Smoothie accuracy

[Zutt-man]

I’m genuinely curious on how accurate you are with your smoothie. I’ve read and heard many statements on both sides of the spectrum, some being really bad past 25 and some fairly good to 100. So what have you? Bare ball or patching (I’ve seen it discussed, just want to see your experiences/opinions)? Powder and caliber? Fire away

 

[tenngun]

I think this shows up a lot.
at 25 yards ball in wad or patched shoots about the same. At fifty for me PRB better but wad still a deerkiller.
some guys get good accuracy out to a hindred but fifty or sixty is probably your best range
Some of my smoothie targets
First a .54/28 bore smooth rifle patched, fifty yards
Second waded ball 20 bore .62 waded ball
Third .62 PRB at twenty five left and fifty right. All from rest

 

[Walkingeagle]

Haven’t finished my work yet on load development, but it looks like my 36” homebuilt drop-in Rice barrel 20ga percussion for my TC platform halfstock will group very well. First time out I had all shots in the bull once I figured where the hold was. This at 25 yds. At 50 yds, I didn’t measure but was likely 3-4” group with same hold. Had to stop due to excessive fouling as I kept working the load up. She needed a good cleaning!
Walk
PS, this is with no rear sight.

 

[hanshi]

I've never shot smoothbore past 50 yards, but both prb and bare ball will stay on a soccer ball consistently, or better, at that distance. With prb I get consistent 3-shot groups just under 3". The smoothbore does have a rear sight.

 

[Maven]

My 20ga. trade gun isn't all that accurate @ 50 yd., but a patched .597" - .604" (out of round Lyman mould) + 65gr. -80gr. FFg is quite accurate at 25 yd.

 

[tenngun]

I do have a rear sight on all of mine

 

[bigted]

Haven’t finished my work yet on load development, but it looks like my 36” homebuilt drop-in Rice barrel 20ga percussion for my TC platform halfstock will group very well. First time out I had all shots in the bull once I figured where the hold was. This at 25 yds. At 50 yds, I didn’t measure but was likely 3-4” group with same hold. Had to stop due to excessive fouling as I kept working the load up. She needed a good cleaning!
Walk
PS, this is with no rear sight.

PM sent

 

[rich pierce]

I have some trouble with elevation but can keep 5 balls in a 4-6” circle at 50 yards off a rest consistently. At 75 yards, about a 6”-8” circle consistently. Sometimes a little better. So for me it’s a 60 yard max deer gun. Mine is a .69 bore.

 

[Maven]

Take a look at this & scroll down to see actual targets: March Covid Smoothbore match

 

[rich pierce]

Take a look at this & scroll down to see actual targets: March Covid Smoothbore match

I am consistently amazed at the skill of some offhand shooters. Just shows what 20-30-40 years of practice can yield.

 

[hanshi]

Take my word for it, Rich, for some of us 20, 30 or 40 years of shooting yields eventual embarrassing scores.