I measured my bore at the muzzle and it it mics at .606 is this still considered a 62 cal / 29 gauge? I’m not really familiar with Fowler’s.. but I’m willing and wanting to learn.
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Question about my new fowler..
- Thread starter S.Kenton
- Start date
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20 gage, or twenty one. .58 is about 24. who made it? A .600 without a patch should shoot well, or a patched .575.
Technically, a 20 gauge will measure 0.615" in diameter. I would consider your gun a 20 gauge.
A 21 gauge ball will measure 0.605".
Once upon a time I bought a 21 gauge ball mold cheaply because no one apparently wanted such an odd size. Used and old, it throws a ball kinda close to a 21/20 gauge.
A 21 gauge ball will measure 0.605".
Once upon a time I bought a 21 gauge ball mold cheaply because no one apparently wanted such an odd size. Used and old, it throws a ball kinda close to a 21/20 gauge.
Sorry I meant 20 gauge, my fat finger hit the 9 instead of the 0...
Brokennock
Cannon
If you push a damp patch down the bore, does it get looser partway down the bore? Say a few inches past the muzzle?
Brokennock,Hmmm, good question I’ll have to check tomrorow...stophel, my question was more centered towards shooting roundball. I know it will shoot both.. but was just curious as to what information others had.
Interesting to see if it is a choked bore. A 0.014" restriction on a 20 gauge is right around a Skeet #2 / light modified choke. Though I don't know of any fowlers using a "modern" restricted choke like that.
My 20g mic's out at .629". It's all an approximation.
You can get 12g range from 710"-740".
Nominal is .729". European is nominally .718"! Go figure.
You can get 12g range from 710"-740".
Nominal is .729". European is nominally .718"! Go figure.
As tenngun asked, "Who made I?" Perhaps more to the question is who made the barrel?
Regardless, for all practical purposes, it is a 20 gauge. For shot, the difference in bore diameter won't make a difference. For ball, you won't want to try a 0.610" ball. A 0.595" ball with 0.010" patching is where I would try for round ball. A ball of 0.600" over wadding would be the largest diameter ball I would try. Fouling will build up quickly so be prepared to wipe the bore as you shoot it.
Thanks, I have some .060 roundballs from a previous set up I had.ill use those and go with 590/595 for patched and see what shoots the best. I asked the builder who made the barrel... he hasn’t gotten back with me yet..thanks to all who replied.
hanshi
Cannon
The 20 ga I have has a bore just a bit on the smaller side. It may be .610" up to .615". A .606" ball is really too tight to patch even with thin material. A .600" ball with a .014" or thinner patch will seat although pretty snug. But that combo is very accurate and has taken deer. A .606" ball seated on an op wad with an os wad on top of the ball does pretty well up to around 50 paces or thereabout.
jbwilliams3
45 Cal.
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Or try it with no patch at all. That seems controversial in some circles, but it’s what our ancestors did (probably the vast majority of the time) and I shoot better with an over powder wad and a wad over the ball anyways. Many seem to shoot well with a patched round ball in a smoothbore. Personally, I don’t see a difference at smoothbore range. This is a small 2-pint can shot five times offhand from 40 yards on Saturday. I used green fern leaves that were growing in my woods for the wadding. This is with a 670 ball in a (just under) .69 bore.
Attachments
1 Pound / gauge = weight of lead sphere Caliber of lead sphere is then measured
gauge pounds mm inches
0.25 4 67.34 2.651
0.5 2 53.45 2.103
0.75 1+1/3 46.70 1.838
1 1 42.42 1.669
1.5 2/3 37.05 1.459
2 1/2 33.67 1.326
3 1/3 29.41 1.158
4 1/4 26.72 1.052
5 1/5 24.80 0.976
6 1/6 23.35 0.919
6.278 1/6.278 23.00 0.906
7 1/7 22.18 0.873
8 1/8 21.21 0.835
9 1/9 20.39 0.803
10 1/10 19.69 0.775
11 1/11 19.07 0.751
12 1/12 18.53 0.729
13 1/13 18.04 0.710
14 1/14 17.60 0.693
15 1/15 17.21 0.677
16 1/16 16.83 0.663
17 1/17 16.50 0.650
18 1/18 16.19 0.637
20 1/20 15.63 0.615
22 1/22 15.13 0.596
24 1/24 14.70 0.579
26 1/26 14.31 0.564
28 1/28 13.97 0.550
32 1/32 13.36 0.526
36 1/36 12.85 0.506
40 1/40 12.40 0.488
67.62 1/67.62 10.41 0.410
Sounds like its probably choked but here are some measurements.
