Trying to decide between 12-bore and 10-bore for a New England fowler build.

[loud-n-boomer]

I am trying to decide between 12-bore and 10-bore for a New England fowler build using a Chambers kit. The gun will be used as a hunting gun for upland birds, waterfowl, and turkey. I already have a Fusil de Chase in 20-bore/62-caliber that I hunt with, but want something a bit larger. What would you build, and more importantly, why?

 

[tenngun]

I would go with the 12, unless you just want a ten for it’s unusual factor.
A ten won’t add a foot. to your range. It will be heavier and in an eighteenth century fowler won’t have the grace of a smaller gun.
But you won’t have the wow factor.
get both, send me the one you don’t like as much.

 

[Feltwad]

It all depends on the quarry for upland game and waterfowl a 12 would be OK and also for a odd day at clays ,
Feltwad

 

[Flintandsteel]

I’ve built 2 of them in 10g. Both were to use for turkey and large game. With a jug choke, nothing can reach out and touch something quite like that. Turkey at 50 yards with shot, round all at 25.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

If the O/D is the same for both sizes, go with the bigger bore.

 

[megasupermagnum]

I would go with the 12, unless you just want a ten for it’s unusual factor.
A ten won’t add a foot. to your range. It will be heavier and in an eighteenth century fowler won’t have the grace of a smaller gun.
But you won’t have the wow factor.
get both, send me the one you don’t like as much.

The Chambers kit is available in 12, 11, and 10 gauge, all made from the same barrel blank. The 10 gauge is the exact same size as the 12, and is quite a bit lighter. In that kit it does not make sense to get anything other than the 10 gauge, unless you want the extra weight.

 

[loud-n-boomer]

Thanks for the replies. I was leaning toward the 10-gauge for the reason written by Megasupermagnum, but wanted feedback in case I was not considering something else.

 

[rich pierce]

With the 10 ga you get more raised eyebrows when folks ask what gauge it is. There’s that.

 

[Magungo1066]

I don't think you can go wrong with the 10 if you primarily intend to shoot shot. Like stated above, it will be lighter than the 12. Plus as Rich said, you will certainly turn heads with a 10 gauge.

 

[R.J.Bruce]

Didn't Barbie Chambers kill a snow goose, (or a swan?), a couple of years ago with one of these in a 10 bore down in North Carolina?

 

[oddguy]

How difficult is a Jim Chalmbers kit?

 

[Flintandsteel]

A Chamber’s KIT, is not a kit like Kibler’s. It does not snap together like LEGOs.
It is a precarve, considered 90% inlet. a beginner, with a good set of tools, and some patience, can build a fine Fowler from these kits.