Wanting to get a smoothbore flintlock

[EastoftheBay]

My earlier posts here on the forum were about trying to decide on a rifle or a smoothbore and I have decided to get one of each after all the feedback I got. I posted in the rifles thread to try and get some help deciding on either a .40, .45 or .50 caliber rifle. However, in this thread I am trying to decide on a smoothbore. I'd like to get one that can do the job right. I don't really think I need a large shoulder cannon. Largest bore diameter to hunt things like Waterfowl is 10 Gauge and there is not a regulation on the smallest bore. Small game and Turkey can be hunted with anything. This smoothbore will act as my shotgun. I would use it for hunting squirrels, rabbits, groundhogs, turkeys, geese and ducks. I might also use it for deer hunting but probably not as much as a rifle. That all being said what is a good caliber to choose. I have had some people suggest .58 cal smooth which is 24 gauge and some suggest going .62 cal and up. I dont really know what I want caliber wise. I have always hunted with an "unmentionable"(term I have seen others use to describe non muzzleloaders), 12 gauge single shot smoothbore but from what I see that isnt a commom gauge size. If anyone could put their two cents in it'd be appreciated. Thanks for all the knowledge shared so far and thanks for helping me out everyone.

 

[CapPopper]

If I was getting a dedicated gun for shot I would go pretty big 10 gauge would not be out of the question if turkeys or waterfowl were a likely target or even pheasants and such. A 10 gauge can be loaded pretty light or pretty heavy and will cover every base you could want covered. If you weren't getting a rifle then something in the. 58-.62 range would be real good. It's really personal preference. Muzzleloading shotguns are not bound by a lot of the rules a modern shotgun is. You could (not necessarily advocating this) shoot 2 ounces of shot in a 20 gauge if that's really what tickles your fancy. Sure a bigger gun would handle it better but it's not outside the realm of possibility. If you are going to seriously pursue turkey and waterfowl I would vote 10-12 gauge (.72-.75) if you will mostly be upland hunting then 20-16 would be a little better (.62-.69) and if it's going to be your only gun then 28-20 would be good (.54-.58.62) just my opinion. I always wanted a 10 gauge though lol I've got a .58 kibler smoothie since it will probably see as many round balls as it will shot loads or more.

 

[bud in pa]

Seems like there are a lot more accessories for 20 gauge .

 

[Grenadier1758]

There is the Pedersoli Mortimer shotgun in 12 gauge. Like all muzzleloading firearms can be difficult to find. At 8 lbs 5 oz can be a bit heavy for upland birds. It is worth considering.

My search for such a smoothbored fowling gun would focus on a quality used gun from a trusted source. Choices in gauge would be for a 16 gauge in a C barrel profile to get a light gun in a gauge useful for a wide range of hunting opportunities. Second choice would be for a 20 gauge. Adequate for most hunting and easy to find accessories.

 

[brazosland]

.62 is the best all around option in my opinion

 

[user 53846]

.62/20 gauge is about the most flexible gun you will even own. Can take all Big Game in North America, can load it like a shot gun for small game. You can scavenge lead and flint, and its easy to make your own powder. We will still be shooting when the brass case ammo is all gone. Best survival gun out there.

 

[brazosland]

Have two .62 smooth rifles. A Wilson’s Chief trade gun cut to 26” and an English Fowler smooth rifle. Both are stupid accurate at 50 yards.

Have a Bess carbine I am working on now. It’s more challenging

 

[Brokennock]

Loading components and accessories are easy to source for a 20 gauge. It is excellent for almost all the uses you mention. Small game, turkey, deer,,,, all have fallen to 20 gauge smoothbore muzzleloaders with regularity.

All gauges can be loaded lighter or heavier depending on game or target sought.

For the tasks you mention, but for one, I would go with a 20 or a 16 gauge. (However, having two 20 gauge guns, I do often wish for a smaller bore smoothy for squirrels, just for fun and economy)

But, you brought waterfowl into the mix. Now, in my opinion (debatable what it's worth,,,, nothing or next to nothing) you need to go bigger. 16 gauge minimum,,, probably should go for a 10 gauge. This is primarily due to the need for using less efficient non-toxic (steel) shot, and something around the shot to protect the bore from it which takes up space in the bore. Unless you can afford a whole bunch of shot made from one of those fancy metals/alloys, your looking at steel shot which you need more of and more powder to get up to killing speed (which it looses faster too.)

I would also look into jug choking that 10 gauge. Both for the denser pattern at distance on waterfowl, and for small game. When you download it for something like squirrels you will have less shot in a shorter and wider column which could thin out pretty quick, jug choking should help keep that pattern dense and even.

Beyond gauge. I would be looking at English or Colonial American style fouling pieces, or a Fusil des Chase/Fusil Fin if that stock style fits you, maybe some trade guns,,, as opposed to a smoothrifle,,, just because your game list includes wing shooting.

