Enjoy the mysteries and vagueries of smoothbores...

[Brokennock]

You could strike man size target at 100 yards at 50 /75 yards A large pumpkin a 2 pound coffee can at 25 yards soda can

Okay, I'm needing a little better than that as my guns are used to hunt.

 

[Irishmusket]

In the day the smooth bore musket was the most widely used firearm not the rifle because it was more versatile shot or ball or buck and ball you could quickly reload unlike a rifle muskets are generally heavier calibers 62 to 75 + they are long and heavy compared to rifles at 50 yards far more devastating than a 50 or 54cal rifle and that is for sure.If your deer hunting in open country and need to shoot at 100 yards or more you need a rifle not a musket .If your hunting rabbits squirrels grouse pheasant turkeys the musket is vastly superior to rifles They work very well on Deer if you keep your shots to with in40 to 50 yards they are more effective than rifles if you know how to shoot

 

[bigted]

My 62 smoothie can ( if I do my part ) shoot into 3 inch or so pretty consistently at 40 or 50 of my paces (rite at or a little over 3 feet).

I'd surely like mine to do this at 100 yds but not yet.

Load is 80 grains Old E 3F under a .595 ball patched in .015 cotton lubed with a 50/50 mix of bee wax/Vasoline heated together so as to incorporate into each other. (Got this wonderful lube idea from the Sharps community, they found that this mix is very close to the old tried n trued " bee wax/sperm whale oil " that was the recommendation directly from the Sharps company back in the 1870's).

I have used this lube for ALL my black powder shooting. It ranks rite up even with SPG which is another great lube.

Have heard it said (and agree completely) ... that your lube will make or break your accuracy/reload-ability. If the lube don't make the trip clear up the barrel ... then you can expect eradic performance from whichever gun/projectile that you attempt to use.

I do not see how smoothies can be any different lube wise. I have a suspicion that our forfathers way back used what tallow they could find to add the needed lube to their loads.

Not talking military expectations! The military historically has pretty loose parameters for accuracy due to warfare conditions/needs based on the tactics of the time.

Hunting/survival on the frontier depended on a bit better accuracy than the military. Our for-fathers needed to down game with aplomb and immediacy so as to collect their kill and get outta dodge before unwanted company showed up to try taking your game away from you.

Went a bit astray here I guess. I also enjoy the pursuit of game getting ways involved in smooth bore shooting. I also remain convinced that the smoothie was very much more found on the frontier than rifled rifles or pistols.

Easy to load ... easy to carry ... will fill the meat bag like no other arm.

Whats not to like?

 

[Britsmoothy]

My 62 smoothie can ( if I do my part ) shoot into 3 inch or so pretty consistently at 40 or 50 of my paces (rite at or a little over 3 feet).

I'd surely like mine to do this at 100 yds but not yet.

Load is 80 grains Old E 3F under a .595 ball patched in .015 cotton lubed with a 50/50 mix of bee wax/Vasoline heated together so as to incorporate into each other. (Got this wonderful lube idea from the Sharps community, they found that this mix is very close to the old tried n trued " bee wax/sperm whale oil " that was the recommendation directly from the Sharps company back in the 1870's).

I have used this lube for ALL my black powder shooting. It ranks rite up even with SPG which is another great lube.

Have heard it said (and agree completely) ... that your lube will make or break your accuracy/reload-ability. If the lube don't make the trip clear up the barrel ... then you can expect eradic performance from whichever gun/projectile that you attempt to use.

I do not see how smoothies can be any different lube wise. I have a suspicion that our forfathers way back used what tallow they could find to add the needed lube to their loads.

Not talking military expectations! The military historically has pretty loose parameters for accuracy due to warfare conditions/needs based on the tactics of the time.

Hunting/survival on the frontier depended on a bit better accuracy than the military. Our for-fathers needed to down game with aplomb and immediacy so as to collect their kill and get outta dodge before unwanted company showed up to try taking your game away from you.

Went a bit astray here I guess. I also enjoy the pursuit of game getting ways involved in smooth bore shooting. I also remain convinced that the smoothie was very much more found on the frontier than rifled rifles or pistols.

Easy to load ... easy to carry ... will fill the meat bag like no other arm.

Whats not to like?

Couldn't agree more