Rupp Smoothbore suggestions

I just got through making a Rupp Swamped Barrel gun with the riflings. Now I would like to make a smooth bore flinter mainly for shooting shot. The shotgun type of muzzleloader is all new to me. Any suggestions?

IMHO a lot depends on what you plan to do with it. If you plan to do mostly wing shooting, go with a shotgun style. If you are going to be doing mainly aiming type shooting ie turkey hunting, a smooth rifle would work really good. if you plan to do a little of everything a fowler is the way to go.

But That is just My opinion.

Good luck and keep us posted on the birth of the new gun! Pictures!!

Oh and Pictures of the Rupp would be great too!!

If you are having trouble posting pictures, if you PM me I will give you my email and I will gladly post them for you!!

I am going to make a Rupp and I want one to do a little of everything, but mainly wing shooting.

I don't know if John or Herman Rupp ever made a gun for wing shooting. They were both known for their rifles.

Kits like the "fusil-de-chasse"
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/601/1

North West Trade muskets
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/606/1

or English Fowling guns
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/600/1

come to mind.

Usually, a fowling gun uses a octagon/round barrel which keeps the muzzle light.

Look into English fowling guns. My 16 bore (w/42" Colerain Griffin swamped barrel) weighs in at 7 lbs.

Light enough to be fast enough for upland birds. Also throws a round ball well.

The style is also appropriate for pre-Revolutionary militia through to the percussion era.

I agree, it’s not clear that the smooth rifles and fowlers out of Pennsylvania were made for or suitable for wing-shooting. Particularly I don’t know if a Rupp would be a fast mounting gun. I’m making a Fainot fowler that mounts well.

Here are the pictures you sent me of the Rupp you built.

The Rupp Rifle is beautiful but I agree with what others have said it will not be very good at wing shooting.

A fowler is the do all gun I would build.

Oh yeah, I just built one!!! :v :thumbsup:

Good luck!!

Thanks flintlock. When I said wingshooting. I really want to shoot trap with friends and that is about the extent of it. I fell in love with the rupp style several years ago and can't let go, but I also want a smoothbore that will shoot shot. I am looking at a 46" barrel. Mistake ya think?

cannonball1 said:

I am looking at a 46" barrel. Mistake ya think?

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At least two of us here have 46" barreled fowlers...not a mistake at all. Especially when your eyes are three score and ten! :wink:

Wes/Tex said:

cannonball1 said:

I am looking at a 46" barrel. Mistake ya think?

Click to expand...

At least two of us here have 46" barreled fowlers...not a mistake at all. Especially when your eyes are three score and ten! :wink:

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46" .. ?? Dang that's short ... says the guy w/ 48", 54" and 60" long-barreled fowlers.

Who makes a barrel 60" long?

I may be wrong, but I think a characteristic of the Lehigh Valley of which Rupp comes from, is a smooth bore rifle.

So.....
For your next Rupp build it with a smooth barrel. I would use a custom profile Barrel that fits the school.

As far as a wing shooter....I can do it but I was raised on upland game. Being Southern, we tend to shoot shotguns like rifles. I have made some quick....maybe even spectacular shots a time or two. You know, a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. :grin:

So as far as shooting, I think the main thing is what you are used to.

The KRA cd shows at least one, Lehigh guns with oct/round barrels. Who's to say none were built as fowlers, or at least a smooth rifle.
I'd say.... if you can maintain the legendary architecture, build it.

Dane said:

The KRA cd shows at least one, Lehigh guns with oct/round barrels. Who's to say none were built as fowlers, or at least a smooth rifle.
I'd say.... if you can maintain the legendary architecture, build it.

Click to expand...

I think I am going to use the oct/round barrel - 46" long. I grew up in a valley they call rooster valley. It had that nick name because of all of the pheasants and I did grow up with a shotgun in my hand. In some of the old timers wisdom they planted raccoons, now there are very few pheasants.

Well there you go!! I can't wait to see the outcome!!
:hatsoff:

From the KRA # 5 disc, as well as other sources. There certainly is vast diversity in architecture regarding the originals on that disc isn't there? I bet some of those guns were real cheek slappers, just the way us modern builders seem to get womped with our Lehigh builds. They ain't easy to build that out of them are they?

The Rupp guns were generally heavier than the Molls, (the 2 best known "Lehigh" builders as far as their style is concerned) and for sure the Kuntz guns (more svelte / less Germanic). He (Rupp) very likely could have, and most likely DID build some fowlers. Key to a faster mounting gun will be less protrusion at the toe area to hook it under your arm. That feature makes it a nicely AIMING rifle, but a lousy POINTING shotgun.

You obviously have a very good understanding of the Lehigh / Bethlehem / Allentown architecture, and what makes it unique and tough to pull off just "right"--what ever that means.

Comes down to a question of definitions. Is smoothbore equivalent to fowling gun? Trap gives you a second to line up and shoot. Much like a grouse; but you know from where and when a trap machine will launch.

I have a Lehigh style .54 using a L.C. Rice 44" swamped barrel. Jon Donelson made it to my measurements based on Rupp that was in Kindig's collection. It is a great offhand rifle; and I can mount it with my eyes closed and have it come up "on target" mostly. But there is more to wing shooting than snap shooting. Heavy at 9-1/2 lbs but it hangs well. Not a "cheek slapper" at all with the moderate 85 gr FFFg charge I use.

It would be a horrible "wing shooting" smoothbore in 28 bore or whatever might be reamed out of that barrel. Nose heavy and has a rear sight in the way.

I also have a Mike Brooks built 42" swamped 16 bore "English fowler" style smoothbore. It was designed for wing shooting (also to my measurements). COMPLETELY different animal. It is light at 7 lbs even, balances between the hands, comes up fast and allows a point rather than aim alignment on birds and bunnies (and also does well with a single ball out to 60 yards).

Rupp (either or them) may have made smoothbores. But he would not have used the same architecture unless it was to be a "smooth rifle" rather than an upland gun.

Some years ago I built a Lehigh schimmel, useing a M&G octagon to round barrel and a chambers delux siler lock. It weighed around seven pounds. With no butt plate. I never shot it at game with shot just clays, it worked nicely 42 inch barrel or not. The gun was built with no rear sight. It really shot well on our woods walks with a round ball. I thought it to be a really versatile gun. I fell in love with the type G trade gun at Williamsburg and had to build one, so it was sold to finance the project. BJH

Thanks guys. This piece is going to be mainly for looks. At this point Rupp with that smooth curved stock, 28 ga.,is my selection with with a very curly maple stock and a bit of flash, carved stock, engraved brass and all. All that said, I want to take the kids and grandkids out to shoot a little trap, then hang it on the wall until the next time.