Fowler kit

[hhughh]

I, too, built the Chambers NE fowler. Mine is 12 gauge. As it's the first smoothbore ML I've dealt with, took some time to wring out a good load, but have finally found one, and am really looking forward to chasing squirrels in about six weeks. I was going to advise against the set trigger, but as I am likewise new, I decided to let others chime in. I got the "one step up" maple for the stock. Barbie said that she had one that was "on the line" between one + and 2+, so she priced it as 1+ and sent it to me. I feel she did me a tremendous favor. It is a gorgeous piece of wood. Am saving now to build one of their Lancasters. Great people to deal with and a great product. I think Mike Brooks had some pictures somewhere of the same gun that he had built.

Good luck with your smoke-pole.
Hugh

 

[tg]

I had a Chambers gun and they are hard to beat your choice is a good one, I would go with the open bore for the authenticity and comparable performance of the originals than the more modern chug choke, you cannot see it but you know it is there and many do fine with an open bore on Turkeys at 25-30 yds with some load workup.There can often be a great deal of sense of accoplishment the more modern things you leave behind when intering the world of ML's particularly with a fine period piece as this fowler

 

[Mickc01]

WOW, looks amazingly close to mine, right down to the sideplate. I'm wondering if it may have started life as a Chambers kit. I bought it from Dixion's about a year and a half ago and absolutely love it. Here's a couple of pictures.....

 

[mbokie]

You must be able to read minds because that number you quoted is what I've been using for a long time. :haha:

Now, I'm consumed and must have real gun.

I'm thinking of an 11 gauge.

What say all of you on the subject of gauge?

 

[Mickc01]

Mine's a 10 gauge. Big but it's light and balances really, really well.

 

[mbokie]

They could be twins.

 

[tg]

I tjhink the bore size is determined by what you wil use it for, Turkey is the largest game I will lileky take do a .62 is enough for me and for ball and smalle game it seems to me that the larger bores would just be more gun to handle, this is a personal choice but I would not go larger than a .62 unless a lot of Goose hunting was excpected then I might opt for a .66 or .69 to keep the ball size down. I am thinking of getting a .66 barrel for the fusil I have to use on Turkey and Geese someday and still be a bit less than shooting ping pong sized balls at Deer, sometime these choices are hard, I have as .54/.58/.62 and .72 smoothbores so have an ideas what works for my needs, which may be an advantage over some.

 

[Dane]

tg,

You're right about the traditional cylinder bore guns, but I gotta tell ya.... that 10ga with a jug choke, will consistently kill a Tom @ 50+ yards. I nice plus with those elusive birds. It DO bite a bit though.

 

[mbokie]

Ok, it's done. I ordered the 10 gauge.

Curly maple stock, one up from the low end of the scale.

Won't see squat before January. No stocks and no barrels before then.

Maybe I'll try to build something less expensive in the mean time.

BTW, Barbie laughed at the double trigger. Even when she said she wouldn't!

:haha:

 

[mbokie]

So at what point does jug choking take place?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Digressing a little here.
My choice of 20 ga. was dictated by my bad shoulders that can no longer hold up a heavy rifle. And, one of the clubs I shoot with, the only one with trade gun matches, does not permit use of anything larger than 20 ga.

 

[mbokie]

Not digressing to me.

All knowledge is valid. And I can use it all.

 

[Stumpkiller]

So at what point does jug choking take place?

At a point 3" to 5" behind the muzzle. :grin:

I had my New Englander jug choked to 55% when I reached a point of desperation that bunnies and grouse were running through my pattern at 25 yards.

 

[mbokie]

So I should be calling them and telling them now?

 

[bud in pa]

Has anybody tried to jug choke their own barrel? I just checked Brownells and the cost of the barrel hone and barrel cost with shipping about $85.

 

[mbokie]

I called them and they have the jug choking done by a fellow named Lowell Tennyson.

I'm having mine shipped to him before they ship it to me.

I have Mr. Tennyson's phone number or if it's allowed I'll post it here.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Mike Brooks had Lowell do one on my son's gun. It's a clay eating machine at about lite mod.

 

[Stumpkiller]

I don't know that I'd have one done just onna count of a'cause until I had a chance to paper it. Only if I was out of ideas would I go the jug choke route. I suppose if it were hoping for a purpose built turkey gun and I knew I wanted a very tight pattern. If your pattern is thin you can always add a "pinch" more shot. Great feature of a muzzleloader.

I had CoyoteJoe do mine and I must have fretted him too much becase he retired right after. :hatsoff: And I hope he's getting rested up and enjoying life anew!

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I don't know that I'd have one done just onna count of a'cause until I had a chance to paper it. Only if I was out of ideas would I go the jug choke route. I suppose if it were hoping for a purpose built turkey gun and I knew I wanted a very tight pattern. If your pattern is thin you can always add a "pinch" more shot. Great feature of a muzzleloader.

Very true!!!!
I forgot to add that my son is a clay target shooter and that purpose is slated for it's multiple usage. If one is wanting a muzzleloading smoothe gun, try it the old way with a cylinder fusee bore or a relieved muzzle and/or breech. :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Lowell choked mine as well. :thumbsup: