how you make out. i acquired a very nice custom piece with a brass barrel made by Bud Siler some years back and was thinking the same as you. however this gun appears to have never been shot, so i'm not sure what to do with it.
Shoot it...?
Shoot it!


A brass barrel pistol is one of those items I have long wanted. Along side a brass blunderbuss. Those barrels look spiffy and it is rare to see at the range.
 
hard decision for me. i have several guns and none are wall hangers, i buy or build them to shoot them. this gun however is very nice and really should be in someones collection. unfortunetly it matches the same time period and caliber as the Edward Marshall rifle i'am building. decision, decisions!
 
I have a .62 caliber smoothbore pistol with a 12" barrel but it's not jug choked. I shoot 40 grains of FFF, 1 overpowder card, 1/4" lubed wad, 1 oz. #6 shot and 1 overshot card to hunt squirrels. I limit my shot distance to 15 yards. I don't think it would be much of a turkey gun but I know I could kill a deer with it.

Darren

BPSquirrel2015-3Small_zpstforlru9.jpg
 
That is just awesome!

I would love to get a smoothbore flintlock pistol that isn't expensive enough to not shoot it. I'm a shooter, first and foremost. Seems most of the non-Italian makers are most interested in creating works of art, not shooters. That one looks like a great working gun though!
 
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