Smoothbore Stocks & Barrels

[Marc Adamchek]

Hi - I currently use one percussion gun and one flinter. What's missing? (and don't say matchlock!) So I've been looking at smothbores online,shrugging my shoulders at some, drooling over others. Now, in all the glory of my smoothie ignorance, I will unashamedly put forth these questions: Are some smoothbore barrels swamped like rifled barrels? Fowlers are basically like shotguns, but can you still shoot roundballs or is the barrel too thin? Some of the guns I've seen (and liked) have a wicked drop of the stock (example: French trade gun). Can you get a good mount and shot off when you shoulder such a weapon? Thanks for patiently putting up with my newbie questions

 

[Leonredbeard]

Marc,
What about a wheellock? :crackup: Sorry, couldn't resist. Some smoothbores are indeed swamped. Many octogan to round are tapered. The octogon part usually is tapered, the round can be but sometimes is straight. Any barrel you can shoot shot in you can shoot roundball in. I have found the wicked drop to the stock to be difficult to mount and get off a quick shot. Many a man doesn't have difficulty with it. If you can get to shop the has different smoothbores in stock, mount them and see how they feel. Or go to a rendezvous and ask to mount different smoothbores. The shooters will be delighted to let you and will beg you to take a shot. Enjoy the hunt for a smoothie, including all the little details.
God bless.
volatpluvia

 

[pathfinderifh]

Hey Mark, Good questions. I agree with Volatpluva, Go to shoots and ask around,I've found that once you get one of us talking,you play hell trying to us to stop! :yakyak: Smooth rifles or trade guns are fine firearms{I refuse to call them weapons,acertain politition hase killed more people with his car than I have with my gun!}Accuracy is more than acceptable at the ranges we shoot with the added benifit of being able to use shot if the need arises.The drop is not that severe unless you compare it to a modern firearm or the commercial guns from wal-mart and the such. I find them much more comfortable to shoot,even snap shooting. Almost any barrel configuration can be found on smoothies, the choice is yours.


Good Luck,Pathfinder

 

[THORNAPPLE]

Marc, they don't have to look like shotguns/fowlers or french Tulles. Many of what we call Pa./Kentucky longrifles were actually smoothbores, in a wide range of calibers. They were built like a rifle and are comfortable and fun to shoot. From what I can see in the reference books, it looks like they were mostly swamped octagon barrels with only a few being oct. to round.
Here is an example of an Early Reading Co. smoothrifle I just built. I used an oct. to rnd. fowler barrel in 20 ga. x 44" long because I don't know anyone who makes 20 ga. in swamped oct. configuration. Maybe Getz or Rice would on special order.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/REXTHOMAS/READING%20SMOOTHBORE/100_0624.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/REXTHOMAS/READING%20SMOOTHBORE/100_0618.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/REXTHOMAS/READING%20SMOOTHBORE/100_0643.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/REXTHOMAS/READING%20SMOOTHBORE/100_0641.jpg

 

[Okwaho]

Thornapple,you did a nice job on that Reading gun and for the benefit of the rest of you it is more than likely Shumway RCA Vol.I either No. 21 or 22. I believe it's No.21 and was built by Wolfgang Hachen in Reading.I've handled No.21 and it's a smoothbore but with a rifle barrel. It really handles and points well.I have seen a few octagon to round rifle barrels illustrated and they are generally smooth although I remember at least one with a rifled octagon to round barrel,by Nicholas Beyer illustrated by Joe Kindig Jr.,"Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in it's Golden Age", No.94. It's one of Beyer's later rifles with 7 piercings in the box and 7 engraved brass and silver inlays.

As to smoothbores,I once checked a number of guns in Shumway Vol.I and of the guns with American pedigrees
which showed rifled or smooth they ran rifled to smoothbore about 55% t0 45%.
Tom Patton :m2c:

 

[Puffer]

Marc,I just picked up a Pedersoli "mortimer"(flintlock) It is one of their earlier ones & came W/ both a .54cal Bbl. & a 12ga. Bbl. The geltleman I got it from is one of the best shots @ our local rondezvous. I have yet to shoot the smooth bore, but I have seen him shoot it & in his hands it is "deadly '
The reason I mention it,is because a gun like this may be a good choise for you, as the "feel" is the same as a rifle.Thats one of the reasons I bought (among others : You might also look @ "English" fowlers.
The ?? is would it fit your persna ?? (as a HBC man,in the mid 1830s, it fits mine)

Puffer