My first round ball through a smoothbore.

[Eterry]

I've had smoothbores for years, always used them for shot.
Last year I bought a LH 14 bore (.69) gun with tiny iron sights. I found someone who'd source me some .662 RB.
I set up a target at 25 yards, used his recommended upper load of 80grs, but had fffg in the horn. So closer to 110grs ffg according to Lyman. I used an old T-shirt for patching, aimed for the thickest part of the letter N, offhand. I Felt a wee bit of recoil.
I Shot 3 rounds before the skeeters tried to carry me away. I Checked the target, very surprised. I feel fairly confident I can cut that group in half from the Bench.
I had ran a square load of 70gr fffg and #8s earlier. You can see them if you zoom in.
All in all, a good day.

 

[Eterry]

Is a 3" group offhand decent at 25 yards? I think it would ruin a deer, hog, or turkey's day at that distance. If a steady rest maybe double that distance.
I'll do a search here, maybe try bare or chewed ball next.

 

[azmntman]

Looks like a decent pattern too, density wise. Gotta get my new to me .56 TC up and running and give it a try.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

DAGGONE!! UH, yeah I would say that is a REALLY good group off hand. Yep that big ole cannon ball would dang sure put the meat on the ground.

 

[Gtrubicon]

This smoothbore thing is really sounding more and more fun every time I see a post like this. To be able to hurl a ball like that, or shot, or combination of ball and shot sounds like a ball.

 

[Rob M.]

Thats awesome bud !! Good shootin ! Best of luck when you go to makin meat ! Very cool .....

 

[Eterry]

Looks like a decent pattern too, density wise. Gotta get my new to me .56 TC up and running and give it a try.

Thanks Azmtnman. I thought the shot pattern was pretty good for cylinder bore.
I want to try lowering the powder charge and see what happens to patterns.

 

[Eterry]

DAGGONE!! UH, yeah I would say that is a REALLY good group off hand. Yep that big ole cannon ball would dang sure put the meat on the ground.

I caught a big break by it having front and rear sights. Kinda hard on my eyes, I'm not 22 anymore... lol.

 

[Eterry]

This smoothbore thing is really sounding more and more fun every time I see a post like this. To be able to hurl a ball like that, or shot, or combination of ball and shot sounds like a ball.

All the TV shows and "Experts" say the Winchester ' 73 won the west. BULL!! The Gun that Won the West was the double barrel muzzleloader. Shot in one barrel, buck and ball or ball in the other. Anything from quail to elk to repelling boarders, you're set.

 

[hanshi]

Is a 3" group offhand decent at 25 yards? I think it would ruin a deer, hog, or turkey's day at that distance. If a steady rest maybe double that distance.
I'll do a search here, maybe try bare or chewed ball next.

A 3" 25 yard group will mean a dead deer farther out than that. Possibly out to 40-50 yards.

 

[Eterry]

A 3" 25 yard group will mean a dead deer farther out than that. Possibly out to 40-50 yards.

THAT'S what I wanted to hear. I'll keep practicing, wet patches next.. lol. I rarely shoot offhand, I will lean on a tree etc is possible.

 

[wiscoaster]

Nicely done. You'll vote for smoothbore in my poll?

 

[Stumpkiller]

Paper "cartridge" round ball in my 0.662" smoothbore flintlock is my deer hunting choice. I haven't hunted with a m/l rifle in a dozen years. Patience is your friend . . . but I also hunt with sightless traditional recurves and wood arrows so a trigger you can pull with little motion and 3X the range is not an issue for me. It's a blessing. ;-)

 

[Blackpowderart]

Stick and String