How do you load your smoothbores?

[duelist1954]

I'm trying to develop effective, period correct mid-18th century smoothbore loads. I've experimented with three load columns for my 20 ga TVM fowler:

1. 70 gr 2Fg powder, a tow wad, either a .600 ball or 1 oz of shot, topped with another tow wad.

2. Same as above, but a lightly greased 2'x1' piece of brown craft paper folded into a 1' square in place of each tow wad

3. Powder, a paper wad , then a tow cushion wad, ball or shot topped with another paper wad.

Each of these methods seems to work well enough in my limited trials so far.

How do you all load your smoothbores?

 

[roundball]

Powder, OP wad(s), shot, OS card(s)

 

[ohio ramrod]

For prb powder- patched ball, for shot; powder ,two 1/4 inch felt or leather wads, and a shot cartridge made with three thickness of newspaper tied with kite string.No over shot card needed. :idunno:

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I'm trying to develop effective, period correct mid-18th century smoothbore loads. I've experimented with three load columns for my 20 ga TVM fowler:

1. 70 gr 2Fg powder, a tow wad, either a .600 ball or 1 oz of shot, topped with another tow wad.

2. Same as above, but a lightly greased 2'x1' piece of brown craft paper folded into a 1' square in place of each tow wad

3. Powder, a paper wad , then a tow cushion wad, ball or shot topped with another paper wad.

Each of these methods seems to work well enough in my limited trials so far.

How do you all load your smoothbores?

You could add to the experiment some wool felt wads (old hat) and leather wadding. If you are deep "southren" you can try Spanish moss.

 

[tg]

I have used the first method you listed and also used dry moss/leaves and wasp nest, the last I cannot offer any documation for. Many have said it is a PC/HC practice I have had none of those claiming so give any references.I have not done a lot of patterning but the little I did showed little difference in the pattern between the above options with shot and I use 1 1/4 min oz of shot in a .62 I think I used 60 gr 3f powder.I always use less powder with shot than ball which BTW use with a patch so far is not considered Pc in a smoothbore the last I heard.

 

[jeffdrown]

Hornet/wasp nest !

 

[Capt. Jas.]

Hornet/wasp nest !

Can you help with the documentation that shows that method period correct to the mid 18th century?

 

[hanshi]

Shot: powder, card op wad & lubed 1/8" felt wad, shot, os card.

Ball: powder, 1/2" cushion wad, patched ball.

 

[spudnut]

Bess gets 90 gr 2F .735 round ball in a paper cartridge ball still wrapped when it goes down.Cloth patched doesnt seem to work as well in this gun.Shot I use 90 gr2F with 1 and a half X more lead.wasp nest wadding.
.675 roundball patched with flannel in my 1717 and cookson fowler over a 70 gr 2F charge

 

[Stumpkiller]

For ball I use paper cartridges.

For shot I use powder, over powder card (1/8"), 1/2" fiber wad dipped in melted tallow & beeswax, shot in a grocery-bag paper sleeve (2-7/8 x 1" folded over a dowel and then slid in the muzzle), overshot card (1/32").

The paper "cup" also serves as a measure when seated flush - if you have figured the right size for the paper ahead of time.

I have used tow behind and over the shot but found in my gun(s) it made the patterns irregular. Using wasps nest over the powder inproved it a bit.

 

We have tried standard patched round ball with ticking, cotton patches, linen patches, tow and wasp nests. Then we tried greased brain tanned deer, then greased brain tanned antelope which really worked well being thinner and not fighting to get down.

We research the heck out of what the old timers had written in journals, etc. They all worked OK but seemed to be more of a hassel than what I was looking for.

Still like silk patches for the tightness of the weave and this 28ga seems to like it, so its silk for me.

 

[hillbillyhans]

This is what I have used, and it cuts down on the components you need to carry: powder, 2 OS cards, shot, OS card. Be careful of the felt cushion wads as the shot sometimes sticks to it causing off-patterns. I have used this in an old 10ga. muzzleloader, and have used it on old damascused scatterguns w/paper or brass shells. Seems to work well for me.

