why get a smoothbore?

[ltdc]

I've got several flintlock and percussion rifles.
and a double barreled percussion shotgun.

for some reason I'm just aching to get a smoothbore or fowler. and I'm not sure why.(not that a reason is required)but......

what are you guy's reasons for going with smoothbores and what do you think of them.
any suggestions on who to get one from?

I hunt and target shoot as well as rondezvous competitions with my other guns.

 

[rabjr]

Smoothies are fun! The reason that got me first thinking of a smoothie was to hunt our shotgun season again. I'm glad I had mine built. You need to determine what style best suites you, then there are several good builders about that can help you.

Heres what one fowler can look like. :grin:
http://www.nimrodsplace.com/nefowler1.html

 

[torn moc]

Your collection is just not complete without a smoothie or two or three..
They have thier own time frame and style of shooting...thier own little "niche"
ya know? course ya do!!thats why they intrigue you Soooooo much. So dont keep on punishing yourself..start deciding which one you will purchase first...just ask TG!

 

[paulvallandigham]

Why do we own smoothbores?? 'Cause.

We own smoothies because we like them, is the best reason to have them. You may as well ask a primitive archer why he is shooting a stick bow, rather than some modern wonder with wheels and ropes.

For the hunter, smoothies increase the " Degree of difficulty" in making a successful kill. You have to get closer, than if you hunt with a rifle.

I think men have always gotten a thrill by making a challenge for themselves to do better, and then meeting that challenge successfully. Most of us have shot modern rifles, and many have taken large game with them. Some at very long ranges.

Long range shooting proves your shooting skills. Short range shooting tests your Hunting skills. The shorter the range, the better you have to be.

By using a more primitive weapon, you force yourself to work harder at stalking skills, and hunting skills, to get close enough to succeed in taking game.

 

[cowpoke1955]

Itdc,
I am right there with you. I have shot in matches and hunted for years with percussion and flintlock rifles. I thought I knew every black powder bug there is, then I caught it....Fowlertitis!! The doc says it is fatal, unless I get one. From listening to everyone here and some of my own research, I just gotta have one. If you shoot competition you can use a fowler in a lot of Trade Gun shoots. I think they are about as close to a do everything gun as you can get. A good reason, I cannot explain. Just start saving! Good luck :thumbsup: .

 

[richardn]

Smoothbores are challenging but fun. You can small game hunt as well as go after deer, bear, etc. You can participate in smoothbore paper punching competitions and expand your fun accordingly. There is also a historical element about smoothbores as they are said to be the first firearms in America.

Anyway, it's always nice to have another gun - but you need to use it.

Richard

 

[tg]

They are versitile and quite forgiving in what you feed them and are good to 50 yds plus with ball and offer the option of variouis shot loads as well, they offer an elevated challenge with out the rear sight but are fun with such a sight as well, they fit well into most any historical period and can put ML hunting on the same footing as archery if you want to get up close and personal, tere are many forms to choose from, Military, trade guns, fowlers, hunting guns, smoothrifles....you will likely try them all till the closet is full and you choose the best of the lot to keep.

 

[hawk]

well it started with a bess and then a sea service and then a trade gun and then a fowler then a smoothrifle think I'll do a blunderbuss...maybe a double..or

you may not find a way to stop once you start

I know I'll build another rifle !!

 

[Golfswithwolves]

Chicks dig guys who have smoothbores :haha:

 

[bwhoffman]

I got one just because.
it allows me to do the trail walks a second time. I can shoot a few more events and the clay bird games also.
I shoot my rifles well and they group for me, have double set triggers ect. they do their job when I do mine. My hand guns as well.

I call my well used,4th to own locally 20/.62 smoothie, "The Humbilizer".
Sometimes I just need to be humble-ized and this is the gun to do it!
It is plain pure and simple, myfirst rock lock and one trigger and no back site. a fun gun to shoot!
my typical mode of operation is home cast balls, pre cut pathes ect in my guns. Thesmootie...all outof thebag, muzzle cut patches,spit for lube, all in the true traditional aspect! thus, The humblizer!
and sometimes I think of renaming it the "humiliator" which it sometimes does!


I advocate every man should have one!

 

[MercerLake]

:v It's a dangerous bug with which to be bitten!
If you appreciate a challenge then a fowler/smoothie is for you.
Why do I have one? I like the feel of the gun, with a swamped long barrel the bead just hangs on target. Large butt spreads the recoil over a large area with a huge reduction in felt recoil. The single relatively large front bead is easy to find in low light. I grew up with a single shot 22 rifle that had lost the rear sight, killed and ate large numbers of squirrels, rabbits just fine. So it is like a regained/second childhood when I go hunting with the smoothie. Having to get close puts the "hunt" back in hunting. And if you run short of the perfect ball, then use some smaller ball with thicker patches and never know the difference. Truly a gun for all seasons! :v

 

[PaulN/KS]

I got bit by the "bug" and really enjoy my fowler.It was built by Greg Christian and I bought it here off the MLF. They are simple,versitile and were probably the most common gun for the "commoner" back in those days.
Funny thing tho,I am the second worst shotgunner that I know but I just HAD to get a fowler...

 

[pcrum]

The real question should be Why not?

 

[Leatherbark]

Because if you miss you have a good excuse.."I dont got no rifling"?................Bob

 

[ltdc]

well thanks guys, I pretty much already knew and understood each and every reason presented.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

let the savings begin

 

[xxgrampa]

it's just fun to lob that big punkin ball out there. if you can see the dust fly, it's that much better..

..tt.g..

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

I have a 28 ga. fowler that shoots very well. But like Manyklatch I like to shoot the big military flintlock muskets. They make the steel plates go down and you don't need a scope to see your holes
at 25 yards ( paper targets ). One downside, you can be banned from a range if they have crappy welds on the targets!

:wink:

 

[redwing]

By the laws of the land you must have one at ready with shot and ball, all in good working order. If the Militia is called to meet on the commons. If you do not have one you shall be flogged.

Do you need any more reasons??? :v

 

[Many Klatch]

Smoothbores are a lot of fun, they shoot almost anything you can stuff down the bore. What is real fun is winning a rifle match with a smoothbore. It doesn't happen real often, but the bragging rights are priceless.

Grizz and I have a Large Bore only, Only Real men need apply musket shoot at the Friendship woods walk every year. The rules are the smoothbore must be .69 caliber or bigger. The shoot is about 20 targets and the winner of the match is usually 5 or 6 hits out of 20. We don't care, we are in it for the fun. I don't care if I beat anyone else as long as I can beat Grizz and if he beats me I'll be having just as much fun buying his pizza after the shoot.

There is something about shooting a gun with no rifling, no rear sights, no trick trigger a great big lead punkin ball and a flintlock to boot to introduce you to your inner child.

If that isn't enough reason to shoot smoothbore then I don't know what else is.

Many Klatch

 

[pulaski]

Built my "smoothie" because I didn't have one . Soon came to realize that I can now hunt anything with one weapon , legally .
Started taking a picture of each different type of game shot with the fusil . Have now shot , at least one of , everything legal in my home state of WI. Each one is immortalized on film laying next to the fusil .
There is an unexplainable great feeling when carrying one in the woods . (This sounds weird but maybe one of the others can explain it better )
Just my 2 cents