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Skychief

69 Cal.
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
4,351
Reaction score
1,184
Location
The hills of Southern Indiana
I need some help from you Howdah shooters (and similar smoothbore pistolleeros).

Due to a detached retina, I may be forced to lay down my beloved fowler this April while turkey hunting.

I have an idea that I may have time to find a Howdah type smoothbore and ready it for the late April season.

What I'm asking you guys, is , to please let me know how these pattern at say 10-15 yards. Photos of patterns will get you extra points by the way!

Interested in knowing your loadings too please.

Here in Indiana we may use 7 1/2 to 4 shot, if you will keep that in mind.

There's not much time men, but, with Spring all but here, there's no excuse to not want to shoot some birdshot out of your smoothbore pistols and get your tails back here to report in!:D

Help my recovery process by posting your experiences, findings, and photos here.

Thanks for whatever you may offer!

Best regards, Skychief.
 
I need some help from you Howdah shooters (and similar smoothbore pistolleeros).

Due to a detached retina, I may be forced to lay down my beloved fowler this April while turkey hunting.

I have an idea that I may have time to find a Howdah type smoothbore and ready it for the late April season.

What I'm asking you guys, is , to please let me know how these pattern at say 10-15 yards. Photos of patterns will get you extra points by the way!

Interested in knowing your loadings too please.

Here in Indiana we may use 7 1/2 to 4 shot, if you will keep that in mind.

There's not much time men, but, with Spring all but here, there's no excuse to not want to shoot some birdshot out of your smoothbore pistols and get your tails back here to report in!:D

Help my recovery process by posting your experiences, findings, and photos here.

Thanks for whatever you may offer!

Best regards, Skychief.

In a moment of weakness, I broke down a ordered a Howdah from DGW this afternoon.

I might have #4 shot laying around but will have to look for it. With that said, what's the suggested load?

1 ounce or 1 1/2 ounce?
 
No howdah here but have had four eye surgeries (including three detachments). Do take care of yourself. There's no rushing recovery. Hope everything works out well for you.
 
In a moment of weakness, I broke down a ordered a Howdah from DGW this afternoon.

I might have #4 shot laying around but will have to look for it. With that said, what's the suggested load?

1 ounce or 1 1/2 ounce?

Enfield, I'm happy to hear of your moment of weakness!!! I don't really know what loads to try. From my surfing, I've learned that the suggested load is ~30 grains of powder. Many have written that attorneys may be blamed for that. Sounds anemic in a bore that size, for sure.

I'm looking forward to a speedy account of how she patterns. Right here. Same bat time, same bat channel!:D

Color me subscribed, Skychief.
 
No howdah here but have had four eye surgeries (including three detachments). Do take care of yourself. There's no rushing recovery. Hope everything works out well for you.

RedFeather, I'm truly sorry to hear you've been where I am 3 times! I can't imagine. Thank you for reaching out and I will try to take it easy. Happily, my work has told me to just get well and not to hurry back. I'm glad that they recognize excellence.;)

You take care too, Skychief.
 
Enfield, I'm happy to hear of your moment of weakness!!! I don't really know what loads to try. From my surfing, I've learned that the suggested load is ~30 grains of powder. Many have written that attorneys may be blamed for that. Sounds anemic in a bore that size, for sure.

I'm looking forward to a speedy account of how she patterns. Right here. Same bat time, same bat channel!:D

Color me subscribed, Skychief.

I’ve had about that much in my shotgun barrel of my LeMat with 3/4 ounce of 00 buck.

I’d get more effect by throwing the shot at the target.

I might start with 50 grains of fffg and 1 to 1.5 ounces.

I was hurt in auto accident years ago and couldn’t shoulder a rifle for a year. So I hunted my favorite animal, the ground hog, with handguns.

With spring around the corner I have plans to use this on whistle pigs.
 
Methinks that with the pistols, generally speaking, that recoil will limit the powder charge before any danger of stressing the gun. So, me also thinks that you'll be working your load up from that perspective. I'm not seeing where 30 grains will produce enough velocity, but I could be wrong. ??
 
I don't believe any of the states allow use of ball on turkey. But again, could be wrong. But pretty sure.
 
Oh man, someone needs to talk to Washington state, let us use ball on turk. I'd like to see small caliber ML rifles permitted. .22 rimfire is allowed on grouse. When we had our first turkey seasons here, which wasn't that long ago, there were some good "accidents" at first. (I don't consider failing to positively identify one's target as an "accident".) Guys were shooting at anything black, etc., dudes were coming into each other's calls and blasting away. So I think that is the reasoning behind the #4 shot or smaller. One of the first seasons, stupid guy was on one side of a small hill, or rise, and three guys came over the rise towards him, and he shot the dudes in the faces, claiming that the bobbing heads looked like three turkeys to him. !!! Wow. I don't remember now the extent of the injuries, but it wasn't good.
 
Chief, can you use a ball legally on your birds?

No Sir Nate, not in Indiana. If we were allowed, my concerns would vanish as I have a 32 caliber southern flinter that would look right at home in the turkey woods! Recoils less that a Red Ryder.

Great thought though. Still leaning toward finding a smoothbore pistol to get me by for now. I'm looking at this as an opportunity to try and learn something new!

Besides, I love the allure of calling them in good and close, but you already know of my addiction :D.

Best regards and take care, Skychief.
 
Ok, well I'm thinking low velocity and doughnut patterns!
May require, no, I'll leave the powder choice to you but I am thinking a shot cup, not plastic but definitely a cup.
So you can not compromise on the powder charge, forget 30grn unless your wanting to harass mice!
At least 70 GRN and ware a thin leather glove. #6 shot and my money is on 20 yards.

One may be able to make a stud fit in the forward screw of the lock that fits in a corresponding plate hanging off your belt for carry.
 
Skychief, this isn't exactly what you are asking about but it might work for you. A Japanese matchlock styled stock on a 20 gauge or so might do the trick for you. A new stock on an existing gun might solve your problem.
images
 
Texas. One can use a prb for turkeys in Texas spring and fall.

I’ve never been turkey hunting here in TX so I’m not familiar with the regs, but I recall something along the lines that only shotguns could be used, this concerning modern arms, so I assumed it followed with muzzleloaders as well. One day I need to try for a turkey for Thanksgiving. Pulling all of those feathers sounds rough.
 
I’ve never been turkey hunting here in TX so I’m not familiar with the regs, but I recall something along the lines that only shotguns could be used, this concerning modern arms, so I assumed it followed with muzzleloaders as well. One day I need to try for a turkey for Thanksgiving. Pulling all of those feathers sounds rough.
I looked it up and we are both partially correct. We have two varieties of turkeys in Texas, Rio Grande and Eastern. For Rio Grande Turkeys, one can use rifles, shotguns, handguns, and archery for Spring and Fall seasons. For Eastern turkeys, shotguns are only allowed during the Spring season.
 
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