So why do *you* enjoy smoothbore shooting?

[oldwood]

It is said , that everything in life goes in circles. Guess I started out being a smooth bore m/l shooter , and soon as I get my smooth flint gun finished , ready to shoot , I'll be back where I started.........oldwood

 

[Grenadier1758]

A long time ago, back when my hair was dark red, I started to really enjoy shooting my muzzle loading rifles. I went to a few rendezvous and I observed something about the guys that shot the smoothbores. They seemed to be having the most fun. In those days competition wasn't quite what it is today. On a 20 target smoothbore course, it you hit 3 to 5 targets, you were in the running for the top prize.

It took me far too long to get on the band wagon and realize the heady combination of historical immersion of experience, the thrill of getting a good shot off and the general camaraderie of those that that took up the smooth bore challenge.

Why smooth bores? Its the people, its the challenges, and Its the fun.

 

[smoothshooter]

I am trying to shoot the flintlock fusil de chasse as near the way it would have been shot in my New England location in the early 18th century. Its a challenge but a lot of fun once I get settled in.
I shot a deer with my TC flintlock Hawken and will with the smoothbore as well as turkey before I'm done.
The rifle was unknown here until long after the revolution.
LBLView attachment 70146
View attachment 70146

Rifles were not unknown in the northeast ven before the Revolution. They were just not as common as in the western lands.
I’m sure Spence can produce newspaper advertisements for gunsmiths and retailers offering guns with rifled barrels, and recutting services in most of the larger northeastern cities along the eastern seaboard.

 

[Black Jack]

With my eyes, I can't hardly see both sights on my rifles any more, so a smoothie with just the front sight is better for me.

 

[hanshi]

I got into smoothbores rather late, I suppose. Got my first one some 12 plus years ago. I'd like a .62 trade gun, but then, I'd also like a lot of things I can't afford.

 

[Runewolf1973]

Easier to load, easier to clean, no short starter needed, more versatile. Also my .62 cal trade gun has a thicker diameter ram rod that I don't have to worry so much about breaking. My smoothbore is also very light weight and easy to handle compared to the very nose-heavy Pedersoli Kentucky rifle I previously owned. I also like not having the adjustable front and rear sights as just another set of variables to have to mess around with. Just one fixed sight on the front and the rest of it is up to a person's skill and I like that.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I enjoy my smoothbore for what it is. And I appreciate the history behind it as well.
I also enjoy my hand cannon (1399 modeled Hakenbusche) and it's history.
And also my 4 barrel pepperbox.

However - I also enjoy my rifled long guns, and my rifled pistols. For all the same reasons.

Come this think about it - I enjoy shooting my "modern" guns that use modern powders too.....

I think there is room for all of them - to enjoy.

 

[Gordoncourtney]

hunting with a rifle is almost impossible in uk,, you might get an S1 certificate for a .243 for deer. if you have a big farm. The police banged on my door two years ago and took away my shotguns,I am not the only one, I am a very fit 78 year old, shot all my life......they wanted medical reports , they got. Them, Then an interview about my past , load of lies they came up with and they did not like my answers, Well especially on two questions 11 years ago.....then we had a robbery 2011 The final reason for rejection was when our house was robbed. you said" I'll shoot the bastards next time" that's the gunny police state we are under in uk...police have no humour ....got plenty of powerful wall hangers from cape rifle Flint long rifles 450-400 double.........but they only took away my three shotguns, they are chopping them up as I type Got to get a French, elusive, " permit to carry " Then it's back to France no gun problems there

I wish you well

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Of course the way forward with smoothies is to make them .006" oval Make an oval aluminium lap slit down the middle for a wedge, grind away the sides . better than lead lap. add a riffling machine , or just a twisted rod in a square hole, or a wood riffling machine the mountain men used to use......you will hone away .0005" of bore every two hours , about 12 hours plus of effort, you end up with a beautiful oval bore......tap in an oversize ball so it peels a bit of scrap lead off it......the ball will slide down the bore with little effort Like a car piston. No patch needed Of course I have never done it all theory as I live in uk........ ha

 

[Gordoncourtney]

Has far has I know and I presume I am correct to shoot a single ball from a shotgun then becomes a Section 1 and must be entered on a firearms certificate which in turn can only be used on a approved range and not for shooting deer etc
Feltwad

You are dead correct shoot a single ball or slug and get caught and its 3 years inside. Must be minimum of 5 lead balls so you cannot shoot deer with a 12g Nor can you use a bow and arrow , I mean a compound bow like I have Better to driver at night with bull bars and you are bound to get a deer this time of year But it's a green and pleasant land, I can tell you that having lived in Lagos Nigeria Nothing to shoot there either, just cane rats ugg They say they are tasty.


