Smoothbore Pistol

[the priest]

As a matter of curiosity, for those of you with smoothbore pistols,.....what kind of shot patterns do you typically average around 25 yards? :hmm: Typical loads? :hmm: Possible hunting applications with shot? :hmm: :hmm:

I've been thinking a smoothie in .62 might make a darned effective woods walking gun for small game if their patterns would stay together.

Thanks in advance for any info.

:v

 

[Mike Brooks]

With aq stout enough load I find recoil to be an issue.
I know a guy that has taken aturkey with a flint 2o bore pistol with jug choke. It's a two handed afair and it can still get away from you, He's taken the cock in the forehead even with a two hand hold.

 

[bnail]

With aq stout enough load I find recoil to be an issue.
I know a guy that has taken aturkey with a flint 2o bore pistol with jug choke. It's a two handed afair and it can still get away from you, He's taken the cock in the forehead even with a two hand hold.

Who, in their right mind, would knowingly punish themselves like that! :youcrazy:
I've been casting eyes at NSW's trade pistol, and have been contemplating loads for various purposes, but I never considered that!
Mike, what size load did your friend use?

 

[Berk]

I at one time had one of the old made in Japan Tower pistol. I also was having a sparrow and Blackbird problem at that time and I would load it with shot and newspaper wadding and shoot birds. It wasnt too effective and I dont think I would have relied on it for serious hunting.

Berk

 

[szihn]

Actually guys,
You will be suprized.

I have done this very thing for many years. Used a 62 smooth bore pistol as a "small game getter"!

Any of you ever have a BB gun as a kid? Or a pettet gun? Did you ever kill any birds, rabbits or squirrels? Most of us did, and most of us have.

A standard BB gu or Pellet gun shoots at about 500 to 600 FPS and the .177 BB are steel, not lead, so they are lighter by far.

If You load a 62 pistol with about 40 grains of 2F and load about 1 OZ of #4 0r #2 LEAD shot on top, you will find it's deadly on small animals at about 10-20 yards. It doesn't kill them out right every time, but it stops them from running or flying, and the you can kill them with you hands or foot.
Try it.
If you sew up some thin leather bags, like the finger tip of a glove, and load your shot into them, open side towards the muzzle, you will also be suprized at how tight the pattern is. It's NEVER going to be the equil of a 12 ga with a choke, but at the distances you shoot in the woods, it's fine for grouse and rabbits. Get about 600 FPS out of it and some #2 lead shot will go clear through a cottontail.
Good hunting
SZ

 

[paulvallandigham]

Because the barrels are so short, its difficult to get much velocity without making recoil so severe, that you risk damaging the gun. Out ot 29 yds, maybe, you can be reasonably effective using large birdshot- say #5 or #4 shot. Even at low velocity, they maintain their velocity and the large size will help them penetrate small game, like rabbits, woodchucks, small birds. Don't use more than 60 grains of 2Fg powder and one ounce of shot. And, don't exceed the pattern effectiveness. Test your load on paper, and see exactly how far you can maintain a good pattern, and a load that will penetrate both sides of an aluminum pop can. With small shot sizes than I recommend, you can still get a full pattern at 30 yds, but almost no power is left. I prefer pistols with longer barrels for hunting game of any size, simply to give the powder more barrel to burn in. Velocity is much better with a 16 inch barrel than even a 12 inch barrel in these large bores.

 

How long a pistol barrel can you have before it is a sawed off shotgun.??? when would the law begin to frown? Bob Hell. Worried.

 

[Russianblood]

How long a pistol barrel can you have before it is a sawed off shotgun.??? when would the law begin to frown? Bob Hell. Worried.

Not an issue with muzzleloaders. (Think blunderbuss) :grin:

 

[paulvallandigham]

The legal issues are not a problem. Building a gun with that long a barrel that balances well in your hand for one or two hand shooting is the problem. Actually, a 12 inch barrel is pretty good, but again for short range work. A lot of the single shot pistols had 8-10 inch barrels, with most being abut 9 inches long.

An acquaintance of mine made a couple of .36 cal. rifled pistols with 12 inch barrels, and they ballanced and felt just great. I would not hesitate to use that to shoot rabbits.

 

[R. Miller]

I am just getting started shooting my nsw 20 pistol I think they call it a trapper pistol. I am shooting 40 to 50 gr ffg 1oz shotseems promising.........Stickwalker

 

[paulvallandigham]

I would recommend backing that shot load back to 3/4 oz. for the same charge of powder. It will recoil less, and still give good patterns out to 15 yds.

 

[Brasilikilt]

He's taken the cock in the forehead even with a two hand hold.

Taken out of context, that sounds REALLY bad! :grin:

 

[the priest]

Stickwalker,...please keep me/us posted!!!!

Anyone else with actual patterning in the 20-25 yard distances with 6- 7 1/2 shot would be great and much appreciated. penetration results of any sort, barrel lengths, etc with those would be an added bonus.

Thanks all again.