TC New Engander 12ga (PRB)

[Keppy]

I'm sure this has been talked about before, but I would like to shoot PRB out of this TC New Englander. If you have one and know a good RB load I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Gus]

You mean a PRB out of the shotgun barrel? Got the same gun with .54 cal and new 12 gauge barrel. I suppose it can be done, but it will prob. void a warranty, but WHEN HAS THAT EVER STOPPED US!

To keep you un-dead, keep looking into this...If that is indeed what you mean, the barrel wall thickness is way way way too thin to accommodate any sort of pressure. What about buck and ball? Another good question. :hmm:

 

[Rebel]

Try 90 grs of 2f or Pyrodex RS and a patched .690 rd ball. You may want to put some kind of wad over the powder to provide a better seal and to protect the patch.

 

[Keppy]

Rebel I hoped you would see this and reply. I looked awhile yesterday looking for a post on this subject with no results. I thought I remembered you had talked about this and have or had NE 12ga. Thanks this gives me a start.

I happen to run across 20, 690 balls at yard sale and thought I could use them to see how it would shoot. Thanks

 

[Keppy]

Thats what mean :thumbsup:

 

[Rebel]

No problem. I had one a while back and sold it but i just got another and got a new .12 ga barrel from TC's custom shop for it. Haven't even had a chance to fire the .12 ga barrel yet asi it is deer season.

 

[Dane]

As far as a PRB causing a pressure issue.... it weighs a LOT less than the shot charge you would normally shoot in it.??? :v

 

[Leatherbark]

I have a New Englander 12 gauge with the cylinder bore and I tried some .690 balls once with 90gr of 2f.......First shot on a 100 yard NRA bullseye at 100 yards was dead on. The next shot was 4 inches away. The third was nowhere to be found............After that I moved to 50 yards and I had no trouble keeping all the shots on a paper plate at that distance......I used a thick patch............Never tried it more than 10 times with the punkin ball..............Sam Fadala says the New Englander in 12 gauge does pretty good with ball..........................Bob

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've done it, but mine had the straight cylinder bore (no choke tube). Since then I have had it jug choked and doubt I'll try it in the future.

She actually threw a ball fairly well out to 50 yards. As well as my Bess. Adequate for hunting and certainly hit stumps and backstops with authority!

A round bore-sized ball and a load of shot weigh the same +/- so you're not subjecting the barrel to new stresses if you stick to similar amounts of powder. With a muzzleloader I guess if you can get it in it will find its own way out.

 

[bigbore442001]

I had a thought, I wonder how well a 12 guage barrel would shoot if someone rifled it? A slow twist such as Forsyth rifling.

I will add and I have stated this that the factory doesn't recommend shooting round balls out of the 12 guage. They stated it wasn't designed for it and they get a lot of cracked stocks due to people doing that.

 

[paulvallandigham]

UNless the stock is bedded properly, you can get cracks, but this happens shooting shot loads too. The problem is always guys with "MAGNUM-ITIS".( ie. If a little bit is good, a Lot More is Better!) Everyone wants to stuff more powder in those barrels.

Most round barreled shotguns are just too thin to take the kind of pressure created with "Lots More Powder" as a steady diet. A RB shoots just fine if you use a sensible load of BP, and using the same amount as you would if using a similar weight load of shot.

Those huge balls don't need "MAGNUM FORCE" to penetrate completely through a deer, or from stem to stern on a Black Bear, the most common excuse given by these guys when they bring in those guns with the cracked stocks, for why they were loading the gun so heavy. They don't do penetration testing, so they think the " short cut " is to simply put a double load of powder( Loading for BEAR!) behind that RB.

I am always amazed the guns hold up as well as they do! Its a credit to the foresight of the barrel makers, and gunmakers that more people are not injured or killed by their own stupidity. :cursing: :hmm: :surrender: :thumbsup:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Paul beat me to it, a400 grain ball don't even need to break sound. Try starting from 60grn up to 80 grain of powder, it won't bounce of any deer!
One time we tried upping a soft lead 12g ball in a cartridge gun to the point where it's mass made it transform into a cylinder shaped slug, we was wondering why it suddenly shot poor until we recovered one that is!

Just let it's mass do the job :thumbsup:

Britsmoothy.

 

[Keppy]

Rebel
This one I pick up last year on the net. It was as he said it was and very nice. It has three chokes. Right now I use the improved cylinder for grouse. It has a real tight pattern. I don't know what I will use the mod and full chokes for right now.
I think it will be a challenge, PRB and use a bead sight. Maybe interesting. Thanks again

 

[Rebel]

I sold mine to someone online. Not sure where it went to though as my rememberer ain't what it used to be. :haha: The new barrel i got has the screw in chokes and i figure the imp choke tube will get the most use. I am going to work up a turkey load for it with whichever tube gives the best patterns with #5 lead shot. Good luck with yours, they are fun. :thumbsup:

 

[Rebel]

Hey Hacksaw. I just tried out my new .12 ga. New Englander barrel today. It has the screw in chokes. I had the Imp. Cyl. tube in it and was using 80 grs of KIK 2f powder, a lubed overpowder fiber cushion wad, and a thick denim patched .595 rd ball. The very first shot hit in the 1 1/2" square black aiming point from 25 yds. The second shot was a little low but centered and the third was touching the first hole in the black. I then tried from 50 yds and was on the paper offhand. So if you can get some .600 rd balls you might try them. They load easy, and you get higher velocity and a flatter trajectory with the same powder charge than you do with the .690 ball.