T/C New Englander turkey load ideas?

[Skychief]

Well I just got back from patterning my New Englander. I tried several different loads ranging from 1 1/4 oz to 1 1/2 oz (all 6 shot), and 60 to 75 grains of 2f. The best load for 20 yard "snood-slapping" was 1 3/8 oz./70 grains 2f. With this load I consistently put 8-14 pieces in the head/neck area. I appreciate all the advice you have all offered here...THANKS! I will continue looking for a better load. BTW, I recently acquired a bored out (.642= 17 1/2- gauge) civil war era musket and fired it a few days ago for the first time. I found I could keep 12 pieces of shot in a turkey kill area at 20 yards with it. The load was ~65 gr. 2f under 1 7/8 oz. of 6's. My friend urged me to try this load in this old rifle and it patterned well. I have since been advised on this forum that that is too big of a load for the old gun. What would be a safe load for it please? I will try to work up another acceptable load for it too. I have my heart set on taking a gobbler with the old gal and know I can with the aforementioned load, but want to be safe! What do you guys think? THANKS MUCH ALL! Skychief.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Paul, you need to see a doctor right away, I'm serious, Paul, you are arguing about something we have never discussed! This thread was about loads for a shotgun, I have no idea how you got into the war of 1812, if that is even where you are, I honestly have no idea what you are talking about, you and I have never discussed history at all! Seriously Paul, I'm concerned you may have had a small stroke or something, you seem to have me confused with someone else and this thread confused with a totally different topic. This is not funny Paul.

 

[Leatherbark]

Back in the olden Thompson Center days when the 12 guage New Englander came out. I had one and still do......Then T.C recommended two Cushion/Fiber wads under the shot and one over the shot. This was before T.C came out with their wool wads. I found that my best patterns like this was with 90gr 2f and using the 100 gr setting for shot. Which was around 1-3/8s.............Didnt know the wads might be causing holes in the pattern...........Good for grey squirrels out to 30 yards...............Bob

 

[Skychief]

Just thought I would update this thread....I have found that a load of 90 gr 2f and 90 grains volume of 6 shot with a cushion wad cut in half (learned right here-thankyou) gave the best pattern density as compared with several other loads tried. I will continue to experiment with loads other than this. Thanks for all the help guys! BTW, I REALLY am enjoying this smoothbore stuff (as this is my first). I am already thinking about some roundball deer hunting with it this Fall! Skychief.