how well do smoothbores preform

[onefeather]

are they accurate and how far because i am thinking of geting a fowler :results:

 

[TANSTAAFL]

are they accurate and how far because i am thinking of geting a fowler :results:

Very well, within their limitations. Are they a rifle, no, are they a skeet gun, no.

Are they one heck of a, can do most anything within reason combination round baller and scatter gun, you better believe it.

If I had one choice for a BP survival gun, my .62 smooth bore would win hands down.

A basic hand full of small gravel in a shot cup made from corn shucks (husks to non-rednecks) works fine for close up bunnies and quail, done it, know it works.

Round ball for deer, the deer never knew if it worked or not, they all died rather quickly.

 

[Rat]

Some report deer-killing groups out to 100, but my experience, even with rifle sights is about 70 yards max, give or take a few depending on your ethics. My ethics say wherever I can keep all my shots on a paper plate is my maximum range.

Any smoothbore is a FOR SURE killer at 50 yards, and most, depending on sights/no sights you can get out to 60+ yards with some practice and load development/experimentation.

But no it is not a rifle, and I've let one black bear go that with a rifle I would have taken the shot. However, I will be looking for him next season, with the Jaeger!!

Rat

 

[Wart]

You won't be sorry with a smoothbore believe me. Agreed, know your limitations. They are one of the most versitle guns you could own, round ball or shot or husks :thumbsup:

 

[ffffg]

on the shot gun side, with a flintlock smoothbore, first time out at 16 yards on a trap range id bet your score will be about 0.. maybe one if your lucky.. your first 5 shot group at 50 yards with ball will problably be 12 inches or 15 inches or much more depending on your experience.. but all this will get better with time.. shooting birds with a flintlock is very difficult, with a good load percussion is pretty similar to regular modern gun with limits.. a 20 is pretty small gun in my opinion.. will work fine if your close and put the shot where it counts.. , the reason why we shoot black is not becouse were trying to impress our freinds.. its about getting out, enjoying the hunt, and learning how to hunt, really hunt, like archery, not anything at all like shooting a deer at 200 yards with the remchester.. you need to try it if your interested, you could like it very much.. the best part about black powder shooters is that they are a differnt bunch.. we dont compete and shut out beginners like other sports,, everyone here will be glad to help and tell you the innermost secrets so youll do better, and share whatever they have to help you out.. dave

 

[JackAubrey]

Well said,FFFFg.I will take my BrownBess anyday if I had to survive w/ only one gun.

 

[riarcher]

My opinion (not that it's a good one) for fowl (as in ducks, geese, and such) 20ga is minimum if you're jump shooting ducks in a stream and possibly over decoys (in really close) and more than enough for deer and such. Better yet is the 12 (11) ga. Bess with a smaller (faster) lock. But the Bess holds it's own quite well as is.
The 20 can be "loaded up" for ducks I know, But the 12 can be loaded up much more for geese and sea ducks. Both can be loaded down for small game. 20 is cheaper to burn than a 12. Both require a lot of time/effort in getting desirable shot loads for different conditions. Both can shoot RBs. well enough for close hunting, 100 yd. shots probably ain't gonna happen. For low light or fuzzy eye-sight on a rear sight, I think a musket/fowler is probably best all around (definately better for jump shooting).
Fowlers are not for everyone that's for sure. If you hunt desert, bigger fields, etc., and you're only interest is larger game, I'd say a rifle would probably suit you better. Also think if all you're hunting is from a tree stand a rifle may be better.
If you hunt close and a variety of game (squirrel, rabbit, coon, possum, yotes, bear, deer, moose, geese, duck, pheasant, dove, quail, woodcock, rails/snipe, turkey, and/or woodchuck) and want one gun to do it all, "then you may be a fowler man."
A fowler/musket only requires one thing,,,,,,,,to foresake all others! :shocking: She requires all your attention (to detail) and devotion (no time for others) before she'll satisfy your desires :master: (kind of like being married) :imo: She'll do all that you ask (but you gotta stroke her for the secrets of your desires!).
Smoothbores forever,,,, AMEN! :thumbsup:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

I have an English fowler in 20 gauge that I treasure a whole lot. Weighs around 7 lbs. and at 60-70 yards is near as good as a rifle. I've always thought it would make a good "head for the hills " gun if I found myself in a survival situation. It has a very fast flintlock and patterns well with most any weight of shot. It doesn't hurt at all that the early English fowler is, to my eyes, one of the handsomest firearms ever made. As an only gun, the fowler type is pretty hard to beat.

 

[The Baron]

the best part about black powder shooters is that they are a differnt bunch.. we dont compete and shut out beginners like other sports,, everyone here will be glad to help and tell you the innermost secrets so youll do better, and share whatever they have to help you out.. dave

So true. When I first found this site, I new little of nothing about flinters, but was very curious. I've had nothing but encouragement from the fellas here, and now I'm a flint shooter me-self! :thumbsup:

As for bore size - I had to get over the mental block of a 20 being kinda small myself. As I wanted a turkey/goose gun, it thought it had to be 12ga at least. But, after months of searching, I realized a nice period-correct 20ga. was much more available. Keep in mind that the bore may be small-ish, but you are not limited by case length. I've worked a load for my 20ga. Caywood with 1 1/2oz. shot and it patterns great. That is more shot than I load in my New Englaner 12ga.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

the best part about black powder shooters is that they are a differnt bunch.. we dont compete and shut out beginners like other sports,, everyone here will be glad to help and tell you the innermost secrets so youll do better, and share whatever they have to help you out.. dave

So true. When I first found this site, I new little of nothing about flinters, but was very curious. I've had nothing but encouragement from the fellas here, and now I'm a flint shooter me-self! :thumbsup:

As for bore size - I had to get over the mental block of a 20 being kinda small myself. As I wanted a turkey/goose gun, it thought it had to be 12ga at least. But, after months of searching, I realized a nice period-correct 20ga. was much more available. Keep in mind that the bore may be small-ish, but you are not limited by case length. I've worked a load for my 20ga. Caywood with 1 1/2oz. shot and it patterns great. That is more shot than I load in my New Englaner 12ga.

Don't forget that old English adage, "Little powder, much shot, shoot far." Holds true for me with my .62 fusil.