Thoughts on my load

[gmannx217]

Guys,

I've been dabbling with a load for my Caywood Trade gun for over a year now. I've tried every possible combination of powder (2f and 3f), every type of wad and every type of shot size and weight. She is jug choked full and definitely likes less powder. By a clear margin I've settled on 60 grains 3f, two felt wads over powder, 1 3/8 oz shot, and two over shot cards. Anything more than 60 grains blows the pattern.

Worried about the velocity of the load. Will it kill a turkey?

 

[smoothshooter]

60 GRS. of powder isn't very much for that shot charge, and velocity is bound to be pretty low. What bore size is it?
Reducing your wad column to the very minimum will reduce the chance that your wads are blowing thru the shot charge as it leaves the muzzle. Most of the time I use an overshot wad over the powder with a 1/4" lubricated was on top of that with another overshot wad on top of the shot to hold it all in.
Look up an article written by V. M. Starr many years ago on loading the muzzleloading shotgun . He was a believer in using just enough of a wad to keep the powder from mixing with the shot during the loading process . Maybe that is what you may have to resort to.
Giving Danny Caywood a call might not be a bad idea either.

 

[tenngun]

Shoot a soup can, if it goes through it will give you dinner. Cuttin the wad may let you keep a good pattern with increased charges. You may also try a paper tube shot cup.

 

[Stringbean]

I have a 20 gauge that Danny jug choked for me. I shoot 70 gr. 2f and one thin felt wad with around 1 1/2 oz. 5 shot. Killed a gobbler at 20 yards last spring and flopped him pretty hard. My brother shoots an identical gun with the same load and wacked a hen last fall at 40 yards to my amazement. I think your load will do the job if you limit yourself to around 25 yards. Oh, I also shot a woodchuck at about 30 yards with this same load and killed him dead too.

 

[Rifleman1776]

You should be able to get good patterns with heavier charges, like 80 gr.
Cylinder bores work fine for many (most?) smoothie users. I suspect the jug choking might be the problem.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

You didn't note whether you have tried thicker wad columns, but I have read reports by shooters of both muzzle- and breech-loaders with jug chokes who found their best performance with thicker wad columns, sometimes surprisingly thick. The theory was that this kept the powder gasses sealed behind the shot as it passes through the overbore section of the choke. As usual, it all comes down to what works for you with your barrel, but this might be worth exploring.

Regards,
Joel

 

[FishDFly]

Guys,

I've been dabbling with a load for my Caywood Trade gun for over a year now. I've tried every possible combination of powder (2f and 3f), every type of wad and every type of shot size and weight. She is jug choked full and definitely likes less powder. By a clear margin I've settled on 60 grains 3f, two felt wads over powder, 1 3/8 oz shot, and two over shot cards. Anything more than 60 grains blows the pattern.

Worried about the velocity of the load. Will it kill a turkey?

In all honesty, how did folks in 1865 manage to sight in a fire arm and kill something to get something for the table to eat?

Why not get out and shoot, versus practicing your typing skills?

 

[Zonie]

Practicing our typing skills allows us to ask questions about things.

With variations in powder granulation and powder charges, over powder wads, shot cushions, shot weight, over shot wads just to name a few things, there are over 243,000,000,000,000,000 different combinations available to test.

Using our typing skills for things like asking about other peoples experiences can greatly reduce the need to test them all.

I'm surprised you didn't recognize this. :hmm:

 

[gmannx217]

Why not practice your reading skills?

I have been out shooting many many times.

 

[azmntman]

Practicing our typing skills allows us to ask questions about things.

With variations in powder granulation and powder charges, over powder wads, shot cushions, shot weight, over shot wads just to name a few things, there are over 243,000,000,000,000,000 different combinations available to test.

Using our typing skills for things like asking about other peoples experiences can greatly reduce the need to test them all.

I'm surprised you didn't recognize this. :hmm:

Zonie is correct, by reading here you reduce your possible combinations to 243,070,006 :rotf: (unless yer gun is from India) op: