12 gauge Mowrey capable of patched round balls?

[Dusty_Traveler]

I picked up a 12 gauge Mowrey a few months ago and have finally gathered up some supplies to shoot it. I've got the cards and cushions and a few different sizes of shot. I hope it will perform well as a scattergun as I've heard mixed reviews on the rifles.

I don't think it's a Texas Mowrey, because of the lack of an Olney Tx stamp. It has just their name. It has a 33" full octagonal barrel with no taper. It measures 1" across the flats, has a bore of .729-.730, and a barrel thickness of .141 measured at the center of a flat. While looking it over today, I wondered to myself if it could safely launch out a .710 patched round ball.

The receiver is made of brass and also functions as the breechplug. I know this same receiver/plug design holds up just fine to .54 cal rifle loads. I'm all about having a diversified load portfolio but I don't want a face full of shrapnel getting there.

If thought to be possible, what kind of load would be nominal, given these circumstances?

 

[tenngun]

Run a patch on a jag down to feel if it’s choked. I don’t think it will be
In the case it isn’t try a .690 in .15 on eighty grains 2 f,
Play with it from there.
Best accuracy may come from a bare ball load

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Sounds good, that's where I'll start.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

So, proportionally speaking, if I had a different smoothbore that measures .610, a .575 or .580 round ball would be a good starting place for that load?

 

[hanshi]

Try both prb and bare ball loads; one or both may prove accurate. For smoothbore prb loads I generally use a ball around .020" (+ or -) under bore size; a smoothbore has no grooves to fill with patch material. For bare ball loads I like a larger ball around .010" under bore size. Change only one variable at a time during testing.

 

[rafterob]

If it has an extended stock. I had that one and sold it a couple few years back. But yes it shoots round balls fine and your shoulder will know it.

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

If it has an extended stock. I had that one and sold it a couple few years back. But yes it shoots round balls fine and your shoulder will know it.

haha mannn this thing has A LOT of rear stock. Its like someone hooked a bicycle pump to it and added a few more PSI...quite round on all the edges, shotgun butt, slightly asymmetrical...heavy! but balances the barrel quite nicely...

 

[rafterob]

Mine had a curved Mowrey butt plate which made it a little difficult to shoot as a shotgun.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

This is when I really miss BritSmoothy…