Preference poll: smoothbore or rifled?

[wiscoaster]

When it comes to black powder muzzleoading firearms, whether longarm or pistol, flintlock or percussion, do you prefer a rifled bore or a smoothbore? Feel free to explain why.

 

[Rob M.]

I do prefer a flintlock smoothbore trade gun for many reason ...their history, their versatility , their balance and weight ...just love em . I do prefer the smoothbore BUT ! Get one smoothbore and one rifle and MAN ! You got everything type of critter at all ranges covered !! LOL !

 

[bpd303]

I love em both equally.

 

[SDSmlf]

do you prefer a rifled bore or a smoothbore?

Comes down to the end game that is being played. I have both. Use both. How well will a smoothbore with no rear sight work at a 500+ yard target match? How does a rifled bore work on passing waterfowl or at skeet? If goal is to blow a hole sky, guess either would work. Now if intention is to hit a specific target…..

 

[longcruise]

Not much smoothbore experience. Almost none. But not hard to say rifle. No special reason. It's been perfectly satisfactory so far.

 

[Eutycus]

Never shot a smooth bore but I guess I needed to put something down, so rifled it is.

 

[Banjoman]

I’m definitely a smooth bore fan for a lot of reasons. I suppose my favorite smooth bores are a Fusil de Chasse and English Fowler.

 

[ronaldrothb49]

Have never really been interested in a smooth bore. Have always been interested in match shooting just never really felt like I would shoot a smooth bore much.

 

[Mousegunguy]

Smoothies all the way!!

 

[Des52]

Both, Rifles and Smoothies, each has a place in my shooting stable. They are all fun to shoot.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Rifle, have 1 Smoothbore, rest are all rifle and I only hunt Turkey with the smoothie, everything else I use the rifle.

 

[Johnny Too-Tall]

Well I own one ML smoothie and everything else is a rifle. Turkeys smoothie while I would shot a prb in it for deer, I'd rather use the rifles since I have many available. Squirrels I am not starving for food so 32-40 cal. Deer 45-54 (62cal if I decide too). My logic is I am far more accurate over all with rifled barrels than the smoothie. The game deserves the respect of using the most accurate method I have to harvest them. Now many places I have I have no doubt I could take a deer or bear with the smoothie under 50 yards. I go with rifle but smoothie is much lighter.

 

[maillemaker]

I shoot both in N-SSA competition. Different animals entirely. But smoothbore is my favorite thing to shoot. Big holes and shorter ranges mean I can see how I'm doing on target without a scope!

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Rifled..but im itchin for a smoothie....

 

[Big Tom 52]

I went with "rifled" but only because I haven't had any experience with a smooth bore. I think a smooth bore would be a lot of fun hunting rabbits and birds.

 

[waksupi]

A curiosity maybe, but if I have been keeping up on my smooth bore shooting, I usually average two more hits than my rifle score, shooting the same woods walk targets with the fowler.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

I voted Smooth bore and I don't even have one, YET! But my eyes are not great with open sights, so shooting much past 50 yards doesn't happen very often. And, I am a hunter, I can get within 50 yards of deer in my area no problem. If I couldn't I would quit hunting. So shooting a deer with a smooth bore range wise won't be an issue for me, I'm always going to have rifles as well.

 

[Rató:rats]

I don’t even own a rifle anymore. Smoothies are way too fun.

 

[Sir Boniface Harrison]

All my guns are rifled, but I intend to get a smoothbore very soon. My old 2 - band .58 Parker Hale Enfield in fact, which currently resides at my friend's house in England and has done for 30 years, ever since I quit re-enacting with the (UK) American Civil War Society. It was de-rifled (if that's the word) before it came into my posession. The hold up now is finding a way to get it to France without going through the belly-ache of getting a British gun permit.

 

[satwel]

As long as they've got a flint lock, I love 'em both.