What to look for in a smooth bore?

The Charleville is fine, it is some of the Fusil De Chasse smoothbores with the big hump I have had issues with. I have one that is easy to get the same cheek weld every time, just put the hump where the bruise is! I have heard though that most of these have the "hump" exaggerated, and a properly made one is fine. Alex Efremenko is the man when it comes to French smoothbores, I saw one he made for sale on one of the sites I frequent, forget where I saw it though.

Reading so many of these newbie to Flintlock posts (I am one myself in the worst way), I kind of feel sorry for guys that go out to Cabela's and buy their first muzzleloader and then discover this forum. Of course you can always sell or trade if you end up with buyers regret after a purchase. But there is just such a wealth of information here, and so many eager and willing to help and share. Prior to joining this forum, like many modern shotgun and rifle hunters, I thought a muzzleloader, was a muzzleloader, In-line, Flintlock, or Percussion Cap. Maybe sometimes ignorance isn't bliss huh? Then again, when I was bow hunting, I had a Fred Bear Kodiak recurve with no sights. A long way from todays compounds made of carbon fiber, aluminum alloy, lighted sights, arrows with nocks that light up when shot. My grandson's do get the deer with their kit these days. My deer hunting was always solo. I never went out for the deer camps with the guys at work. I liked the solitude of hunting alone. I had to drag some deer a good piece back to the road a few times though. To each his own.

Trot said:

The Charleville is fine, it is some of the Fusil De Chasse smoothbores with the big hump I have had issues with. I have one that is easy to get the same cheek weld every time, just put the hump where the bruise is! I have heard though that most of these have the "hump" exaggerated, and a properly made one is fine. Alex Efremenko is the man when it comes to French smoothbores, I saw one he made for sale on one of the sites I frequent, forget where I saw it though.

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Cool. Just call me Thumper! Is that a mouse on your cheek or just a chaw of tobaccy?

PluggedNickel said:

Nice looking smoothie you have there. I like the drop of the stock, more like our modern guns than some I'd say. Trot probably speaks from experience about that radical drop in the stock of some of the French guns, though I must say, my 1766 Charleville puts my eye right inline with a good cheek weld. I'll let you all know what I think about the thumpin' once I make some smoke! LOL

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Thank you sir.....I taught extra classes to purchase it back in 2000. It has been a joy to shoot and serves well as a "common gun" as used by the Southern Tribes. As to French guns, Alex is the man but a couple of years ago a friend of mine contacted him to have a gun built and he was not taking orders. He referred him to Larry Horrigan.....who is also a builder and turns the barrels for Alex.......Larry built an awesome Fusil Fin for my buddy with a 53" barrel! That gun points just like the originals my uncle owns and the weight is the same.....about 7 lbs. He profiled the barrel off an original and that along with a slender stock is what allows that gun to point so well

I searched for pictures of the type G after Brokenock suggested them and I must say I like the looks of those! Nicer lines than the trade guns I had been seeing. Also may look into the English Fowler styles I saw pictures of.
The information on the fusil de chasse style guns kicking worse is very good to know, just the thing a new guy would never know unless they’ve shot one.
Thanks Joe

Joe,
You stated earlier that you liked the lines of the Fusil de chase. I own a French Fin in the Leige style. I have shot both of mine plus the one built by Mr. Horrigan.......I do not notice the cheek slapping that others mention.
Any way you go the guns mentioned are an investment. I appluade your research & diligence because in the long run you will save your self some money & frustration
David

I have a centermark TFC with the calf’s foot design. It’s never bit me, I find it very comfortable to shoot, and infact is my favorite gun I ever owned. Its also a shooter, it’s put a deer or two in the pot, a turkey or two and more then one tree rat.
I shouldered an early charly, I think it was the 1716 model with one band and the calf’s foot hump in the stock, and it fit me like a custom.

My Centermark F.d.C. doesn't usually slap me. The only time I really notice the recoil is with heavy turkey loads, when I've worked myself into a really tight and proper sitting position ala the 270 class.

hamanky said:

I searched for pictures of the type G after Brokenock suggested them and I must say I like the looks of those! Nicer lines than the trade guns I had been seeing. Also may look into the English Fowler styles I saw pictures of.
The information on the fusil de chasse style guns kicking worse is very good to know, just the thing a new guy would never know unless they’ve shot one.
Thanks Joe

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You will find no better architecture for comfort and shoottability than an English style fowler or sporting rifle.
Robby

Robby is right about the english fowlers. They point as well as any modern shotgun. I shoot alot of trap, skeet and sporting clays and the fowler shoots well in all of them. I have NWT guns that shoot well.

Now I have a Fusil De Chase. I love the lines of it, have shot turkey, 5 deer, bear, and many squirrels with it. BUT have never hit anything wingshooting with it. Which I have heard from alot of people. One of my goals this spring is to lean how to wingshoot it. I will burn alot of powder with it in the spring to learn how to hit a bird in the air with it. I built the gun because of the lines and love the looks of it. But it has been a challenge to wingshoot with it.

Jerry

Comfortably_Numb said:

Hasn't anyone read " Flintlock Fowlers, The First Guns made In America" By Tom Grinslade?

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At some point in time you should take a look at the fowlers in Tom Grinslade's book.

I was in the same place about acquiring a Fowler a couple of years ago. Lots of help here.
Mike Brooks made this Gun for me. I asked him to copy a New England Fowler / #9 from Grinslade’s book. He did exactly that.
16 gauge, 42 inch barrel, 6 1/4 lbs. Made to my measurements for LOP, Drop, etc.