Colerain .54/28 gauge suggestions and comments ?

[fw707]

Well, I ordered a new fowler a couple of days ago, and I was looking for a little info from y'all.
It's gonna have a 44" .54/28 gauge Colerain barrel. I've got about 45 pounds of .530 round balls cast up so I'm hoping it'll shoot them OK with a pillow ticking patch. :hmm:
Any suggestions on a shot load? I'll be shooting a few clay targets in smoothbore matches and maybe squirrel hunting with it some.

Any comments and suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[roundball]

Well, I ordered a new fowler a couple of days ago, and I was looking for a little info from y'all.
It's gonna have a 44" .54/28 gauge Colerain barrel. I've got about 45 pounds of .530 round balls cast up so I'm hoping it'll shoot them OK with a pillow ticking patch. :hmm:
Any suggestions on a shot load? I'll be shooting a few clay targets in smoothbore matches and maybe squirrel hunting with it some.

Any comments and suggestions will be appreciated.

I've tried the following out of a GM .54cal flint smoothbore barrel:

TRAP TARGETS (16 yard line)
70grns Goex 3F
Oxyoke wad or hald a circle fly cushion wad
1+1/8oz #8S
circle fly OS card

SKEET TARGETS
60grns Goex 3F
Oxyoke wad (or 1/2 circle fly cushion wad)
1oz #9S
circle fly OS card

 

[Mike Brooks]

70gr 3fff powder and 1oz shot. I use #4's for squirrel.

 

[fw707]

Thanks Mike and rb. :wink:
Any more shot load suggestions, and how do y'all think the .530 prb will work?

 

[richardn]

I have the same barrel. I have only shot RB and with the bore at .55 for 28 gauge the .530 should be fine with .10 patch. Some folks will also use an overpowder cushion and card as well.

Richard

 

[Mike Brooks]

All of my 28ga were a true .55 and I shot .530 and .018 to .020 patch lubed with wonder lube.

 

[J.D.]

It's gonna have a 44" .54/28 gauge Colerain barrel. I've got about 45 pounds of .530 round balls cast up so I'm hoping it'll shoot them OK with a pillow ticking patch. :hmm:

Depends on bore diameter. Mic the bore and as a general rule of thumb, smoothbores shoot balls .020-.030 smaller than bore diameter.

If it is a 54, you may have to shoot .520 balls, however, as others have stated, if it's a true 28 ga .530's should shoot fine.

 

[roundball]

Thanks Mike and rb. :wink:
Any more shot load suggestions, and how do y'all think the .530 prb will work?

In my GM .54cal barrel which is actually .610", not .620", the 530s & .015" patches were just too tight for my liking...and I don't happen to like thin .010" patches...so I settled on 70/80/90grns Goex 3F, .018" pillow ticking patches, Hornady .520" balls and the accuracy is outstanding to the 50yds I've tested it.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I dont follow the measurements. It may just be me as I just came in from a 2 1/2 mile mountain hike in the snow.

 

[Cutfingers]

I shoot a 20 gage with a patched round ball. I start with 70 grs of 3F, then a greased card with a pin hole in the center. I then put a .600 round ball with a .010 patch. The accuracy is outstanding up to 50 yds. When I seat the patched ball I follow the ball with a cleaning patch socked with Moose Milk. With obvious adjustments this combination should work equally well in your 28 gage.

 

[roundball]

I dont follow the measurements. It may just be me as I just came in from a 2 1/2 mile mountain hike in the snow.

:grin: You probably expected me to mention something actually associated with a .54cal like a .540 bore or something like that ?

Guess I had .62cal on the brain... :grin:...but the rest is correct...a Hornady .520 with an .018" patch is a perfect match for my .54cal GM smoothbore barrel

 

[fw707]

Thanks everybody.
I've never had a 28 gauge so this oughta get me started off right. :hatsoff:

 

[Wes/Tex]

All the shot info is in the right range. Remember that when it comes to shooting balls, that some guns like unpatched balls held in place with a card. Try all the different combos, your gun will tell you what it likes best. Good luck.

 

[fw707]

Thanks again to everybody that replied.
Tip Curtis is building the gun for me, and it oughtta be done in a couple of months or so.
It's an English fowler with a curly maple stock, a round face Chambers lock, and brass fittings. :wink:

 

[Evan Ebersole]

My .54/28ga.44in. likes a .526ball with .010 patch
70grs. fffg