Question on a shotgun

[huntswnm]

Hi all.
A good friend of mine has lent me a shotgun for turkey season this year. I have a few questions about the gun itself, maybe someone here knows some history of the manufacturer, etc. I will write down whats on the barrel, maybe someone can decifer it.......

1838 MFC.BY RAJ.GUN MFG.C? DOAIPUR 1970

BP 20 .262"

NOT NITRO 68 GRNS 7/8 OZ

Went out and shot it today using the recomended 68 grns and 7/8 oz of shot. Had trouble getting consistent patterns at 15 yards. When I got home and tore it down the piece of metal attached to the barrel where the holding pin goes through the stock had come loose from the barrel. Hadn't noticed that prior to this shooting session. Guess I will take it to a gunsmith to have it put back on properly.
Other than that it was fun to shoot!
Can't wait to put a thunder chicken down with it!
Thanks for any help/info you can provide
jeff

 

[123.DieselBenz]

Jeff,

Are you sure the "BP 20 .262"" is not .622"? as that would be about bore dia for a 20 bore . . .

 

[Mike Brooks]

Made in India in the 70's. Not noted for their high quality.

 

[huntswnm]

You are probably right in regards to the diameter. You can tell the numbering and lettering were stamped by hand and have worn down over time so it is a little hard to read.
Once I pulled the barrel off I could tell that there is not a lot of detail work in the stock so it does not surprise me that it is not a high quality gun.
It is at the gunsmith now getting the lug re-soldered and some adjustments made to the hammer. I just hope I can find a load that works good enough to put down a Tom Gobbler this spring. I have really wanted to take one with an old BP shotgun for a while now.
jeff

 

[MSW]

bought what sounds like something similar in the early eighties, which was advertised as a 12 guage but really turned out to be more like a 14. it was a lot of fum to shoot, until someone at the range pointed out that there was a suspicious puff of smoke comming from what looked like the underside of the stock when it was fired. i took it apart, and lo! there were what appeared to be a welded seam, so it became a wall hanger, which was OK, because the stock was this really exotic and really pretty looking wood.

perhaps they've 'cleaned up' their q.a. issues, but i'd hate to bet the front of my face on it.

i'm ugly enough as it is!

 

[ohio ramrod]

:surrender: CAUTION :surrender: There was a big quality/safety issue with those guns. Check yours out carefully. If it is safe to shoot you could most likely improve the pattern using a paper shot cartridge. I make mine by rolling newspaper (three layers) around a dowel rod, tieing off one end with kite string, filling the tube with the shot, folding over and tieing the second end. To load I use one 1/2 inch fiber wad over the powder. Then the shot cartridge. I do not open the shot cartridge, I just ram it down folded end last. The folded end acts as an over shot card.

 

[Croppy Boy]

Ohio,

When you're making your shot cartridge, do you make it a tight fit to the bore or leave it smaller so that the blast will upset the shot bursting the paper ensuring no slugs?

I tried this some time ago, I was advised to use stronger paper than newspaper and glue an OS card to the top but gave it up as I was getting too many slugs.

 

[huntswnm]

Thanks guys. Really nervous now about shooting this thing once it gets back from the gunsmith. I will call him and have him check it out real well for any safety issues.
I guess I am not imagining how the top is folded and tied on a paper tube? Should the dowel be just smaller than the bore diameter?

jeff

 

[123.DieselBenz]

kinda like rolling coins . . . but with a longer tail . . . twist it, then tie it off.

 

[huntswnm]

K thanks. So the longer tail is folded back over the roll thereby making the top portion a little wider for the over shot? Think I got it.

Talked to the gunsmith today. He said he would check it out real good and look for safety issues. Said he would do a hardness test on the steel and make sure the steel wasn't too soft for its intended use.

Guess I will take it easy with it when I get it back. I was already thinking of shooting a few grains less than what was recomended.

jeff

 

[paulvallandigham]

The only way to know what will work in your gun is to try it several shots at the range, and see how it patterns.

Normally, BTW, if you make a Package for the shot load from newspaper, closed at both ends, you don't have to use an OS card on top of it when loaded. The Twisted end on top, flattened with your ramrod when you load the package down the bore, will hold the package closed. On firing, the shot will tear open the package as it exits the muzzle.

You don want the package to be as close to bore diameter, as possible. Some consideration for muzzle choked barrels has to be made, or you won't fit the package down through the choke. But, in a cylinder bore gun, you can insert the package of shot fairly easily. Try newsprint- simply because its so available-- and wrap the paper around your forming "MANDRIL", at least 2x to form the cylinder of the package. You want to glue the edge to the wrap and let it dry.

I found, in my own testing, that ONE wrap was too thin, and confetti was the result coming out of the barrel. 3 layers in the wrap were too much, and resulted in a shotgun "SLUG"!, as the shot did not reliably open the package. 2 layers in the wrap did work as hoped for. To close the ends, just twist and fold.

Obviously, close one end to make a " shot-cup", and then load the shot into the cup before closing the other end. Sometimes you have to glue the bottom end to insure portability. That seems to depend on the paper used as much as anything else. :thumbsup:

 

[huntswnm]

Thanks to all. I pick up the gun from the gunsmith on Saturday so sometime next week I will be geting out to shoot it again.

jeff

 

[ohio ramrod]

I make them a loose fit.Easier loading through the choke on my SxS. The smoothbore is really loose, but seems to hold in well. I give them a firm seating and have had no problem with them coming loose.

 

[huntswnm]

K so after thinking about what everyone here has told me, and talking with my gunsmith who agreed that this shotgun (the one made in India in the'70s) has never had a good safety reputation I have decided to send it back to my buddy and not risk permanent injury :thumbsup:

So I have some other questions on my quest for a smoothbore to hunt turkey with someday. I have a 54 Renegade.....Does T/C or somebody else make a drop in smooth bore barrel for this frame? Guess my other option would be to see if the gunsmith can build one?
Thanks for any direction...

jeff

 

[dbutch]

Green mountain made 62 cal smooth bore drop-ins...T/C made a 56 cal smooth bore also..or you could have a barrel opened up to 62 cal. would not use less than 32" for that one...Colerain makes a barrel 62 cal with a turkey choke..62 cal breach last 5 inches the bore narrows to 58 cal for the choke..you would have to have a breach plug..under rib rr pipes and front and rear sight for that one. I have 2 of those and they hold a great turkey pattern at 35 yards.Or another option would be to buy a used T/C New Englander with a 12 ga. barrel.
There are many ways to get where you would like to go.

 

[bucktales]

My opinion,
One of these... NSW will work fine.
I have an Early English.62, 36 inch jugged barrel. Patterns great and it is a pleasure carrying in the field as it is light and points well.

 

[huntswnm]

Thanks guys. I am sure I will find something/figure something out sometime. Too bad I don't have $800+ lying around that I could buy a new one with.
jeff

 

[stubshaft]

Great tip.

Gonna hafta make some while watching the boob tube to try out in my Pedersoli.