Stay safe my kids just caught Colvic....halfway through 10 days and David is very confused about things

 

[Stantheman86]

Laziness and Convenience kinda fueled my enjoyment of shooting my Pedersoli 1816 Springfield percussion conversion.

Because being able to shoot at 50 yards in my ranges "multi use pits" where no one can bother you beats having to use the rifle range where you never know how people are going to inconvenience you....I had a guy drive his truck downrange, while I had a loaded "unmentionable " pointed downrange without even telling me or my having any idea what he was doing.

My other range is better, but small and if it's busy you have to leave. They do however allow "shotguns and slugs " on this mini shotgun pattern range no one uses so Smoothbore muzzleloaders qualify......Smoothbores for the win.

Honestly I just love percussion military Smoothbores, I'll roll up paper cartridges with .648 round balls and lube the outside with SPG. Bring about 40 in a cartridge box and spend an hour blasting them off. Groups the size of a baseball with ease at 50 yards. Also have 2 .69 Flintlocks.

I also shoot pure lead .680 Lee shotgun slugs as "Nessler Balls".

I love them so much I kinda want an ArmiSport 1861 Springfield Smoothbore because you can shoot .530 round balls through them. I have an Indian made .58 Smoothbore Enfield that actually does really well with either a .530 ball in a cartridge or just dropped on top of the powder with wadding rammed on top. I just bought that more as a novelty, it lives in my basement as a decoration. Maybe I'll shoot it again now that I'm talking about it.

Smoothbores can really surprise you. I can hit a silhouette at 100 yards most of the time.

 

[smo]

It ain’t all about the gun….

But a good quick lock and smooth triggers certainly help…

And as a Friend of mine says…..” This is a sport that rewards practice “.

Not my target, I’m no where near this good!

 

[hanshi]

These two targets are typical of the best groups (3-shots) I can get from my smoothbore at 50 yards with bare ball (left) and patched (right). I have full confidence in deer hunting/taking shots at 50 yds and a bit farther with the gun & loads.

10 shots bare ball at 50 yrds. Two were flyers but 8 made a good group. I used WW ball which is some .005" larger than soft lead. Flyers (green), group (red).

 

[Loyalist Dave]

it puts squirrels and rabbits and upland birds into my pot.

Where I live it's really not responsible to shoot upwards at squirrels with a rifle, even if I had one as small as a .32. We have enough problems in my state, we don't need an errant round ball to land on a car windshield or worse the owner of said car...,
Shot is much safer option for me.

LD

 

[sheriff john]

I just like 'em (muzzle loading shotguns, that is). 55 years hunting with them, always shot, never round ball. Tried "wade & shoot" duck hunting one time with my long fowler flintlock. Having to wade back to shore or find a dry stump to rest the butt of the gun to reload cured me of that. Otherwise, ML shotguns are a hoot - even if you're the only one on a dove field with one. White smoke and feathers rule.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

it puts squirrels and rabbits and upland birds into my pot.

Where I live it's really not responsible to shoot upwards at squirrels with a rifle, even if I had one as small as a .32. We have enough problems in my state, we don't need an errant round ball to land on a car windshield or worse the owner of said car...,
Shot is much safer option for me.

LD

That is wise and I'm sure many of us can use the reminder.
While I have 2 locations where my .32 works well for squirrels, I still don't take air shots without a backstop. With that in mind, if I can get into a tree and shoot down I will.
Shot in my .62 smoothbore is what I use most of the time for squirrels and all the time for birds and turkey.

 

[smo]

I shoot both shot and roundball in mine and as my eyes age, it’s becoming my go too gun more & more.

The end result…

Squirrel & Dumplins’

 

[Stantheman86]

I honestly just think the Percussion Smoothbores are better looking muskets , like the 1842 Springfield.

Even the flinters, the Charleville, 1795 or 1816 Springfield or even some of the Pedersoli repros like the Potsdam musket are really eye pleasing. I know it's blasphemous but I'm not a huge Brown Bess fan. I just like barrel bands I guess.

Lobbing big lead balls out to 100 yards is fun because you're never sure if you're actually going to hit anything and 6 pellet Buck and Ball is probably the nastiest thing you can shoot out of pretty much anything . Whatever is in front of that muzzle out to 50 yards has no chance

 

[4575wcf]

I bought my Charleyville when Navy Arms closed the Japanese model out. It was still a lot of money for what it was, but I wanted to do a wall display with flag, drum, fife, musket, cartridge box, and powder horn at some point. The cartridge box is done, the horn is partially complete, and at least now I have a shop with a wall large enough to put the display up. And it shoots pretty well, I can take it out and run a few paper cartridges through it now and again. Money well spent. I even "branded" the stock United States like a original Charleyville pictured in one of my reference books.