poor shot pattern

[arcticap]

I've tried using both newspaper and triple sized cotton balls. I didn't have the right cards or fiber wads and I tried to think of materials that would simulate the cushioning effect of a modern plastic shotshell wad using a heavy shot load. Other folks have mentioned using lots of alternative materials including leaves, hornets nest & cardboard/paperboard products. Thanks for reminding us all about how to be practical & economical. :front:

 

[riarcher]

Gill-
Your absolutely right. Newspaper works just fine.
The convienance of pre-made wads is just handier in the field.
I still use newspaper in my BP cartridges for the SXS. It's so much easier to fill the case to the top that way with a wax seal on top. :m2c:

 

[flint62]

I think if you get rid of the cushion wads or cut them in half you'll find those holes in your pattern will close up.
When I first started shooting my 62 smoothie, I had the same problem. I got rid of the wads and started using oats as a buffer. What a difference it made.
I use 2f about 75 to 80 grains, 4 or 6 shot at about 1 1/2 ounces.
Good Luck. Kevin :m2c:

 

Mr. Articap and Mr. Riarcher, Thanks for responding. I would put the Yankee Emblem here but I don't know how. Consider this a handshake over the wall!!! :blue: :blue:
The old guys were fun, they woud shoot hogs thruogh the screened patio. They would shoot cows that roamed into the neighborhood and call each other to come get it. Then they would tell us kids (30-50) to clean up the mess. I was allways hopeing it was the garage door lite that was broken. Maybe a flat tire on the golf cart or security vehicle they had. No!! a stripped alligator or a smelly cattle carcass/ hog carcass. It was nasty. And funney.
They had shag carpet (the long shag) untill the mid ninties when the guys started to die off fast. Then the women started to redecorate. The shock took most of the rest. The stronger are going now.
My Mom has a 90 yr old boyfriend and he is a nice guy. He is the brains behind the Berlin Airlift 1949? These Great Generation are .... like teenagers!!!! But I have to do what they ask. :grey:

 

[berickson]

MBRITT:
sounds like you're having exactly the same problems i had with my trade gun. (54cal/28ga)

shooting low: problem was me. got to keep your head up and see a bit of the barrel. i started by shooting it like a rifle. WAY low! started lifting my head (like a proper gentleman , what??) and now it's another good grouse gun.
patterns: 2 heavy cards over powder, a spritz of moose milk/lube, 1 heavy card over shot.
tried 3f and it blew patterns. 2f started pulling it in, threw away cushion wads and i was good to go.
load more shot than powder. that'll tighten the pattern. my load? 1oz of 2f, 1 1/8oz of shot. that's pretty much a 16 gauge load & it's pretty good out of my gun.

in my double 12 ga flinter - 1 1/8oz 2f, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2oz shot. again dbl card, single card. gonna try it on ducks pretty soon.
shoot your gun lots, that's the best cure and the most fun.
all these little hints were passed onto me on this board when i posted the same problem about a year ago.
bending barrel is the LAST court of appeal. same with jug chokes.
funny how these game critters have gotten so smart they can find the holes in patterns. they couldn't in the 1800s. ::
all the above applys to round balls too. couldn't hit a kenworth at 30 yards last fall. now i can ... if it's not moving ::

 

[Rebel]

MRBRITT, when Hornhead said he uses 1 oz of powder, he meant 70grs of 2f which will be 1 oz of shot if you use the same measurer. DO NOt use 1 oz of powder. 80 grs on the measurer would throw 1 1/8 oz of lead shot. 90 grs would be 1 1/4oz of shot. :front:

 

[mbritt]

I got back from vacation Saturday and on Sunday I did some more shooting at cardboard with my new gun. This time I used ff powder instead of fff powder. I tried all kinds combinations of powder and shot and wads. I found out it was the cushion wad that was blowing a hole in the pattern. I finally got a decent pattern using 55 grains of ff, 1 over powder card, 1/4 of a cushion wad, 1 1/8 oz #6 shot, and overshot card. I like the gun now and feel more confident about hunting with it. I will continue to experiment with different powder/wad/shot combinations. I am going to grind down the front sight to help with the problem of it shooting real low. I don't know why a large front blade would be put on a fowler anyway. I'm also holding my head up higher and farther back on the stock to prevent it bruising my cheek.