Smooth bore target 20 gauge

[Thing]

[Target is 50 yard. TVM fowler . 80 grains of 3f
600 round ball with 15th patch lubed. Over powder circle fly card. The bottom two hits are same load but over shot card on top of powder. I believe the velocity is increased with the over powder card and not the light over shot card. seems as though the ball flew flatter and struck the target properly. This same issue occurred at 75 yards. Other pictures to follow.

 

[Thing]

Same loading same results except at 75 yards Not sure why the picture is messed up. But you get the idea

 

[Britsmoothy]

Wow :hatsoff:

Impressive shooting.

B.

 

[hanshi]

You have it nailed, my friend. Lots of folks don't realize the level of accuracy that can be realized with a smoothbore.

 

[Skychief]

That's great shooting :thumbsup:

Does your gun have a rear sight?

Best regards, Skychief

 

[meanmike8665]

Wow, very nice shooting.
Michael

 

[Thing]

yes it has a rear sight. Seems to help a lot.

 

[lefty41]

great shooting!

 

[Ray-Vigo]

At modest distances, the biggest change for a rifle shooter trying a smoothbore is the lack of a rear sight. The lack of rifling comes into play at longer distances mostly, but at a shorter distances, working off a front only is the greater challenge. And if you hunt here in the eastern US, most of your shots are in the woods, at those shorter distances. I believe a good smoothbore shooter used to working with a single sight in the eastern forests is at no disadvantage hunting compared to a similar rifle.

 

[Thing]

I have no disagreement with you, However I like a rear sight. Been a rifle ,pistol shooter my entire life. Always had rear sights. I have nothing to prove by use of no rear sight. As you can see by the targets it works for me. Also not posted is a 100 yard target with similar results, But about 3 inches lower.

 

[Zonie]

The idea of a rear sight on a smoothbore is not new.

In "COLONIAL FRONTIER GUNS" by T.M. Hamilton, ©1987, several pictures of gun parts found at digs show rear sights were in use on smoothbores as early as the 1680's,(Figure 6, "A PRESUMED DUTCH GUN RESTORED") (p 27).
(Figure 9, "A TYPE C GUN FROM ANGOLA", (Louisiana Archaeological Survey, Haynes Bluff burial) G and H) and the "TR", type G breech (fig 39, p 72).

 

[tenngun]

I put a rear sight on my fusils. It sure makes it easier for me.

 

[Thing]

Same here , Makes it easier for me also.

 

[kingsax26]

some may argue , but i have no qualms about shooting a fowler with a rear sight. In fact all of my "deer Guns" have rear sights on them. I just prefer to have that increased accuraccy. not because the rear sight is better, but because ive never been that great at long distance with just a front sight. However , all of my squirrel/turkey guns have front sight only ...

 

[hanshi]

My smoothbore was ordered with a rear sight. I like it.

 

[Thing]

Mine was ordered with the rear sight also.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Nice shooting!

So ... not having tried them yet as a shotgun in my smoothies, what's the difference between the over powder shot vs powdah card? One is heavier stock? (Assume the powdah one is?)

Have you compared patched loads without any over powdah card to those with? Not sure if your implying that the card, whichever it is, improved the grouping. If so, must be the gas seal ...

 

[Nessmuck56]

My builder built me a period correct Tulle....no front sight,and that's the way I shoot it. It's a whole nuther animal with just a front sight !

 

[Thing]

The over powder card is a Circle Fly Nitro card 1/8 thick. Added benefit is it protects the patch from any burn through. Plus giving a very tight seal which increases the velocity. If using shot I place a Circle Fly Cushion wad on top of the powder card. Then the shot. Last a over shot card. The cushion wads are pre lubed . But, I soak them in olive oil
Prior to shooting. I Use only half of the cushion wad. I split it with finger nail. Comes apart real easy. A full wad seems to blow a donut hole in shot pattern. It will take some time shooting various combinations of loads to find what your particular gun likes.

 

[majg1234]

I have used a felt wad over powder and over ball for several years now seems to do very well in my 20 gauge. Tried a patched ball with very little improvement.Gonna start with my 16 bore next week and if successful will be posting pics of it and it's targets,Not exactly sure where I'll start it but bound to have fun making smoke!!!!