Round Balls Out Of A Bird Gun

[Walkabout]

So I just got this older Pedersoli 12 gauge and it weighs about 5.5 pounds. Obviously, this is intended to be an upland bird gun. Should I have have any qualms about shooting round balls, besides loosening molars? The bores are supposedly improved cylinder, it says 18.3 under both barrels. Thanks

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Actually a round ball load using a .690 ball would be almost exactly the same as 1⅛ of bird shot. So there would be no reason your load should shake your fillings loose and cause a nose bleed.

18.3 or 18,3 are metric designations of mm's for the bores. It means .7205 bore aka 12, so mike the bores at the muzzle and if you get a smaller than .720 reading then you have a choked pair of barrels. You may have cylinder bore barrels, which works just fine too.

LD

 

[Sidney Smith]

An ounce of lead is the same regardless whether it's one round ball or a load of pellets. A 70 or 80 grain charge in either isn't that punishing on the shoulder.

 

[Walkabout]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

 

[Rifleman1776]

If yer barrels are choked loading could be an issue.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

Slugs in breechloaders are wound up because they can. It's not because they produce more pressure by nature, they are just pushed quicker.

 

[flntlokr]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

I think slug loads are hotter. I beg to be corrected on this.

 

[TDM]

I’ve shot patched .690 RBs out of my 12 ga New Englander. Works fine but never stuck with it long enough to work up an accurate load. But it’s very doable.

 

[smoothshooter]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

Factory slug loads are much heavier than bird shot field or dove and quail loads.

 

[Rawhide67]

I have a short barreled (28") trade gun ish 12ga. Not sure who made it but the lock is Italian.

Shoots #5 shot very well. Won't throw a round ball well enough to make it worth while, so I don't have to worry about getting beat by recoil.

 

[centershot]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

Pressure testing of equal weight payloads (ball or shot) has shown that pressures are higher with shot loads. It is believed to be due to the shot charge "squatting" under acceleration and trying to expand radially. The round ball can not do this, as it is a single mass of lead. I've found that a 12 ga. ball at 1200 fps is more than enough to kill a deer, the ball punches a large hole straight through. Recoil is no worse than a trap load, an ounce of lead is an ounce of lead. Modern day deer slugs are loaded to 15-1600 fps, quite lethal but brutal to the shoulder. You don't need all that speed!

 

[Ross5403]

Same here out of my .12ga New England Fowler. It wasn't unpleasant at all. But building a .54 rifle so it will be a dedicated shotgun from now on.

 

[hanshi]

My 20 ga flintlock smoothbore has a rear sight and is aimed just like a rifle. The gun has killed deer DRT and is shot only with a 330 grn round ball patch with thin material. Average three shot group at 50 yards is under 3". Loaded with 3F the velocity is just a little short of 1300 fps.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Interesting, I'm inclined to think that a round ball is going to generate more pressure, thus more recoil. My 6 pound unmentionable pounds the cr** out of me with slug loads. Thanks

Sure, but that's using modern smokeless powder which is a lot more powerful.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Factory slug loads are much heavier than bird shot field or dove and quail loads.

Not all. Many are one ounce in weight. They're just being pushed by more and stronger powder thus more felt recoil.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Pressure testing of equal weight payloads (ball or shot) has shown that pressures are higher with shot loads. It is believed to be due to the shot charge "squatting" under acceleration and trying to expand radially. The round ball can not do this, as it is a single mass of lead. I've found that a 12 ga. ball at 1200 fps is more than enough to kill a deer, the ball punches a large hole straight through. Recoil is no worse than a trap load, an ounce of lead is an ounce of lead. Modern day deer slugs are loaded to 15-1600 fps, quite lethal but brutal to the shoulder. You don't need all that speed!

Push a large pure lead ball enough and it will change shape! Radially. Especially the bigger they get.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Push a large pure lead ball enough and it will change shape! Radially. Especially the bigger they get.

True, depending on the amount of force applied, but compared to loose shot of equal weight, there is a lot more lead in contact with the barrel walls and thus more friction.

LD

 

[smoothshooter]

Not all. Many are one ounce in weight. They're just being pushed by more and stronger powder thus more felt recoil.

The payload may be the same but slugs and buckshot are typically loaded to higher pressures.

 

[yellowhammer]

My 20 ga flintlock smoothbore has a rear sight and is aimed just like a rifle. The gun has killed deer DRT and is shot only with a 330 grn round ball patch with thin material. Average three shot group at 50 yards is under 3". Loaded with 3F the velocity is just a little short of 1300 fps.

Hanshi, If I could assure myself I could shoot a group like that, I would start a lightweight Fusil de Chasse soon; y'all are piquing my interest.

 

[griffiga]

One of my originals is a single barrel Fowler in 12 ga (far left in photo). I shoot a patched .690 RB and 70 grains Swiss 1 1/2. I keep all shots on an 8.5 x 11 inch paper target at 30-40 yards. Planning on taking it on my muzzle loader hunt next week