 

[Comfortably_Numb]

If it's to be used as a shotgun I'd go with a 10 bore. Look at Jim Chambers New England Fowling gun.

 

[rich pierce]

Rice has some barrels made of 4140 chrome moly steel. If you’re going for waterfowl with steel shot you’ll need that plus special shot cups to protect your barrel. In reality water fowling with muzzleloaders is something fun to try. Once. Just my opinion. As said, waterfowl hunting changes everything as far as gauge and ruins the fun and versatility in my view. I know a couple big boys who enjoy shooting round ball in a 10 gauge but I don’t hunt grizzly bears so would never need to send a 10 gauge round ball downrange.

 

[brazosland]

Ducks over decoys is no big deal with a 20/.62.

Don’t bother with steel shot. You can buy bismuth shot by the pound, just use that. It’s isn’t that expensive and your rate of fire is slow enough you won’t be going thru a pound a weekend.

Plus it flies like lead, so practice with lead and hunt with Bismuth. Kills way better too.

 

[Rancocas]

I pretty much agree with what Brokenock said.
My own .62/20 gauge does it all. The 320 grain round ball has knocked deer flat out to 50 yards or so, just like a modern 20 gauge slug. However, if waterfowl, especially geese, were my main game, then I would want a 12 or maybe even a 10 gauge.

 

[hanshi]

My only smoothbore is a 20 ga/.62 and is accurate at 50 yards and beyond. It kills deer like the hammer of Thor and is modest in the recoil dept. I've always liked the 20 ga and my flintlock smoothbore satisfies.

 

[EastoftheBay]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I guess this smoothbore will be used on small game more than anything else. Worse comes to worse I can get a bigger one later on to hunt waterfowl. I dont want to use large bores on squirrels.

 

[springfield art]

My earlier posts here on the forum were about trying to decide on a rifle or a smoothbore and I have decided to get one of each after all the feedback I got. I posted in the rifles thread to try and get some help deciding on either a .40, .45 or .50 caliber rifle. However, in this thread I am trying to decide on a smoothbore. I'd like to get one that can do the job right. I don't really think I need a large shoulder cannon. Largest bore diameter to hunt things like Waterfowl is 10 Gauge and there is not a regulation on the smallest bore. Small game and Turkey can be hunted with anything. This smoothbore will act as my shotgun. I would use it for hunting squirrels, rabbits, groundhogs, turkeys, geese and ducks. I might also use it for deer hunting but probably not as much as a rifle. That all being said what is a good caliber to choose. I have had some people suggest .58 cal smooth which is 24 gauge and some suggest going .62 cal and up. I dont really know what I want caliber wise. I have always hunted with an "unmentionable"(term I have seen others use to describe non muzzleloaders), 12 gauge single shot smoothbore but from what I see that isnt a commom gauge size. If anyone could put their two cents in it'd be appreciated. Thanks for all the knowledge shared so far and thanks for helping me out everyone.

For shotgun-only use, I think many would go with about .62. I'm not a hunter, I just read about them! Good luck, your project sounds like fun. You are doing right to study and think about it before "pulling the trigger" so to speak!

 

[brazosland]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I guess this smoothbore will be used on small game more than anything else. Worse comes to worse I can get a bigger one later on to hunt waterfowl. I dont want to use large bores on squirrels.

It really just depends on how you duck hunt. I guided duck hunts for years. I hunt them on my place now over decoys and my shots are mostly with their feet down. I use a 28 ga SXS hand loaded with Bismuth. No 10ga needed (but I have one in the safe…Browning Gold 10 that I used for clean up as a guide).

A .62 properly loaded over decoys is an easy day.

 

[Bushfire]

I have 20G fusil de chasse, it's become my favourite gun.

But I've just bought a 12G flint specifically for ducks. If I can get it shooting nicely I think a 495 gr ball would be good buffalo medicine too.

 

[tenngun]

I’ve never hunted waterfowl, so completely ignorant as to what you need.
I like a .62 as all round. It is of note that historic guns were seen up to eights with lots more tens and twelves. However the twenty bore was real common in the gentleman’s stable or the frontiersman cabin

 

[Bushfire]

I dont want to use large bores on squirrels.

The good thing about muzzleloaders is that every shot is a handload. Put the same amount of shot as you would for a 20G and voilà.

 

[Brokennock]

The good thing about muzzleloaders is that every shot is a handload. Put the same amount of shot as you would for a 20G and voilà.

The only issue here, possibly, is the width of the bore compared to the volume of the shot charge. And this is why I suggested jug choking if going with the 10 gauge (which I still don't think is a bad idea for ducks, and especially geese, if one is getting a 10 as a second gun just for waterfowl.)
You're shot charge of now starting out wide compared to the length of the shot string, this could cause the pattern to be a lot more open and potentially have big gaps in it at a fairly close range.