 

[gus13]

not saying this is 100% HC/PC but check out the sept/oct 2011 of Muzzleloader Magazine Article is "Portals in Time"
While he doesn't give specific references to wasps nest being used in a period weapon he does have a picture of various loads used in the period and wasps nest is included there.
More often he is mentioning some of the odder waddings such as beaver hair, grass, leaves, and even a torn up Hymn Book!

 

[Leatherbelly]

I need to read some of the documentation regarding round ball loads. I wonder how many documents there are regarding round ball loads pertaining to smoothbores?(and where would I find these docs) To me,a cloth patched roundball seems more sensible then wadding a RB. Rifles were patched,why wouldn't the same practice be used for smoothies? It's quicker too.
I use nothing but cloth patch in mine. It just keeps some "sameness" that is constant for every RB shot.Maybe I'm not PC, but I shoot this way with round balls. :idunno:

 

[tg]

Balls were shot for generations before any mention of patching appears and this finaly appears with rifles from what I have seen and heard. What makes sense is not always the case, as someone once mentioned the saddle was in use for centuries before the stirrup was developed and the technology was always there to make them. I would think that the patch would have been used with a smoothbore but every source talks about wadding of one type of another instead and that is what we must go by to hang the PC/HC label on it. Common sense and all the other reasoning why a prb should/could have been used in a smoothbore is meaningless.

 

[Leatherbelly]

My new smooth bore is styled after a 1760 John Newcomer(being built as we speak). I went with 28gauge(cylinder bore) because I'm a round ball shooter mainly, some shot,if I have too.This lighter gauge should kill a bunch of recoil, which is what I'm aiming for. Big time competitors here with smoothbore RB matches. I have a hard time accepting that a cloth patch isn't period correct. Not trying to re-open a can of worms that has been hashed over many times but.... I guess I need to read the documentation,then I'll just do what works best anyways,lol! Not totally trying to :stir:

 

[George]

I need to read some of the documentation regarding round ball loads. I wonder how many documents there are regarding round ball loads pertaining to smoothbores?(and where would I find these docs) ..... Rifles were patched,why wouldn't the same practice be used for smoothies?

I've been searching for even a single instance of the unequivocal use of patched roundball in a smoothbore for quite a few years, haven't found any. If anyone has such a reference, I hope they will post it.

Hornet nest, too.

Spence

 

[Leatherbelly]

Got me thinking,maybe "wadding" was a misnomer for patching.Maybe not?

 

[George]

Got me thinking,maybe "wadding" was a misnomer for patching.Maybe not?

I find quite a few references to wadding, but many of them are stated in such a way as to make it clear they are talking about wadding, not patches. They specify cards, hat, tow, leather, brown paper, hard wads, etc., speak of people being injured by being struck with wadding, none of which are easily mistaken for patches.

Spence

 

[tg]

I use a PRB in my smoothbore but have never found or heard of anyone able to provide anything to support the historic use in smoothbores in the 18th centuyr even later, as logical as it may seem and that is where we get into trouble when trying to stay at a higher PC/HC level yet let logic and common sense replace period sources and documentation, I have had pretty good groups with many types of wadding at 40-50 yds that are very close to the PRB groups and sufficient for Deer hunting, but I still hunt with prb for the slight edge but cannot call it pc/hC by the standards of the hobby as they stand currently. I personaly think that one can and probably should forego PC/HC in favor of somethiog that is known to reduce the chance of wounding a Deer, this is not to be taken as an endorsement for modern peep sights unless ones eyes require them or any of the modern more efficient conical bullits just because they are ballistical better than the PRB..(just get closer and use a PRB). Anyway, I have always thought that it is better to just accept that something we may like and use is not PC/HC/traditional and use it and enjoy the game as it is not painfull physicaly or mentaly to do do, the other option is to stubbornly cling to logic or common sense and ignore the long established methodology history PC/HC is determined by just to satisfy a personal choice. Just my personal take on it. I have never been injured using a non PC/HC item phsyical or emotionaly but have had lots of fun and killed a lot of Deer for example using a PRB in a smoothbore