Tc New Englander 12 gauge

[mattredick]

Hello all
I picked up a t/c new englander 12 gauge, I’m wanting to use it for turkey hunting this spring. I’ve watched lots of videos, but looking for a little more help before I purchase wads, cards etc. I have a bunch of powder already. What would be a good starting point load wise. I shoot tones of black powder rifles, but muzzle loading shotguns are new to me.
thanks

 

[Elgatodeacero]

These are great guns. Does yours have a choke or is it fixed (I think the fixed were cylinder)?

For turkey I use 90 grains volume of 2F and 100 grains volume of bismuth #4 shot and a CCI #11 Magnum cap. The new bag of shot in the photo is #3. My last load of bismuth #4‘s for 2022 turkey season is in the quick loader. Rotometals has the best bismuth shot, and even their stuff is not very round.

I use one thin and one thick card wad over powder, then shot, then one lubed felt wad. These are real 12 gauges - .735 bore after the choke tube.

My New Englander has choke tubes and I use a modified for most everything.

I have read that shooting round ball (.690) can crack the stock on the wooden ones so I only shoot round ball from my plastic stock New Englander (and I use a Cylinder bore choke tube).

You should also read up on the “Skychief Load” on this forum, because many people have amazing patterns with that method. I have had a lot of success on turkeys and doves (#6 bismuth) with my loading procedure.

 

[user 52391]

I have one as well, mine was originally a fixed choke but some former owner had it threaded for a Carlson's thin walled choke tube. I plan on using it for turkey hunting as well one day when I can get everything dialed in.

 

[mattredick]

These are great guns. Does yours have a choke or is it fixed (I think the fixed were cylinder)?

For turkey I use 90 grains volume of 2F and 100 grains volume of bismuth #4 shot and a CCI #11 Magnum cap. The new bag of shot in the photo is #3. My last load of bismuth #4‘s for 2022 turkey season is in the quick loader. Rotometals has the best bismuth shot, and even their stuff is not very round.

I use one thin and one thick card wad over powder, then shot, then one lubed felt wad. These are real 12 gauges - .735 bore after the choke tube.

My New Englander has choke tubes and I use a modified for most everything.

I have read that shooting round ball (.690) can crack the stock on the wooden ones so I only shoot round ball from my plastic stock New Englander (and I use a Cylinder bore choke tube).

You should also read up on the “Skychief Load” on this forum, because many people have amazing patterns with that method. I have had a lot of success on turkeys and doves (#6 bismuth) with my loading procedure.

View attachment 121520

awesome thanks for the help I will look into the "skychief load". My New Englander is fixed choke.

 

[IronHand]

The classic load is a "square " load. Equal powder and shot by volume. Powder should be 2f.

More shot than powder gives better pattern density. More powder than shot gives more velocity.

Standard load column is powder, thick cardboard overpowder wad, treated felt cushion wad,shot load and then a thin cardboard overshot wad.

Be sure to pattern your loads. Change components until you have what you want.

One nice thing about shotguns is that you don't have to clean between shots. Ramming the wads cleans the bore.

Your TC is a good gun. For turkey I would suggest you start with a 1 1/4 oz load.

Enjoy.
Ironhand

 

[mattredick]

t

The classic load is a "square " load. Equal powder and shot by volume. Powder should be 2f.

More shot than powder gives better pattern density. More powder than shot gives more velocity.

Standard load column is powder, thick cardboard overpowder wad, treated felt cushion wad,shot load and then a thin cardboard overshot wad.

Be sure to pattern your loads. Change components until you have what you want.

One nice thing about shotguns is that you don't have to clean between shots. Ramming the wads cleans the bore.

Your TC is a good gun. For turkey I would suggest you start with a 1 1/4 oz load.

Enjoy.
Ironhand

Thanks a lot!!

 

[Woody Morgan]

What's that item with the red caps and shot inside? I need to investigate that one for inclusion in my kit.

wm

 

[Elgatodeacero]

@Woody Morgan those are quick loaders that hold a cap, a charge of powder and a charge of shot all premeasured so reloading is much easier. They are made by Traditions, and cost about 8 dollars.

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/85653

 

[Skychief]

Matt, you've got yourself a sweet handling little shotgun. Congratulations!

You can see my cylinder bored New Englander in my avatar. You might search my older threads regarding the gun and the Skychief Load for ideas of what it patterned best with.

Enjoy the journey and welcome to the forum....

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Doc]

Used to use the thick and thin cards and wads, until a friend suggested these tried them out. They Make it easier and faster to load and yet gives me great patterns. I use two over powder and one over shot. I am using 95gr. of 3f Goex and 1 1/8 oz of #4 bismuth purchased at Roto metals. Most likely one lb. will last you a season. Good Luck on your turkey.
Doc,

 

[TScottW99]

What's that item with the red caps and shot inside? I need to investigate that one for inclusion in my kit.

wm

TOW has a four pack shotgun speed loader for $9.99. I bought it and really like them. One side will hold up to 100 grains of BP and the other side will hold 1 1/4 ounce of shot

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/191/1/SPEED-SG-ML

 

[Doc]

TOW has a four pack shotgun speed loader for $9.99. I bought it and really like them. One side will hold up to 100 grains of BP and the other side will hold 1 1/4 ounce of shot

https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/191/1/SPEED-SG-ML

After shooting at a turkey you can take your time reloading. Because they are not coming by the same place for quite a while.
Doc,

 

[TScottW99]

After shooting at a turkey you can take your time reloading. Because they are not coming by the same place for quite a while.
Doc,

Very true however you can also hunt other things with a shotgun, like doves and I like to be a bit quicker with my reloading in a dove field

 

[weitzfc]

look up v.m. starr . a good expert on muzzleloading shotguns .

 

[Bosteldr]

Sky Chief load was not any better than squire load with card wads in my New Englander with a mod choke for 1 1/8 and 1 1/4 loads