Chunk guns were normally heavily barreled weapons, made specificaly for shooting off a chunk (log section, etc)
: In the flint fullstock era, of coruse, the forewood rested on the chunk, however later n. with 1/2 stocked weapons, the barel itself was rested. Either would cause high shooting and must be sighted for. This would case the saem rifle to shoot low from an offhand or rested position.
; many hunters today, lack this basic knowledge, about resting the barrel or forewood against an imovable object.
: A very heavy barrel or gun might have less divergence of the ball, perhaps.
: One "chunk gun" I saw a closeup of, had what appeared to be a 1 1/4" oct. barrel, some 36" long on an abreviated 1/2 stock & was only .45 to 50 cal. for patched round ball.