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Small game/large game loads

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Been contemplating a Technics on hunting loads. Can't figure out how to proceed with the hunt ... So came up with a theory and wanted to run it by before trying it.

I will have a small game load of #5 let's say down the smooth bore for rabbit squirrel and grouse n such when I come across fresh sign of deer, so can I stuff a patched ball down on my small game load quiet like and continue my stalk? Or would this be a DON'T DO? Wouldn't think that it would be any different than the buck n ball loads.

What say ye?
 
I've often wondered why people have 2 different loads for big & small game. It makes more sense to find loads that work with one powder charge and leave it at that....

As described, it will give you one heck of a kick when fired and could be underpowered if a reduced powder charge has been used.
 
I guess that a fellow could screw on a patch puller and pull the overshot wad and pour out the shot then push down the patched ball.

Seems like a smooth easy step tho to just add the patched ball to the current small game shot load.

Maybe it is too much for some weapons ... The reason I ask first
 
My shot column has never "poured" out and needs a worm for removal, but I use premade shot loads wrapped in brown paper and greased with deer tallow (with the tip removed, works as a shotcup). As you described sounds like a double ball (plus additional weight) load.
 
I don't know what size bore we're talking about but just for grins, I'll use 12 guage data.

A patched .690 diameter roundball weighs in at 494 grains.
One ounce of shot weighs 437.5 grains. That makes the roundball equal to about 1 1/8 ounces of shot so, by adding the roundball to your load you could say your adding 1 1/8 ounces of shot to whatever load you have in your gun.

A 82 grain load of GOEX 2Fg powder under 1 ounce of shot in a test barrel gave a velocity of 1160 fps.

A 82 grain load of GOEX 2Fg powder under a 1 1/2 ounce shot load in the same test barrel gave a velocity of 800 fps.
That's 360 feet per second loss from only increasing the shot load by 1/2 ounce.

Needless to say, adding 1 1/8 ounces to the existing load will reduce the muzzle velocity a LOT more than 360 fps.

It would not surprise me to find the added 1 1/8 ounces of weight reduces the velocity to something in the 500-600 fps velocity range.

Now, a .690 diameter roundball traveling at 500 fps might kill a deer but I personally don't think it would always do so humanly.

Removing the loaded shot might work but if you used any kind of shot cup or stiff paper collar around the shot when you loaded it, getting that out of the barrel might be a problem.

Leaving it in the bore would end up keeping the patched ball from sitting tightly down on the powder load.
 
bigted said:
I guess that a fellow could screw on a patch puller and pull the overshot wad and pour out the shot then push down the patched ball.

I have on more than one occasion pulled shot and rolled a ball down.
 
Zonie, yep i didnt think it all the way thru as i did not recon on so much speed loss. i guess the grouse will be safe when i go after the deer here and then when the tag is filled i will go for grouse with a different load.

just something that kept rattling round in me noggin so thought id ask to see if the thought had merit.

took the 12 double out today with a bag of .690 balls and got a bitter disappointment with the way they scattered. but that is for another thread.
 
while squirrel hunting one year with my 20 gauge flintlock, a doe stepped out of the wood line about 15 yards from me. I was standing in 12" of water leaning against a cypress tree. She stared at me but up against that tree she could not make me out as a threat. I even raised the gun and sighted down the barrel at her. Loaded with #5 shot and not in season, I let her go. She eventually walked off and disappeared into the Louisiana swamp. Two weeks later (deer season) went back to same spot loaded with round ball, squirrels where everywhere, not a sign of a deer. Oh well that's hunting.
 
Legal or not, it would be extremely unethical to shoot at a deer with shot, or ball with shot. Whether the ball hits or not, you would surely wound, and maybe even blind the deer, and likely not retrieve it.

Carry a CO2 discharger to clear a load if you need to.
 
I have also wondered about that. Have considered trying but my shoulder always said "ouch" before I did it. Plus, I am concerned about the increase in pressures and the fact such a load has not been target tested (by myself). Bottom line, I haven't and won't try it. Consider this: a modern gun hunter does not carry a 30-06 when bird hunting.
 
long ago i read about "BARKING" squirrels and remembering this ... i have upon more then once eaten mighty fine grouse suppers in camp shooting just in front of them with my 270 winchester [before i became in touch with the real me].

yes i could use the double as a combo gun and this makes the best sense to do ... but i always "wondered" what if kinda thing.

Zonie helped me put it to rest with the loss of velocity thing. i never considered that end ... rather the safety of the load.

the "combo" gun makes the most sense to me and this is what i intended to do however i have to be pretty exasperated with a hunt to actually shoot birds or squirrels when large game hunting. have done so but not the norm of things.

this was more a thing of ... if i were in a survival position ... thing. not talking about the law nor of a specific hunting situation.
 
Had something similar happen to me 2 seasons ago. I was out bird hunting with my trade gun and saw a nice spike mulie cross the road about 1/4 mile in front of me. I decide to practice stalking him and cut through the woods at an angle hoping to cut him off. I got to about where I thought he should be when I heard a noise to my right. I froze and slowly looked to the side and saw him walking down a trail towards me about 20 yards away. I stayed standing still and he actually got within about 10 feet of me grazing and not noticing me before I deliberately moved a little so he knew I was there. He raised his head and trotted off a ways before stopping and looking back to see if I was following before moving off. Came back during big game season and he was no where to be found. While I had no intention of shooting him, I was wondering at the time how lethal an ounce and a 1/4 of #5 shot with 65gr of 3f would be on a deer at 10 feet.
 
nhmoose said:
When I hunt deer I load for deer. I pass all small game so as not to spook the deer.



This is good advice and something I always do. A companion pistol loaded with shot (smoothbore) or a pistol with ball (rifled) takes care of squirrels while a ball in the smoothie takes care of deer. :2
 
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