vintage american large bore fowler

[morb]

yes it needs some tlc but it is solid, first thing i want to do is remove the nipple and see what things look like. anyone have suggestions on removing a rusted on nipple?

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

It's been fun watching you blokes have a wrastlin' match over this, highly entertaining. Since it's cylinder bored I'd shoot 2f in it, you're less likely to blow your pattern. You'll probably need a felt cushion wad as well. I never shot any 1f, but it should work well too.
I have been able to shoot 3f in guns with a jug choke with good patterns, jugs are very forgiving, they'll shoot about anything well.

 

[morb]

It's been fun watching you blokes have a wrastlin' match over this, highly entertaining. Since it's cylinder bored I'd shoot 2f in it, you're less likely to blow your pattern. You'll probably need a felt cushion wad as well. I never shot any 1f, but it should work well too.
I have been able to shoot 3f in guns with a jug choke with good patterns, jugs are very forgiving, they'll shoot about anything well.

glad your having fun i have a can of 2f, can't get 1f around here. hopefully the weather is a little warmer than -30 this weekend i want to get out and try 'er out. any advise on removing a rusted nipple?

 

[satx78247]

To All,

Speaking of LARGE-BORE, shoulder-fired ML "smoothies", about a decade ago (and perhaps NOW, though I've not been in DC in several years) The Smithsonian's "1896 exhibit" had a single-barrel shotgun with about a 1.25 inch bore.
I asked a staff-member about it & was told that it was NOT a "punt gun" but was made to be shoulder-fired (presumably by a LARGE shooter) & that it weighed over 15#.

I don't think that such a "fire-breathing BEAST" would be FUN to shoot with powder & shot.

yours, satx

 

[Feltwad]

yes it needs some tlc but it is solid, first thing i want to do is remove the nipple and see what things look like. anyone have suggestions on removing a rusted on nipple?

It's been fun watching you blokes have a wrastlin' match over this, highly entertaining. Since it's cylinder bored I'd shoot 2f in it, you're less likely to blow your pattern. You'll probably need a felt cushion wad as well. I never shot any 1f, but it should work well too.
I have been able to shoot 3f in guns with a jug choke with good patterns, jugs are very forgiving, they'll shoot about anything well.

Before you attempted anything double check the bore to see there is not a load left in it often happens .To remove the nipple use some rust solvent in the bore not too much and leave for a few days and try and remove the nipple with a nipple key which is a safe way .
Feltwad

 

[Rockvillerich]

well it finally showed up and i'm pretty tickled. it needs a bit of a clean up but it's in better shape than i thought it would be. not sure if the pics i took are any better than the ones i posted from the dealer website but here they are.

View attachment 2804 View attachment 2805 View attachment 2806 View attachment 2807

I ended up with a very similar 12 gauge in a trade deal a few years back...32" barrel, the lock is crisp, and it appears to be in "unmolested" condition.

 

[morb]

Before you attempted anything double check the bore to see there is not a load left in it often happens .To remove the nipple use some rust solvent in the bore not too much and leave for a few days and try and remove the nipple with a nipple key which is a safe way .
Feltwad

thanks feltwad, that was the first thing i done, prove it unloaded. i have it soaking in some penetrating oil now. i'll be taking the lock apart soon to clean it out as well.

 

[morb]

I ended up with a very similar 12 gauge in a trade deal a few years back...32" barrel, the lock is crisp, and it appears to be in "unmolested" condition. View attachment 2851 View attachment 2849 View attachment 2850

wow very nice do you shoot it? one thing i didn't notice right away is the ram rod is tapered with a cap on the small end with a screw on the the cap, not sure if that is a standard thing with these smooth bores

 

[Feltwad]

Most ramrod tips are of that shape ,those which are drilled with hole for the ramrod right thru have a internal fluted end which is then wedged with a tapered hardwood wedge ,those that are only drilled so far and still remain the brass end are fastened by a pin which is drilled from wall to wall through the ram rod and fastened with pin which the ends are riveted , you will always notice that this type the ends is concaved which is to make it easy to seat the wad and also is helps in seating a ball central in the bore .
Feltwad

 

[Rockvillerich]

wow very nice do you shoot it? one thing i didn't notice right away is the ram rod is tapered with a cap on the small end with a screw on the the cap, not sure if that is a standard thing with these smooth bores

Not much of a hunter, so no, I've never fired it, but wouldn't hesitate if there was a need since it's in really solid condition. I was thinking about putting it on gun broker. I'd say this was intended to be more of a rabbit gun due to the fairly short barrel.

 

[morb]

not sure if anyone is interested or not but i stripped the fowler down today and gave it a good cleaning. i took the lock off and was surprised how good it looked inside, here's a pic

 

[Rat]

Nice...I have an old gun made in 1876, I pulled the lock and it looked/looks brand new. That one looks very good.

 

[morb]

i fired it few times today, used a 12 gauge load and it was flawless, was a real hoot shooting it. just have to figure out the right diameter to make the wads, i think i got it since it worked...