bore diameter for 28 ga. muzzleloader

[cable]

what diameter would be used for a 28 ga. muzzleloader? i have a t/c seneca with 36 and 45 cal barrels and a spare 45 cal that i would like to convdrt to a smoothbore; would like to use the correct bore diameter to be able to use 28 ga. muzzleloading wads; i beleive this may be a little different than current cartridge 28 g. diameters but need to be able to tell the gunsmith. any comments.

 

[arcticap]

28 gauge = .550 bore (without choke constriction)

 

[mikelange]

28 gauge is approximately .55 caliber. You can check the bore/caliber conversion chart at the top of the "Pre-Flintlock" section (immediately above this "Smoothbore" section on the forum menu).

Aren't the barrels on Senecas 13/16" in diameter? If so, that's pretty thin for that size bore. The fact it's a smoothbore doesn't change the fact that you'd be leaving, hmm (time for the calculator), barely 1/8" of metal at the thinnest portion of your barrel walls. Consider that most (I won't say all, since that will invite someone to point out that, A. such-and-such a brand of barrel was offered in a .75 caliber bore, with a 3/4" outside diameter; and, B. I'm an idiot and nothing I say henceforth is worth paying attention to, because I didn't know that :haha commercial barrels in .54 caliber are a minimum of 15/16" at the breech; .50 calibers seldom go under 7/8". Even if you resolved to keep your loads very, very light, you'd have a gun that could never be passed on to another person, in good conscience (and if you'd passed on, yourself, by then, obviously you'd have no control over that).

I'd keep the Seneca as it is, and buy or have built a full-fledged shotgun/fowler. If you're interested in a relatively inexpensive way to go about this, one that myself and another member of this forum are each doing, contact me via the "Private Topic" function under "My Home", at the top of the page.

Good luck. Shoot safe.

 

[mark starr]

I shoot a .530 round ball out of my 28 guage wilson.

 

[roundball]

28 gauge is approximately .55 caliber. You can check the bore/caliber conversion chart at the top of the "Pre-Flintlock" section (immediately above this "Smoothbore" section on the forum menu).

Aren't the barrels on Senecas 13/16" in diameter? If so, that's pretty thin for that size bore. The fact it's a smoothbore doesn't change the fact that you'd be leaving, hmm (time for the calculator), barely 1/8" of metal at the thinnest portion of your barrel walls. Consider that most (I won't say all, since that will invite someone to point out that, A. such-and-such a brand of barrel was offered in a .75 caliber bore, with a 3/4" outside diameter; and, B. I'm an idiot and nothing I say henceforth is worth paying attention to, because I didn't know that :haha commercial barrels in .54 caliber are a minimum of 15/16" at the breech; .50 calibers seldom go under 7/8". Even if you resolved to keep your loads very, very light, you'd have a gun that could never be passed on to another person, in good conscience

I agree, good advice

 

Cable - If you are bound to make it a smoothbore, have your gunsmith just remove the lands and smooth out the barrel. This would give you a bore just a hair larger than a .410. Might be kind of a fun shooter !! Bill

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Waht is the thickness of your patch X 2?

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Bet one could the use a 3/4 oz load of shot.

 

[musketman]

Cable - If you are bound to make it a smoothbore, have your gunsmith just remove the lands and smooth out the barrel. This would give you a bore just a hair larger than a .410. Might be kind of a fun shooter !! Bill

That would be the safest approach, the barrel is already proofed for this bore size (to the lands), so it should be safe to shoot with no weak spots from too thin a barrel...

That should place it around one of these gauges:

Gauge/Caliber
42_____________.480
43_____________.476
44_____________.473
45_____________.469
46_____________.466
47_____________.463
48_____________.459
49_____________.456
50_____________.453
51_____________.450