What guage for 2nd. Fowler?

[nuttbush]

Pards,
I have one nice Chambers Fowler in .62 Smoothbore. I am considering a second Fowler in the near future, different stock and furniture, so not the very same gun. I wanted to get opinions from some of you multiple fowler owners out there. Would you get the second gun in .62 smooth also, able to use the same loading components for both. Or would you try a different guage. I would use one for deer, and shoot patched roundballs only, so I was considering a smaller guage for that reason, plus a little extra weight on the barrel. If you were going smaller some thoughts on which caliber you like best for deer size game. Thanks.

 

[Maestro]

I have a .62 smoothbore - my next one will be a .75 club butt with a 48" bbl and a doglock - and I should have it in another week or two! (I'd like to get the .75 jug-choked, too.) :grin: Why a .75? Variety is the spice of life! (A prb out of either one will certainly knock a deer down!) I think if I got a smaller smoothbore, though, I would go with a "smooth rifle" in a .54 cal.

 

[rabjr]

Not sure why one wouldn't get a 12ga. I did and love it. Still working on ball loads. Mines a .735 bore and not bad to shoot .690s out of at all. Going to try .715s with .010 patch and wad between powder and patch next trip I think, see how that shoots.

If you already have a .20 I'd vote for a .12 next one for sure. :thumbsup:

 

I have a .54, .62, .735 and an .86. All are smooth and flint and all get shot from time to time. Can't have enough!!
Mark

 

[Roy]

I would look first at what style of fowler you want and then worry about the gauge.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

About a year ago I went through this same process and wound up going with a 10 gauge fowler and a four foot barrel. Allan Sandy is making it for me, and I'll have it sometime next fall. It won't weigh much more than my 20 bore and can also serve as a militia weapon when re-enacting. I expect it will make a first rate turkey gun.

 

[Todd Rickard]

It would be hard to beat a good 10 or 12ga..

 

[tg]

I have settled on owning just two guns, a .62 smoothrifle that will also do well with shot and buckshot and a French fusil in .58 which throws a ball very well and is good for deer/Elk and will also handle a reasonable shot charge for grouse or other small game.I do not see the need for anything bigger as I do not do much bird hunting, and do not need a larger ball than these two guns will handle.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Yup. Of course, I could always use a 16 bore--maybe an early gun--say a dog lock or snaphaunce. And a 28 gauge would be nice for rabbits and squirrels and such....

 

[Rusty Old Gunns]

Its a hard question for someone else to answer.

Its a matter of druthers, I think.

I have a few 20's (.62). Quite a love affair. But just this spring I received my Caywood English Fowler in 12 gauge with a modified jug choke.

It’s like dating the prom queen! I also got my hands on a 12 gauge cylinder bore with a 36" barrel. Nothing pretty, but it’s new, clean, an honest gun and a work horse, for sure.

So for me, 20's and 12's are heaven. For you, you have to decide what's best.

Another 20 will allow you to use the same ball, patch, and wad. But believe me, its like dating twins. They are all different enough where it will be a joy to experience.

A .58 or a 16 gauge will offer you a little latitude, and a 12 will move you up to another level, offering more shotgun capabilities.

I know a 20 is as good as a 12 in many ways. But there is a difference, and you will be able to play with it.

Do I like my 12's better? Nope. But I love 'em just as much.

 

[paulvallandigham]

You might consider a .58( 24 gauge) for the second gun. If you are going to only shoot round balls, That would be a nice gauge to shoot, as it shoots a 285 grain round ball, which is 2/3 of an oz in weight. That will take a deer, yet allow you to carry a few more balls if that is your desire. ( 24 vs. 20 to the lb.) I would think that would give you a little more weight in the barrel assuming the outside diameters of the two guns is the same.

 

[RiverRat]

I agree with Der Musiker's logic. I own a 20ga fowler and a .54cal(28ga) Chambers' smooth rifle.
With the rear sight, my smooth rifle is deadly out to 60yds with a prb. I might replace the 20ga with a 10ga someday. Oh yea, I forgot to mention that I just bought a Blunderbuss kit in 4ga :grin:

 

[nuttbush]

Pards,
Thanks for all the responses. Lots of food for thought. I was leaning toward a second .62 but I really like the idea of a 24 ga. for just PRB's and deer size game. Definitely a Chambers in another Pennsylvania Fowler or a Smooth Rifle.
20ga. will do me fine for shot, just a few squirrels and rabbits, I don't turkey or bird hunt with it, so I didn't want to go to a larger guage. A 24ga. with a rear sight just may be the ticket. Why are there so many fine guns, knives, and hawks, and so little time. Still deciding, Many thanks.
Gene

 

[Wes/Tex]

Since the .62 is fine for small game and upland fowling, I'd go with a big bore. Since the legal maximum for waterfowl is 10 guage, I'd go for the .775" to keep the shot column shorter the same load in a smaller bore.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Amen!