Riverranger
32 Cal.
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Looking fwd.to hunting in the PA Flintlock season with my .75 Cal Brown Bess. Any BB users out there?
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Brown Bess Hunting
- Thread starter Riverranger
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Riverranger
32 Cal.
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Nice! How much powder? Details! Any experiences with shooting shot through it for smaller critters?
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Riverranger said:
I used mine a bunch for snowshoe hares last year. With 1 5/8 oz of #6 shot, lubed fiber wad and 80 grains of 2f it was excellent to 30 yards, and would have done further for sure if I had tried. That large a shot charge for snowshoes may sound excessive, but I was using an English shot bag and that's what it dropped.
BTW- I got even better patterns using Goex 1f powder, but ran out. More will arrive someday.
Another BTW- It worked absolutely fine with the 1f in the pan.
Used to was I did. I had a 1758 Light Infantry (Bess of 16 bore & 42" barrel) and, out to 50 yards, it was a real whomper. Worked as well as a rifled slug from a suppository gun.
Also grim death on squirrels, seated rabbits, but grouse and running bunnies I might as well have tried running them down with the bayonnet.
Also grim death on squirrels, seated rabbits, but grouse and running bunnies I might as well have tried running them down with the bayonnet.
Riverranger said:
The deer I shot was with a .715 wheel weight ball in a .018 ticking patch over 80 grains of 2F Goex. She was quartering toward me at 35-40 yards at the very last legal minute of the season. Hit just back of the shoulder and ended up in the gut. She was quartering more toward me than I thought... Wasn't my best ever shot. But she didn't go far at all.
I have shot squirrels using the same powder charge, 80 grains of 2F. Then a thick card, 100 grain measure of 6's, and a thin card. Have not really spent ay time working up the best shot load tho. Keep meaning to do that...
I worked up a load for small game that shoots as good as any modern shotgun.
70 grains of Fg lubed wad ,plastic shotcup for reloading steel shot full to the top with #4 and a thin over shot card.Have taken squirrels up to 35 yds , but try to limit to 30 yds max.
70 grains of Fg lubed wad ,plastic shotcup for reloading steel shot full to the top with #4 and a thin over shot card.Have taken squirrels up to 35 yds , but try to limit to 30 yds max.
Riverranger
32 Cal.
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Guys,
Thanks for all the input-means the world.Being surrounded by "Inliners" and people trying to "cheat" its nice to have my smoothbore fantasies understood. Loved each and every story! PA Flintlock Season in January-then onto small game. Nice to comm. with people who "get it."
Thanks for all the input-means the world.Being surrounded by "Inliners" and people trying to "cheat" its nice to have my smoothbore fantasies understood. Loved each and every story! PA Flintlock Season in January-then onto small game. Nice to comm. with people who "get it."
I have carried mine with a punkin' ball deer hunting but never got a shot.
Have hunted squirrels with it using 78 gr. 2Fg and 1 1/4 oz. #7 1/2 shot. Works just fine. Those charges were from my Irish and English dropper pouches. Got great patterns. Would have liked to get a turkey with it. Maybe some day when my bum shoulder will be able to hold it up again. Meantime, I'll use my JB 20 ga. fowler.
BTW, I always enjoyed shooting my BB, one of the funnest guns to own and shoot I have ever had.
Have hunted squirrels with it using 78 gr. 2Fg and 1 1/4 oz. #7 1/2 shot. Works just fine. Those charges were from my Irish and English dropper pouches. Got great patterns. Would have liked to get a turkey with it. Maybe some day when my bum shoulder will be able to hold it up again. Meantime, I'll use my JB 20 ga. fowler.
BTW, I always enjoyed shooting my BB, one of the funnest guns to own and shoot I have ever had.
[color=orange]I took my "Bess" afield for the first time this year as well. I thought that it carried much lighter than it is. I hunt in NH and the forrest is pretty grown up however I didn't find the length to be an issue.
My Bess is a Pedersoli, I use 100 Grns 2F and 15-20 Grns of 4F for priming. I used a wad of neswprint over the powder and a greased .735 rnd ball with another wad of greased newsprint to hold it in place. pre season practice showed that I was minute of deer at about 50 Yds off hand so that was my limit. No animals were killed or injured making this post!
:grin: [/color]
My Bess is a Pedersoli, I use 100 Grns 2F and 15-20 Grns of 4F for priming. I used a wad of neswprint over the powder and a greased .735 rnd ball with another wad of greased newsprint to hold it in place. pre season practice showed that I was minute of deer at about 50 Yds off hand so that was my limit. No animals were killed or injured making this post!
:grin: [/color]Riverranger
32 Cal.
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Thanks fellas!
Loaded her up as described by "Jethro", with the exception of using 3F. Very pleased with the results. Ordered wads and shot cards-looking fwd. to THAT.
Loaded her up as described by "Jethro", with the exception of using 3F. Very pleased with the results. Ordered wads and shot cards-looking fwd. to THAT.
