New Smoothbore

[Alberta Black]

Hi Folks

I am about to pony up my cash and order a new smoothbore specifically for wing shooting so I am going to need some small modifications to the stock.

It seems that I am stuck with 20gauge although I would prefer 16 gauge.

The front runner for my affections is the TVM Fowler that is affordable and looks to be very good quality.

I would appreciate any suggestions you folks might have particularly from someone who does some wingshooting with a flintlock.

Turkeys are very limited in my province only get a permit once every five or six years so that is not my main focus.

thanks

Richard

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Since you rule out turkeys, I'm sure you'll find the 20 gauge more than adequate, after all, not too many years ago 1 1/4 ounce of shot was considered a "heavy" load for the 12 gauge.
A friend has a TVM fowler and is quite happy with it. It did require a bit of barrel bending to get the point of impact up to the point of aim but I understand that is quite common for long barreled fowlers and is not a very difficult adjustment. :grin:

 

[ShortBus]

Track sells a fusil de chase in 16g.

 

[Le Grand]

Alberta Black, That TVM Fowler is a mighty fine gun. If you really want a 16 gauge they can be found. North Star West will be glad to make you a Northwest Gun in 16 gauge. Be sure to look at their offerings. Le Grand

 

[Craig]

If you want the TVM, call Toni. She might be able to work with you on getting you what you want in 16 gauge. She was very nice working with me and others have indicated the same on this forum.

 

[Alberta Black]

Thanks for the input. I'll check out that Fusil on TOTW.

Toni has been most helpful thus far.

Do you have the contact info for North West.

Richard

 

[Le Grand]

Alberta Black, North Star West is in Montana and easily contacted at[url] www.northstarwest.com[/url].
Le Grand

 

[No Deer]

Unless you just have your heart set on a 16 ga. I don't think that you will be disappointed with the 20 ga. I have one, I have taken everything from squirrels to deer, quail to turkeys with it. It will do the job without any problems.

 

[Alberta Black]

Thanks for the contact info Legrand.

No Deer I am not stuck on a 16 just thought that it might be interesting.

AB

 

[Le Grand]

Alberta Black, A 16 gauge is interesting. It will sure shoot a .645" round ball better than a 20 gauge! However, a 20 gauge will certainly jump to whatever task you ask it to. My favorite smoothbore now is the 24 gauge, .58 caliber. There is nothing 'small' about that. Le Grand

 

[Alberta Black]

legrand

I am leaning towards the 20 gauge, maybe because I do not have one and No Deer has done well with his gun.

However Toni of TVM said that they would make me a
12 gauge fowler and that bears some thinking about.

I am still curious about wing shooting with a fowler. I can see a challenge getting the gun cocked and shouldered before the birds fly out of cylinder bore range (25yards?).

Richard

 

[Mike Brooks]

If you're not going to shoot round ball I'd go with the 12 bore and a 38" colerain barrel. Get some jug choke put in it and it will perform as well as any modern gun.
80% of all the pheasants I've ever killed have been killed with a flintlock fowler.
Here's a 20 bore made from a Chambers officer's fusil.

Here's an antique double flint 18 bore I've hunted with for years

Here's a 10 bore made from a Chambers New england fowler kit.

Here's a english 16 bore fowler I built from scratch.

Here's a english fowler 20 bore I built from scratch

Here's a hudson valley fowler in 12 bore I made.

Here's a double flint 14 bore I made.

I could go on and on.....but , the choices are endless, and I'd recommend a larger bore if you're going to be shooting birds on the wing. The bigger the better. :thumbsup:

 

[Stophel]

I am definitely NOT a wingshooter. One thing I do know, however, is that lighter is better. Most old bird guns I have handled were very nice and light, with THIN walled barrels. I have a Colerain 16 ga. barrel here that eventually I'll get around to putting into a cherry stock. It is nice and light. Many of the 20 ga. barrels available now are rather weighty...Go to Friendship or somewhere if at all possible, so you can get your hands physically on a barrel before purchasing so you can see how light or heavy it is. :winking:

 

[Alberta Black]

you are right Mike, you can always load a 12 gauge like a 20 gauge but it does not work the other way.

I have a 12 gauge percussion Mowrey that I intend to use for ducks so I'll probably go for the 20 gauge as I intend to shoot round ball.

AB

 

[Java Man]

I agree. I have a TVM 20 Fowler. The bbl is a bit heavy. The gun weighs 7 1/4#. I also just got a Palyszeski Fusil that weighs 7 3/4# with a light bbl. Both are 20ga with 42" bbls. The Fusil handles way nicer.

I shot clays with the TVM gun one day and slayed them pretty good. It shoots rb's good too. Lighter bbl feels better to me too. JMHO.

 

[Rusty Old Gunns]

you are right Mike, you can always load a 12 gauge like a 20 gauge but it does not work the other way.

I have a 12 gauge percussion Mowrey that I intend to use for ducks so I'll probably go for the 20 gauge as I intend to shoot round ball.

AB

Agreed, my friend. In fact I just ordered a 12 gauge English Fowler from Caywood, jug choked to "Modified"

With a 41 1/2" barrel, the piece weighs in at 6 3/4 pounds. Perfect for wing shooting, turkey, or anything else you can do with a 20. And a .69 ball is no harder to shoot than a .60.

I love my 20 gauge fowler (TVM), that sweetheart gives me clover leaves at 25 yards with ball. But if I can get a 12 that is the same barrel legnth, LOP, with a jug choke that adds about 10 yards to my reach, and weighs a pound or so less and 2 pounds less than my Pedersoli Bess... Why not?

Check them out. Their price is reasonable @ $1300 or so + the choke, and their lead time right now is about 5 months...

"The perfect Christmas Gift from Momma"

I have 3 20 gauge smoothies 41 1/2", 34" and 20" canoe... and two rifled.

But I have to admit, ordered it three weeks ago and I'm already sitting in the den looking out the window for the UPS truck.

 

[faw3]

Dont know what 20 youv picked up that was heavy, I had a 1"X32" 20g made for my underhammer and you throw the barrel up and it takes for ever to float back down, 6 pounds for the whole thing. Fred :hatsoff: