Which one would you choose?

[jlangenh]

I am thinking about using a muzzle loading shotgun this squirrel season. I am trying to decide between a 12 ga New Englander or a 56 cal smoothbore Renegade. Would the sights on the Renegade be an advantage for squirrel hunting? Is the New Englander lighter and better balanced? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Sights on a shotgun hinder it's performance for a "good" shotgunner. But with the weight and stock design on the Renegade (I own one of each) it really isn't a wing-shooting gun anyway. The New Englander is lighter and balances MUCH lihter in the hands.

I'd go with the New Englander.

On the other hand. Squirrel don't fly and usually when I take a rifle they run and sit for a shotgun, so maybe a hybrid smooth rifle is the way to go.

Two New Englanders:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

New Englander. Much more versatile.

 

[shootemup]

I agree, given a choice between the two I would pick the New Englander. I also have both and enjoy both, but the New Englander is much more versatile.

You can usually get them cheaper, too.

 

[The Baron]

I've got a 12ga. New Englander as well, so I'm gonna vote for what I know. I have been very pleased with mine on every outing.

 

[slowpokebr549]

Gotta go with a CVA trapper out of loyalty myself.

 

[torn moc]

SO thats what a skerwl dog looks like! I love the smile he has on his face!!!!

 

[slowpokebr549]

Thats a she, Maxine to be exact, with her very first sqirrels. She sure was proud.Sorry to hijack the thread guys, for my money I think the New Englander will be a much better choice. I just had to post that pic after seeing the Beagles and Bunnies. Gotta represent the Feist crowd.

 

[Borego]

What are your loads for your cva trapper?

 

[slowpokebr549]

70gr. of 3f and 1 1/8 oz of 6 shot for those reds in the pic.Ox yoke lubed wad as over powder and shot both.Throws a nice pattern at about 25 to thirty yards.

 

[jlangenh]

Does your trapper have a choke or is it cylinder bore? The reaon I ask is I'm trying to find out how to get wads and cards through a modified or full choke.

 

[slowpokebr549]

check your private messages.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Joel. For your benefit and others, its next to impossble to get a wide or " thick " cushion wad down through a choke tube. Some OP wads are also so thick its next to impossible to get them down through a choke without ruining their ability to seal the bore.

A member here, Jim Rackham, came up with a terrific idea which he shared with us some time ago. He uses only 20 gauge OS cards( about .010" thick) as wads in his choked fowler. He puts 4 OS cards down on top of the powder in lieu of the OP wad, putting a dab of lube between the third and 4th cards. Then, he pours in his powder charge, and follow that up with 2 OS cards. All the cards have had off-center holes punched into them with an awl, to let air pass through them. This allows the 4 cards on top of the powder to be seated, but separate easily as soon as they leave the muzzle. Separation keeps them from following the shot, and " bumping " the shot to cause a donut hole pattern. The heavier OPWads, and cushion wads then to bump a hole in the shot pattern and often follow the shot past the 25 yard target range. With the OS cards used instead, Jim reports that the cards hit the ground within 10 feet of the muzzle, most of the time.

The holes in the 2 OS cards that hold in the shot allow the cards to be seated on the shot without dieseling, and air finally blowing buy an edge, ruinging its ability to seal properly. If it doesn't seal properly, it may not hold the shot in place during a long hunt with the gun being bumped occasionally. You don't want the shot moving in the barrel before its fired.

By using only OS cards, Jim is able to get good patterns, and he doesn't have to carry and sort through all those different wads to load his gun.

When you put the OS cards in the choke, simply turn them on their side and bend them a bit to get them through the choke, Bending them is possible because they are thin. You want to protect those edges as much as possible. Then with a short starter, turn them so they are square to the bore. Align those off center holes so that no two hole in abutting cards are lined up with one another. That way the cards seal properly, and still separate when they leave the muzzle.

You also want a ramrod head that is wide enough( bore diameter) that it can have a cupped face( but not too deep) so that the edge of the jag(head) will push against those edges of the cards. That helps to seal the bore consistently. Most jags have the front edge beveled down, so it doesn't snag on rifling. In a smoothbore, that is not an issue, but getting those edges seated fully is. If you are new to MLing, remember to pin those ferrules to your ramrods, and just don't rely on glue to keep them on.

I hope this helps.

 

[cecil]

That is the exact load I use in my CVA Trapper slowpokebr549 with good results, missed a Tom with it. Operator error

God Bless
Willisburg

 

[stalkerhawk]

I'd go with the new englander.My two pennies worth.

 

[jethro224]

If you only plan to hunt squirrels and might use it for deer I would vote for the Renegade.

If you might use it for bird hunting, I'd say go with the New Englander.

Aw heck, just get both. :grin: