Help! I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place!

[highlander99]

Hey guys! First post! Anyways, after a while of being in love with ML's and our nations history I decided it was time for a muzzleloader. I would like to build one from one of the kits, probably a Lyman. My uncle has got a percussion hawken that he hunts with, and I've shot that, but want a bit more of a challenge. My hunting will be done mostly in the forests and swamps of Florida and Georgia, so I'm not entirely sure how well a long rifle would fair there. Lastly, is it possible to swap to a fowler barrel instead of the rifled barrel? What are the advantages of fowler vs long rifle, in flintlock?

 

[Stumpkiller]

Fowler barrel with be lighter, smoothbored for shot or a round ball. Down side is you won't have a rear sight (or not much of one) and range will be limited to 60 yards or so with a ball or 25 with shot.

Basically you're choosing between a rifle or a shotgun. A fowler is designed for point-and-shoot hunting of moving game with shot. A rifle is designed for taking a deliberate aim with a single patched ball.

 

[buzz]

I prefer my fowlers just coz they can shoot round ball and shot.
Little tougher to hit the target further out compared to my rifle is the only flaw atleast for me
I think TC the barrels interchange andthink lyman will to but i never owned either

 

[highlander99]

Now what about hawken or a long rifle? I mean, I guess the Seminoles faired well enough with long rifles. Hmmmm...

 

[George T.]

First let me say that I do not own a smooth bore. My pick would be close to a GPR. A Investarms or T/C Big Bore in 54 or 58 will fix most problems. I had a 40 Flinter with a 40 inch barrel and a 16 1/2 LOP and I hauled it thru the Texas Cedar breaks with no problem.`Once you get used to a Long Rifle you will get surprised about how easy they are to carry in brush. Geo. T.

 

[BrownBear]

I'm dealing with dense Alaska alders on steep hillsides rather than swamps, but I'll match you challenging dense tangles. I've shot deer inside 20 feet.

Only time I've run into problems with longer barrels is on moving targets. Doesn't have to be a moving shot, but even if you're just following along with the sights waiting for the critter to stop, get ready for some isometric exercises if that long bore comes up against a limb.

Problem is, there's always an edge to the tangles with clearings beyond. You could easily go from real close shooting to long shooting and back again several times an hour. In the open spaces the long sighting radius and more muzzle weight for a steady hold are bonuses. And while you might not need rifling in the bore for the close stuff, it's a bonus when the range stretches.

Then there are places where I'm in open timber all day.

Kinda hard for me to zero in on one gun to cover all those possibilities. I have the luxury of picking barrels between 24" and 39" before starting a hunt, as well as rifled or smooth. My smoothbores stay home unless I'm planning to be in the tangles all day, and to pass up longer shots when they're offered in the clearings. I only drag along the longer barrels when I'm going to be in open timber all day.

Geo T mentioned the 58 cal TC Big Boar. That's kinda boiled down to being my "all around" gun with its 28" barrel, good balance, shotgun butt and whomp. If for some reason that gets left home, it's my GPR 54 cal with its 32" barrel that get's packed for "all around" conditions. Longer or shorter, smooth or rifled, are reserved for when I'm concentrating on tight or open terrain all day.

 

[Matt85]

if your looking for a fun challenge i would highly recomend a fowling piece. no one questions the skill of a hunter who uses one of these guns for big game. a 62 cal flintlock fowler is good for game ranging from squirrels, pheasants, turkey, hog, deer, moose, and bears (pretty much anything shy of african big game). however it takes skill and practice to be good with one of these guns and i dont just mean being a good shot. the ability to stalk in close is an important skill when using a smoothbore.

i will own a fowling piece as soon as im sure ill have a job long enough to pay for one.

-matt

 

[buzz]

Most of mine are smoothies now sqirrels to deer have seen the busineess end
Matt go hunting with your smooth musket i did with my bess it. Was fun

 

[Dphar]

Hey guys! First post! Anyways, after a while of being in love with ML's and our nations history I decided it was time for a muzzleloader. I would like to build one from one of the kits, probably a Lyman. My uncle has got a percussion hawken that he hunts with, and I've shot that, but want a bit more of a challenge. My hunting will be done mostly in the forests and swamps of Florida and Georgia, so I'm not entirely sure how well a long rifle would fair there. Lastly, is it possible to swap to a fowler barrel instead of the rifled barrel? What are the advantages of fowler vs long rifle, in flintlock?

If you are shooting solid shot the rifle is better. If you are shooting small shot the SB is better. However, other than for shooting flying birds or birds grouped together on the ground/water there is no advantage to the SB in hunting and it uses far more lead to obtain the same result in most cases.

Dan

 

[crockett]

I'm in Florida and everyone I know uses a muzzle loading rifle. I don't know of any locals that use a smooth bore. I agree that many times you are right on top of the deer. I tell folks up North I shot a deer at 12' etc and they just don't believe it. On the other hand there are plenty of times when there will be a shooting lane with 70 yard shots, etc and I think a rifle is mandatory. I can think of no advantage a smoothbore would offer. some day you might want to try a Georgia "Bean Field" with longer shots.
If you look at the photos of the best bucks taken in Florida and notice the date, a lot of them are during muzzle loader season.

 

[swathdiver]

Where in Florida are you fellas from? Treasure Coast here.

 

[bpd303]

I'm originally from the Miami area. Spent many fond moments hunting in the Everglades. Now I live close to the worlds largest open air insane asylum Eureka Springs, AR.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Now I live close to the worlds largest open air insane asylum Eureka Springs, AR.

Never heerd it called that, but gotta agree. :rotf:

 

[highlander99]

Tampa