Rear Sighted Fowler First Range Report

[Pmringer]

I picked up my 44" rear sighted fowler on Friday and had a chance to put some lead through it Sunday. I tried a couple of shot loads shooting trap. I hit one of three which isn't bad considering the learning curve and the high winds. We fired a good bit of .600 PRB. At 25 yards we were consistently hitting clay birds stuck on a board off hand standing. At 75 yards firing from a sitting position we hit an inch high for two shots and hit three in clay birds in a row after that. Out of curiosity I loaded a dry bare ball and fired at 75 yards. 1" low of the bird dead center. Needless to say I am beyond impressed and with a little more time with the piece will have no hesitations using it on deer and hogs at 75 yards. I am curious to see the patterns at 100 yards! The Davis lock really impressed me. No misfires and crisp fast ignitions every time even with the wind howling.

Pictures to follow.

 

[Silky921]

Excellent! Could you tell me a little about your powder charge and load? I have smooth rifle very similar to yours that I have yet to shoot...

 

[Rifleman1776]

At 75 yards firing from a sitting position we hit an inch high for two shots and hit three in clay birds in a row after that. Out of curiosity I loaded a dry bare ball and fired at 75 yards. 1" low of the bird dead center.

Very impressive. Should shut up the smoothie naysayers.

 

[MSW]

Excellent!

I have a .62 smoothie in the works - rather a lash- up from a .54 barrel I had bored out to 20 gauge smooth by Mr. Hoyt, in a lovely stock which I picked up for a great bargain ... still tinkering to get it together, but now I'm better motivated. (I can't reasonably anticipate your level of accuracy - this is going to be fired by a pretty poor marksman - me - and it's a T/C Renegade barrel, so I don't get the nice long sight radius)

either way - it'll be pretty cool once it's done.

Make good smoke!

 

[Mickc01]

hotoSmile: Please!

 

[Bougalee]

:bow: Well done, impressive!

 

[ncmtmike]

I am also working on a rear sight for smoothbore, age being my reason :td: I see by your profile you are still a pup,but it's YOUR smoothbore,don't listen to negative talk,if you want it use it :wink:

 

[Pmringer]

Sorry for the delayed response, been getting settled at the new job in NC. I was firing 75 grains of 3f under a .600 RB patched with 0.012 linen lubed at the muzzle with mixture of beeswax and mink oil that I put together. I had taken some coarse grit paper to the RBs before heading out.

As to the rear sight, I know many view it as non-traditional but the fact of the matter is I got this to use for hunting everything that I go after. The rear sight helps A LOT. I would have to imagine that a lot of frontiersman carrying a do all smoothie would have had one added or benefited from one on the frontier. I am heading out again tomorrow to shoot. I just opened a photo bucket account and will upload pictures tomorrow.