Dixie Gun Works 28 gauge

[arcticap]

Articap, I think you said you were using a 28 gauge shotgun. Or was it a 28 gauge smoothbore rifle? I might add shooting any of these loads would be at the shooter's own risk. Different firearms digest loads differently.That being said, I'm going to try some heavier loads. Did you mix your shot sizes to increase the density of the pattern. For instance number 6's and 7 1/2's?
Thanks for this info, Articap. It is very formative.
Phill

It's a 28 ga. Dixie Spanish made shotgun that appears to have a fixed modified choke as described earlier in this thread.
I've also loaded it with .520 patched round balls except with much lighter powder charges.
I figured that because it has a modern barrel in good condition that 90 grains of powder wouldn't be dangerous.
I'll admit that the 100 grain shot charge is a stout load, but serves as an example that ML shotguns can handle more shot than the standard loading of a modern shotgun.
I'm not recommending it for anyone else.
I think that the major drawback with a heavy shot load in a 28 ga. is that it would produce a longer shot string.
But that's not reflected on a patterning board.

With this 28 ga.shotgun I was loading uniform shot consisting of the same shot size and not mixing shot sizes.

I would like to note that when Duelist1954 made videos about testing loads for his 20 ga, flintlock fowler, he found that 2 ozs. of shot patterned the best which is the opposite of the common practice of loading lighter powder charges and less shot to enhance accuracy.
He found that increasing the amount of shot along with a stout powder charge gave him the best accuracy at the longer range of 35 yards on a turkey target.
His fowler did not have a choked barrel with any constriction but was cylinder.
I came to a similar conclusion about increasing the amount of powder and shot independently before I ever saw his patterning videos, and I had also experimented with a 12 gauge.

 

[ppg1949]

It's a 28 ga. Dixie Spanish made shotgun that appears to have a fixed modified choke as described earlier in this thread.
I've also loaded it with .520 patched round balls except with much lighter powder charges.
I figured that because it has a modern barrel in good condition that 90 grains of powder wouldn't be dangerous.
I'll admit that the 100 grain shot charge is a stout load, but serves as an example that ML shotguns can handle more shot than the standard loading of a modern shotgun.
I'm not recommending it for anyone else.
I think that the major drawback with a heavy shot load in a 28 ga. is that it would produce a longer shot string.
But that's not reflected on a patterning board.

With this 28 ga.shotgun I was loading uniform shot consisting of the same shot size and not mixing shot sizes.

I would like to note that when Duelist1954 made videos about testing loads for his 20 ga, flintlock fowler, he found that 2 ozs. of shot patterned the best which is the opposite of the common practice of loading lighter powder charges and less shot to enhance accuracy.
He found that increasing the amount of shot along with a stout powder charge gave him the best accuracy at the longer range of 35 yards on a turkey target.
His fowler did not have a choked barrel with any constriction but was cylinder.
I came to a similar conclusion about increasing the amount of powder and shot independently before I ever saw his patterning videos, and I had also experimented with a 12 gauge.

Thanks Articap, more good info. I’ll have to check out Duelist, I’ve watched a lot of his videos. I read a reprint of a book on shotgun shooting from the late 1700’s. The name is something like “The Art of Shooting Flying Birds” or something similar. They routinely used 2 ounces or more in their shotguns.
Thanks again.

 

[ppg1949]

To Articap and All: The name of that book about 18th century shotgunning was “The Art of Shooting Flying: containing directions for the choice of guns: experiments discovering the execution of barrels of different lengths and bores.” by T.Page. A very long title. The peculiar thing in this book is it rarely refers to any gauge but rather gives the bore diameter. The author gives the country of manufacturer also. Most of the larger bores, 16 gauge and up were made in England. Most of the smaller bores were Spanish or Belgium.This book is written as a conversation between a a novice and experienced shooter. The experienced shooter answering questions and giving advise. The book is also full of test patterning results. It is really a fun read. I forget where I bought it but it was online.

 

[Irishmusket]

These guns are 32 gauge barrels very in length common 28 inch some 32 inch some are half stock and some a fully stocked.These guns were made by Mendi in Ebar Spain .They are safe to shoot a good service load is 40 grains ffg and 5/8 no 7 shot good for rabbits and squirrels good penetration on one pound metal coffee cans to 25 to 30 yards. Very effective for small game light and handy as good as modern 410 and a lot more fun These were trade guns made the third world they are in-fact survival guns I use these guns in the summer for red squirrels and pest control have taken grouse with them as well.For wadding I use paper or paper towel rolled in a ball over the powder and one over the shot work good as the ramrods are to light to use with felt or circle fly you bend or be unable to seat wads shooting muzzle loading shot gun with unseated wads is Dangerous I recommend not using wads in this type of muzzle loader .For ball 40 gr ffg 520 ball no patch and paper wad on top of the ball to hold the ball in place against the powder this produces 800 fps with good accuracy on soda can to 40 yards if you have the skill you have safe fun with it as far as hunting deer it is not recommended the gun is to light and lacks the velocity but is better than pistol These guns are designed and intended to used with shot and for that they are much better than they appear if you have one enjoy it the are vary neat little guns I own several of them they made in the early 1960s to the middle 70s I have well over 50 years shooting smooth bore muskets and shotguns Matchlock flintlock and percussion turkey hunt with 75 cal Matchlock been very successful for many years

 

[WALT53]

These guns are 32 gauge barrels very in length common 28 inch some 32 inch some are half stock and some a fully stocked.These guns were made by Mendi in Ebar Spain .They are safe to shoot a good service load is 40 grains ffg and 5/8 no 7 shot good for rabbits and squirrels good penetration on one pound metal coffee cans to 25 to 30 yards. Very effective for small game light and handy as good as modern 410 and a lot more fun These were trade guns made the third world they are in-fact survival guns I use these guns in the summer for red squirrels and pest control have taken grouse with them as well.For wadding I use paper or paper towel rolled in a ball over the powder and one over the shot work good as the ramrods are to light to use with felt or circle fly you bend or be unable to seat wads shooting muzzle loading shot gun with unseated wads is Dangerous I recommend not using wads in this type of muzzle loader .For ball 40 gr ffg 520 ball no patch and paper wad on top of the ball to hold the ball in place against the powder this produces 800 fps with good accuracy on soda can to 40 yards if you have the skill you have safe fun with it as far as hunting deer it is not recommended the gun is to light and lacks the velocity but is better than pistol These guns are designed and intended to used with shot and for that they are much better than they appear if you have one enjoy it the are vary neat little guns I own several of them they made in the early 1960s to the middle 70s I have well over 50 years shooting smooth bore muskets and shotguns Matchlock flintlock and percussion turkey hunt with 75 cal Matchlock been very successful for many years

I have two of them and mine like 45 grains 2 f and 60 grains of 7 1/2 shot I found the bigger shot patterned kinda patchy .I just use cards ( over shot ) and they seem to work fine for 20 /25 yards .