Fowler kicking my tail

[Buff1958]

I have a 20 gauge Kibler and I can not get it to group at 50 yards.
I had shot it at 25 and the best I could do was about 4" but last weekend we had to shoot the targets at 50 yards and I was all over the paper.

Today I tried.....
60 grains of FF with a .018 patch
70 grains of FF with a .015 patch
70 grains of FF with a .018 patch
80 grains of FF with a .015 patch
80 grains of FF with a .018 patch
all with a .600 ball

I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .610 ball ( had to start it with a mallet )

I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .600 ball with a shot gun wad over the powder and the best I was able to do was 8" at 50 yards.

Anyone have a secret load ?

 

[flconch53]

With a smoothbore no way you should have to load it that tight. Are you shooting off a rest?

 

[2 shots]

I tried 60,70 and 80 with a .015 patch and a .600 ball with a shot gun wad over the powder and the best I was able to do was 8" at 50 yards.

are you using a wad or over powder card?? have you tried a bare ball?

 

[Buff1958]

Shazam…….
I read an old post from 2008 where someone was using .570 balls in their 20 gauge.
Went out back and loaded 69 grains with a .575 ball and .018 patch.
First one was high so I moved the sight down a tad.
Next 3 were touching

I would have never tried that small a ball if I had not it on here

 

[olskool]

i built a Kibler fowler that i sold. but before i sold it i had to shoot it. i was surprised at the accuracy. i used a .570 ball because that is what i had. i used a .18 ticking and 65gr. of 2f it shot about a 2in group at 50yds. then i found some .600 balls and the groups opened up to 5in. that thing liked the 570 over the 600,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Buff1958]

i built a Kibler fowler that i sold. but before i sold it i had to shoot it. i was surprised at the accuracy. i used a .570 ball because that is what i had. i used a .18 ticking and 65gr. of 2f it shot about a 2in group at 50yds. then i found some .600 balls and the groups opened up to 5in. that thing liked the 570 over the 600,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

who would have thought it…… I wasted a half pound of powder mess with .600 and .610 balls today

 

[Frontier's]

Try 3fg

 

[RiverRat]

.570 rbs should be a dream in loading in a 20 guage. I am still waiting on my kibler 20g to arrive and I will definitely try some .570 rbs.

 

[Rob M.]

Interesting ... If I can keep all my shots on a paper plate , he!! , I'm happy but ....very interesting stuff here .

 

[French Colonial]

I have a 20 gauge Caywood, 60 grains of 2F, 600 ball and a .010 patch shoots very very good.

This could be a bedding issue, make sure the barrel pin holes are elongated and the barrel is well seated at the breech

 

[Banjoman]

Maybe this will help. 25 yards standing. Bottom 6 holes were me trying to figure out the sight picture since this gun has only a coarse front sight. 4 holes in the middle were after I figured it out. .60 caliber Fusil de Chasse, 65 grains Scheutzen 2f, .575 bare round ball and maple leaf wadding over ball since I didn’t have tow with me.

* But after reading this all again, I see you done figured it out. Good shooting! Ain’t these smooth bores fun! *

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Shazam…….
I read an old post from 2008 where someone was using .570 balls in their 20 gauge.
Went out back and loaded 69 grains with a .575 ball and .018 patch.
First one was high so I moved the sight down a tad.
Next 3 were touching

I would have never tried that small a ball if I had not it on here

Absolutely LOVE how you marked the earlier shots. INGENUITY!

LD

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I shoot 0.595" balls with 0.012-0.015" thick patches in my 20 gauges. A smaller ball like 0.580s or 0.575s will work fine as well usually with thicker patching. Thin patches often burn out with a tight ball and too much powder. I suggest go smaller with the ball, thicker with the patches, and 70-75 grs 2F or 3F should be plenty.

dave