Pedersoli Indian Trade Gun First Shots

[Big Iron]

I finally shot my Indian Trade Gun yesterday. It was a first try so I only used shot. However, I was really surprised on how well it patterned at 25 Yards. Using No. 6 shot it was even and well centered. It was a very basic load: One Nitro card, one Fiber wad cut in half and used both , 1 1/8 oz of shot, and 60 grains of 2F Swiss BP, two over shot cards. I sure hope it does as well with a ball load. Looking good so far.

BI

 

[Woody Morgan]

Just out of curiosity, why cut the fiber wad in half then shove both down at the same time instead of just using the whole wad?
For a roundball, just use the same setup. I soak the fiber wad in olive oil for lube. Works in my SxS.

wm

 

[GoodRabbitPilgrim]

Is there a volumetric way to weigh out 1 1/8 Oz of shot? I'm looking at getting a fowler and I have no idea how to choose the right amount of shot.

 

[user 48702]

Is there a volumetric way to weigh out 1 1/8 Oz of shot? I'm looking at getting a fowler and I have no idea how to choose the right amount of shot.

Here's a previous post on the subject. Measuring your shot charge using a powder measure.
measuring shot and powder

 

[Britsmoothy]

Just out of curiosity, why cut the fiber wad in half then shove both down at the same time instead of just using the whole wad?
For a roundball, just use the same setup. I soak the fiber wad in olive oil for lube. Works in my SxS.

wm

To much wad column and muzzleloaders can show a trend for developing doughnut patterns.
Break it up and its lack of mass per piece helps it slow up quicker without disturbing the shot column on emergence from the barrel.
To make it even more simple I just carry os cards usually for wads.

 

[Woody Morgan]

To much wad column and muzzleloaders can show a trend for developing doughnut patterns.
Break it up and its lack of mass per piece helps it slow up quicker without disturbing the shot column on emergence from the barrel.
To make it even more simple I just carry os cards usually for wads.

Yessir, but read the OP again with the part of the comment in bold that confused me:

It was a very basic load: One Nitro card, one Fiber wad cut in half and used both , 1 1/8 oz of shot, and 60 grains of 2F Swiss BP, two over shot cards.

Where in the stackup were the two halves of the fiber wad used? Both on top of the op wad? One half above the op wad and one half over the shot column. I'm not being intentionally pedantic. Just trying to understand and possibly learn more.

wm

 

[Britsmoothy]

Yessir, but read the OP again with the part of the comment in bold that confused me:



Where in the stackup were the two halves of the fiber wad used? Both on top of the op wad? One half above the op wad and one half over the shot column. I'm not being pedantic. Just trying to understand and possibly learn more.

wm

He is using a full wad but breaks it first.
Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Brokennock]

Is there a volumetric way to weigh out 1 1/8 Oz of shot? I'm looking at getting a fowler and I have no idea how to choose the right amount of shot.

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/powder-measure-shot-loads-chart.21119/
This is located here,
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/tables-useful-information-thread-links.125795/With a bunch of other good info.
It used to be easier to find as it was under it's own heading. Now it is a "sticky" at the top of the general muzzloading section.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Funny thing is I hardly know what shot load I shoot these days. I just use my adjustable brass measure and tip more shot in by one adjustment, irrespective of gauge. Especially using fine powder I get plenty umph so the old rule of equal powder and shot vume don't apply.

 

[Brokennock]

Yessir, but read the OP again with the part of the comment in bold that confused me:



Where in the stackup were the two halves of the fiber wad used? Both on top of the op wad? One half above the op wad and one half over the shot column. I'm not being intentionally pedantic. Just trying to understand and possibly learn more.

wm

Sounds like the o.p. loaded powder, nitro card, then both halves of the fiber wad, then shot, then to overshot cards.
Using the full wad but cut in half allows the wad to decelerate faster and for the two halves to fall away sooner as each half has less mass than the full wad.
Many of us just use a stack of thin overshot cards on top of the powder instead of a nitro card for the same reason, they have no real mass and just fall away.
I'm thinking very few of us, but not all, even use a lubed fiber wad behind the shot anymore. I personally just use 2 thin overshot cards on the powder then a lubed felt wad. More and more of us are using that lubed felt wad on top of the overshot card that of holding the shot in though

 

[Woody Morgan]

Sounds like the o.p. loaded powder, nitro card, then both halves of the fiber wad, then shot, then to overshot cards.
Using the full wad but cut in half allows the wad to decelerate faster and for the two halves to fall away sooner as each half has less mass than the full wad.
Many of us just use a stack of thin overshot cards on top of the powder instead of a nitro card for the same reason, they have no real mass and just fall away.
I'm thinking very few of us, but not all, even use a lubed fiber wad behind the shot anymore. I personally just use 2 thin overshot cards on the powder then a lubed felt wad. More and more of us are using that lubed felt wad on top of the overshot card that of holding the shot in though

Ok. That's kind of what I had in mind once I read Britsmoothy's explanation and yours firms that up in my head.
Not an easy thing to do either.

wm

 

[TreeMan]

I keep it simple with my shot loads in my trade gun. I just use the thin shot cards. Three over powder and two over the shot. I just can’t see much of a difference with using all the complicated card, wads, dripping with oil wads combinations. At 25-30 yards it kills anything I point it at. Sometimes I’ll use TOW instead of the cards if it’s not fire season in the woods. Tow is even easier.

 

[Woody Morgan]

I use a drippy felt wad on top of a couple op cards to keep fouling manageable and a couple more on top of the load to keep it where I put it.

wm

 

[Doc]

Here's a previous post on the subject. Measuring your shot charge using a powder measure.
measuring shot and powder

Using a 65gr powder measure will give you a 11/8 by volume of shot.

 

[Brokennock]

Using a 65gr powder measure will give you a 11/8 by volume of shot.

Nope.

 

[Brokennock]

Somewhere in the link I posted above that contains a link to the chart of powder measure grains to ounces of shot,,,, by volume,,, used to be a chart comparing grains, ounces, and drams.
By volume.

 

[Big Iron]

As noted, I cut the wad in half to make it lighter so it is less likely to cause a hole in the pattern. I used two over shot cards because it leaked shot with only one. I have a "From the Day" shot and powder dipper that is adjustable. I have had it so long I don't remember where I got it. I fired four shots at different patterning paper and no holes. Guess I got it to work on the first try. That doesn't happen very often. Winter rabbits are in trouble.

BI

 

[Big Iron]

Yessir, but read the OP again with the part of the comment in bold that confused me:



Where in the stackup were the two halves of the fiber wad used? Both on top of the op wad? One half above the op wad and one half over the shot column. I'm not being intentionally pedantic. Just trying to understand and possibly learn more.

wm

They were both on top of the Nitro Card. I wanted to cut down the weight to help the pattern.

 

[user 48702]

Since I have tons of scrap leather at hand, I've been experimenting with using leather wads. I use the same punch for the leather wads that I use to punch over powder/shot cards. I use a card over the powder, two to three leather wads (according to thickness), shot, then card. It is working very well, excellent pattern with #5 shot @ 25 yards. I have tried lubing the edge of the leather wads by rolling them across a paste of beeswax and bear-grease (Bearguard Leather Dressing). Seems to work quite well, haven't had much fouling after a dozen or so shots.

 

[ohio ramrod]

I have b een using leather wads for over twenty years and like them so well I doubt that I will ever go back to felt wads.Especially since scrap leather is FREE in our area.