Charles Gourlay coach gun

[Columbus]

Did anyone see the coach gun on the last page of this month's American Rifleman? What a piece that would be. But can the article be correct? 120gr powder charge, 20 "00" buckshot in a 13" barrel.

 

[Kansas Jake]

I read it, and saw the load information. Pretty nasty load at close range.

 

[Many Klatch]

A similar charge was used by Hessian troops during the Rev War. Double charge of powder, and 15 or 20 .50 caliber ball I recall was one load. This is not fired from the shoulder but from the hip. Often they would have two of them issued to patrols. If they were ambushed, the men with the Blunderbuss would swivel toward the smoke and shoot at the smoke. Then the patrol would attack.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Double charge of powder, and 15 or 20 .50 caliber ball I recall was one load. This is not fired from the shoulder but from the hip.

I saw the article also and was stunned with the charge/load mentioned. Methinks shooting from the hip would be a good way to cripple yer hand.

 

[rickystl]

I would not even attempt that load !! :shocked2:
:haha: The recoil would be enormous.
When I first test fired mine, the third try produced the best pattern. And with that much lead in the bore, still produced a very stout recoil. :haha:
Since then, I've found that the same load, with 10 each .31 caliber balls produced a better pattern.
These guns seem that they would only be effective out to about 15 yards. But that may be all they were designed for. They certainly rate high on the "fun to shoot" list. The white backboard is 36" X 24". I aimed the top of the muzzle at the bottom edge of the white paper.

Rick