using rifle as shotgun?

Hello all, while perusing youtube, saw a couple of interesting videos where the posters had used their rifles as shotguns. was wondering if anyone has tried this, and would it damage the barrel in anyway. I can't justify another firearm purchase at this time. usually, when I go small game I bring the 20 gauge over/under. but would like to stick to muzzleloading. Thanks

Short answer

It does not work well. The rifling opens the pattern. It could damage the Rifle especially with steel shot.

If you want to shoot shot well through a muzzleloader....have the barrel bored smooth or get a smooth bore or straight rifle.

Just use your muzzleloader with the regular charge! :thumbsup:

I've shot many a grouse, squirrel and rabbit with a .45, .50 and .54! the key is shot placement.

Some guys work up a "small Game" load but I've never had a critter complain that the ball was going to fast or was too big when I smacked it!

If you are talking birds like quail and dove and such where flying shots are the norm, get a smooth bore. As already stated rifling messes up a pattern of shot.

A replacement barrel may be the economical ticket, or a decision to ream out your existing barrel. You can still hunt all manner of big game with a smooth bore! My guess is you hunt small game more than big game.

Don't tell my wife, but a good smooth bore muzzleloader is the only firearm a guy ever needs!

Good luck and keep us posted as to what you decide!

thanks, will look into it.

thanks, will take your suggestions also. Is there a way of just posting one response to every reply, or does it have to be done for each response?

Buy a used barrel with a bad bore. send it to bobby hoyt he will bore it to smoothbore. sorry no cva's.

have a gun show coming up my ways in a couple of weeks. will check the inventory there. maybe I'll get lucky. Thanks

frontierman01 said:

Is there a way of just posting one response to every reply, or does it have to be done for each response?

Click to expand...

If all you're going to say is "thanks", you can just say, "Thanks everyone for the input."

If you want to say more than "thanks" to several different people, click on the first persons post you want to respond to.

Tell him/her what you have to say.
Then, notice below the text window your typing in there is a line that says, "Click to Review other posts in this topic".

Click on it.

At the bottom of the window, the entire topic will show along with the people who are responded to it.

Read thru it and if you see one of the other posts you want to respond to you can write in your text window,

"Nevermiss, I also shoot a gun that never misses. yada, yada, yada...."

"Bushynose, I think yada yada yada....."

Of course, you wouldn't want to call him Bushynose unless that was his forum name. :rotf:

Thinking of changing my forum name........ :hmm:

azmntman said:

Thinking of changing my forum name........ :hmm:

Click to expand...

Run with it! BUT, only if you think you have sufficient nose hair :rotf:

Claude said:

frontierman01 said:

Is there a way of just posting one response to every reply, or does it have to be done for each response?

Click to expand...

If all you're going to say is "thanks", you can just say, "Thanks everyone for the input."

Click to expand...

Thanks

AZbpBurner said:

azmntman said:

Thinking of changing my forum name........ :hmm:

Click to expand...

Run with it! BUT, only if you think you have sufficient nose hair :rotf:

Click to expand...

DAMN I wish I could learn to post pics:rotf: Have to get the son over for another puter lesson