Decisions on fowler

[Russ T Frizzen]

With a proper load there really isn't that much smoke and even the slightest breeze disperses it quickly. I've never found it to be a problem.
As an aside, after years of experience with my 20 bore and its 42" barrel, I ordered a 10 gauge fowler. It has a 48" barrel. I don't anticipate any problems with that gun and its barrel length either.

 

[tg]

"Warren Center's explanation for the coil spring mainspring was that a vee spring wouldn't last five minutes in hunting use."

Yeah that was quite an interview, I think it was in BP digest '77 or'78 hard to believe they went in knowing absolutely nothing and came up with the best selling ML in history, I often wonder what the sport would be like now if they had put their minds to making a real replica.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

Dinky-dow GI (there are lots of us around here),

I've found an unchoked 16ga to be marvelous for versatility. I've use store-bought wads from Ballistic Products and Circle fly, and home-made ones from a punch my gunsmith made out of a cut-off from a full-choke 12ga barrel. I went with a .648" mold from Jeff Tanner. I've had good results with shot loads from 3/4oz-1.1/4oz, and can probably go heavier if I need to. If I need a tighter pattern than I get from an appropriate more-shot-than-powder load, I can use Ballistic Products or home-rolled shot cups.

Besides, there's a certain amount of snob appeal in a 16ga nowadays.

Have fun working this all out, and more putting it together.
Joel

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I don't think they cared about that--it was more about marketing. And then Robert Redford and Jeremiah Johnson came along right after that and business became very very good. Especially since the film used Italian or Spanish rifles that looked like the T/Cs. And since T/C had usurped the good name of Hawken, many who fancied themselves mountain men thought they were getting the real thing anyway. Hell, they probably still do! :rotf:

 

[Oldnamvet]

Dinka Dau eh? Yeah we are all boo koo (phonetic spelling - can't remember the correct) crazy. Those days are one of the reasons I prefer black powder flintlocks.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Dinka Dau eh? Yeah we are all boo koo (phonetic spelling - can't remember the correct) crazy. Those days are one of the reasons I prefer black powder flintlocks.

Roger that! I know exactly how you feel.
Is it "beau coup"? I know it started out as French before we got a hold of it and phoneticized it. Oh well--flintlocks forever. I actually saw a number of them in the Nam--Montagnards had them if I remember rightly.

 

[Oldnamvet]

You got the spelling right. Only tribesmen I saw who weren't toting M-16s had little crossbows with bamboo arrows. They were deadly with them though. I'd tell you some examples but it would be totally ff
A senior gentlemen showed up at the skeet field today to show me his fowlers. He had 6 or 8 of them and I was astounded how light and easy to swing they were, even with those long barrels. I would have sworn they were made from aluminum due to the weight -- or lack thereof. His 12 gauge with 42" barrel swung smoother and easier than my 12 gauge O/U and I figure a 20 gauge should be even easier. He had built them himself about 25 years ago but had not shot them in many years. Now he is getting interested again and I may have someone to shoot skeet with once I get going on one. Since neither one of us is exactly young anymore, I better get going while there is still time. :haha:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I remember those crossbows well! My long fowler always amazes me with the way it swings. So light and so fast--it just doesn't seem possible that a barrel that long can move so smoothly and so easily. And then shoot ball so well out to 70 yards or so. Almost like magic!