Robby
gauge pounds mm inches
0.25 4 67.34 2.651
0.5 2 53.45 2.103
0.75 1+1/3 46.70 1.838
1 1 42.42 1.669
1.5 2/3 37.05 1.459
2 1/2 33.67 1.326
3 1/3 29.41 1.158
4 1/4 26.72 1.052
5 1/5 24.80 0.976
6 1/6 23.35 0.919
6.278 1/6.278 23.00 0.906
7 1/7 22.18 0.873
8 1/8 21.21 0.835
9 1/9 20.39 0.803
10 1/10 19.69 0.775
11 1/11 19.07 0.751
12 1/12 18.53 0.729
13 1/13 18.04 0.710
14 1/14 17.60 0.693
15 1/15 17.21 0.677
16 1/16 16.83 0.663
17 1/17 16.50 0.650
18 1/18 16.19 0.637
20 1/20 15.63 0.615
22 1/22 15.13 0.596
24 1/24 14.70 0.579
26 1/26 14.31 0.564
28 1/28 13.97 0.550
32 1/32 13.36 0.526
36 1/36 12.85 0.506
40 1/40 12.40 0.488
67.62 1/67.62 10.41 0.410
Sounds like its probably choked but here are some measurements.
Robby
My Colerain barrel 16 gauge mics at .653.
I’m actually thinking it is choked, it’s at my buddies right now getting ready to recieve a make over... the next time I stop over I’ll check it all over. As of now I can’t run a patch down the barrel due to the fact the touch hole is protruding into the barrel... once that is taken care of I’ll be able to report back.
Thanks all
Thanks all
The Colerain Turkey Choked barrel in 20 gauge is tightly choked to 58 caliber at the muzzle so we should be able to rule that barrel out. The 0.606 would make it improved cylinder. A muzzleloader would be more likely to be jug choked in which the barrel is relieved a few thousandths for a couple of inches from about 3" from the muzzle to about 6" from the muzzle.
Its good that you have a friend who is knowledgeable about flintlocks to address the touch hole intrusion into the bore. What does he think of the barrel bore size? He should be of great help getting you up to speed on usong your smoothbore.
I am going to speculate that you have a cylinder bore gun of 0.606 diameter. Don't let that turn you off from enjoying your gun. You have a great start on buying components by knowing the exact diameter. (I didn't find anyone selling 21 gauge wad and card components.) This will pay off when preparing your cleaning jag. You will want it to be a bit, 0.011", reduced in diameter from a standard cleaning jag to prevent issues resulting from pushing fouling to the breech and filling that adjusted touch hole and causing a failure to fire.
Its good that you have a friend who is knowledgeable about flintlocks to address the touch hole intrusion into the bore. What does he think of the barrel bore size? He should be of great help getting you up to speed on usong your smoothbore.
I am going to speculate that you have a cylinder bore gun of 0.606 diameter. Don't let that turn you off from enjoying your gun. You have a great start on buying components by knowing the exact diameter. (I didn't find anyone selling 21 gauge wad and card components.) This will pay off when preparing your cleaning jag. You will want it to be a bit, 0.011", reduced in diameter from a standard cleaning jag to prevent issues resulting from pushing fouling to the breech and filling that adjusted touch hole and causing a failure to fire.
So one more question, will my standard 20 gauge wads and cards fit my .606 diameter barrel? I haven’t shot it just yet and am planning on it this weekend. I think all will fit... but wanted your opinions or experience rather
Have you run a cleaning patch through the barrel? Is the patch tight at the muzzle and loosens up after about 6" and then consistent to just above the touch hole? Has the touch hole problem been addressed? Not really a concern for shooting, but the touch hole intrusion should be corrected for best operation and cleaning.
The wads will be a bit over size since the 20 gauge wads are intended for a 0.615" diameter 20 gauge. You may find the over shot cards easier to load if they are slit to the center so the edges can overlap. You should have a button jag that is nearly bore diameter to insert cards and wads in the bore. You do not want the cards or wads to twist in the bore. The undersized cards and wads will cup a bit, but that means that the fouling will be better scraped by the cards and the wad.
I have a choked 12 gauge. The muzzle is 0.700 and opens to 12 gauge (maybe 0.729") after the choke restriction. I load 12 gauge wads. I build up the shot column by inserting the over powder card about 2" down the bore (make it easy by using three over shot cards, nicked on the edge, as they conform to the undersized barrel better), then the shot and an over shot card. You may not need to use a heavily oiled over shot wad on the top as you have an apparent chole in the bore. With a bore sized button, you will push the shot column to the breech and the cards and wads should not twist.
