Assistance with T/C New Englander loads for turkey

[turkeyman]

Hey guys. Hope hunting season is going well for you. I was wondering if anyone has some ideas on loads for a T/C New Englander. I am going to be doing some turkey hunting coming up very soon. I patterned the gun last year with disappointing results. I played around with the powder charge and the shot, but didn't have satisfactory results. I was only putting 7-8 #6s in the target at 40 yards (maybe my expectations of getting a muzzleloading shotgun patterning well at 40 yards are unrealistic). I used 1 7/8 oz. of #6 shot propelled by 90 grains of FFg, and a Knight wad with an over-the-shot card (this was the best load I came up with).

I recently had a gunsmith fit the barrel for choke tubes. I purchased a Comp N Choke XXX Full choke tube for it. I haven't patterned it yet this year, but plan on gettin' after it tomorrow afternoon. Anyone shooting a similar gun that has had luck with a particular load? I know to get a gun to pattern its very best, you have to shoot it, and shoot it, and shoot it some more. Just thinking this would give me a good starting point. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Protrucker]

I've been using a T/C New Englander with a screw in choke for several years for turkeys. The load that I use is:
100 gr of FFg Goex, two Wonder Wads, 100 gr of #5 magnum shot, & one Wonder Wad. This load works very well for me.

 

[turkeyman]

Thanks for the information Bald Mtn Man. I appreciate the help. :redthumb:

 

[The Baron]

I shoot a cyl. bore New Englander. I did a bit of work, and found 90 gr. FFg, 1 overpowder card, 1 pre-lubed wad, a steel shot shot cup (pretty stiff plastic) with 1 3/8oz. with overshot card patterned best. My gun likes #4's and put as many #4's on target as 6's. I can't say for a choked gun, but my patterns are good to 30 yards. and I am very pleased with that for a straight cyl. BP shotgun. I tried a 100 gr. powder charge with the same load, and the pattern was terrible.

Coincidentally, the 1 3/8oz. load fills the shot cup perfectly. Heavier shot charges didn't pattern any better, but it could be that extra shot ahead of the filled cup gets blown off course as the heavier cup/shot package passes through the uncupped shot at the front(?). I'm not sure yet. I hope to find longer steel shot cups and try heavier shot loads again (the cups I found are for 2 3/4" loads, so they don't hold too much).

 

[turkeyman]

Thanks Baron!! I'm getting ready to go out right now and give it a try. I'll post back as to what I found was the best load for me. Thanks again!! :redthumb:

 

[turkeyman]

I went out today and patterned my T/C New Englander with a XXX Full choke tube.

I started with 90 gr. of FFg black powder, a Knight black powder wad, 90 gr. of #6 shot, and an over-the-shot card. This combination produced a decent pattern at 40 yards. It put 25 pellets in the turkey head target.

I was very pleased with that pattern so I put the gun down to help out my buddy (who is also a member of this forum...mcdenny). Thinking I may be able to do a bit better, at the end of the day I loaded it with 90 gr of FFg blackpowder, a Knight blackpowder wad, 100 gr. of #4 shot, and an over-the-shot card. This put only 10 pellets into the target.

Thanks guys for the suggestions on a load to use. :applause: I really do appreciate it. It gave me a starting place...else it would have been perchance that I came up with the first load. Thanks again!! :results:

 

[The Baron]

Turkeyman... if you're putting 25 pellets into the head/neck at 40 yards, you're not giving up anything to a modern gun! Go get 'em! (and post pictures when you do):thumbsup: