What advantage to have a smooth bore?

[Marplot]

What is there an advantage to have a smooth bore other than a having a shotgun?

 

[Justin.P]

I like smoothbores because they are a jack of all trades, master of none. If it fits down the barrel, it'll fire it...sort of....lol
Round balls at shorter ranges, and lead shot with a not so nimble bull barrel, what's not to love?
They are versatile shorter range guns. I live and wander heavy dense undergrowth woods and spruce bogs. It's seldom that the extra range of a rifle or a choked shotgun would give me much of an advantage. But I'm also the same bonehead that likes to try and still hunt with a longbow or hunt with a handgun. I enjoy doing things the hard way, I guess......lol

Historically how they were used I can't answer. I'm not a reenactor or trekker. I'm just a guy that likes shooting muzzleloaders.

 

[Banjoman]

My favorite muzzleloaders are flintlock smooth bores with a traditional breech. I am not a fan of the chambered breech like Thompson Center, Traditions and others have. I like the rifles, just not the breech.

I like being able to shoot round ball or shot. Using round ball is a short range affair which is fine.

They are easier to load, especially something like a .60 caliber or larger. No need for those silly short starters. There are lots of options for wadding also.

Cleaning a smooth bore with a traditional breech is easier to clean than a rifle with a chambered breech. Less nooks and crannies to clean out. Just nice smooth surfaces.

I am also just a guy that likes shooting muzzleloaders. Especially flintlock smooth bores.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

What is there an advantage to have a smooth bore other than a having a shotgun?

PROs
Smoothbores allow the use of both shot and single ball
With single ball they are often quite effective out to 50 yards, and many folks find themselves in hunting situations where this is well within range
Use of shot often gives the smoothbore shooter a greater chance at success on birds and small game.
With encroachment of dwellings upon hunting areas, the larger ball and lower MV reduces the risk of shooting out-of-safe.
IF the need arises for the smoothbore shooter to harvest modern bullet alloy from spent slugs from a range berm..., bullets from that alloy still work well in a smoothbore.
Most states prohibit the use of a rifle when hunting turkey in Spring. Waterfowl hunting must be with shot.
Some countries make using anything other than a muzzleloading smoothbore for hunting an aggravating exercise...
Use of shot on treed squirrels is safer than trying to ensure a ball that passes through the treed squirrel will hit the tree trunk as a backstop
The aging eyes of a hunter may not be able to take advantage of a rifle's greater range when using an open sight.

CONs
The cost of shot, as most folks buy instead of making their shot, is higher than when using ball, as most smoothbore shooters, especially when using a cylinder bore gun use more weight of shot than the weight of a single ball, and often other components such as pre-made wads, add to the cost per shot.
Shot is sometimes hard to find
Limited range compared to the rifle
It takes a lot more practice, and on a regular basis, to maintain accuracy skills with a ball from a smoothbore out past 50 yards or so

LD

 

[TCMonts]

Use of shot on treed squirrels is safer than trying to ensure a ball that passes through the treed squirrel will hit the tree trunk as a backstop
The aging eyes of a hunter may not be able to take advantage of a rifle's greater range when using an open sight.

Amen Brother

 

[waksupi]

PROs
Smoothbores allow the use of both shot and single ball
With single ball they are often quite effective out to 50 yards, and many folks find themselves in hunting situations where this is well within range
Use of shot often gives the smoothbore shooter a greater chance at success on birds and small game.
With encroachment of dwellings upon hunting areas, the larger ball and lower MV reduces the risk of shooting out-of-safe.
IF the need arises for the smoothbore shooter to harvest modern bullet alloy from spent slugs from a range berm..., bullets from that alloy still work well in a smoothbore.
Most states prohibit the use of a rifle when hunting turkey in Spring. Waterfowl hunting must be with shot.
Some countries make using anything other than a muzzleloading smoothbore for hunting an aggravating exercise...
Use of shot on treed squirrels is safer than trying to ensure a ball that passes through the treed squirrel will hit the tree trunk as a backstop
The aging eyes of a hunter may not be able to take advantage of a rifle's greater range when using an open sight.

CONs
The cost of shot, as most folks buy instead of making their shot, is higher than when using ball, as most smoothbore shooters, especially when using a cylinder bore gun use more weight of shot than the weight of a single ball, and often other components such as pre-made wads, add to the cost per shot.
Shot is sometimes hard to find
Limited range compared to the rifle
It takes a lot more practice, and on a regular basis, to maintain accuracy skills with a ball from a smoothbore out past 50 yards or so

LD

Ask for shot at yard sales. I've acquired a life time supply for very little money.

 

[Grenadier1758]

As we age, the vision condition known as presbyopia or far sighted makes seeing a rear sight next to impossible. A smoothbore with only a front sight bead is easier to shoot and will keep us hunting and shooting much longer. Any firearm that keeps us in the hobby is an advantage that will keep us healthy.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Ask for shot at yard sales. I've acquired a life time supply for very little money.

Won't find it here in this state. I'm 18 miles North of DC.

LD

 

[Sidney Smith]

In area where allowed, buckshot loads can be shot from a smoothbore. You can't do that with a rifled bore.

 

[The Crisco Kid]

They're easier to load with a patched ball than a rifle. I don't need no stinking short starter.
Plus, I'm finding out that my smoothbore is just a whole lot of fun and pretty competitive out to 50 yards, maybe more as I get it figured out.

 

[Rob M.]

What is there an advantage to have a smooth bore other than a having a shotgun?

Just its light weight and its versatility ...able to hunt a squirrel or a buffalo .....and anything in between ...

 

[yellowhammer]

I'm sorta interested in a smoothbore. What do you suggest for my first one?

 

[Loja man]

I'm sorta interested in a smoothbore. What do you suggest for my first one?

Rob M can make you a trade gun!! Chambers has some nice kits. I think Kibler has one in the works, a Fowler that is.

 

[waksupi]

I'm sorta interested in a smoothbore. What do you suggest for my first one?

Go with a 20 bore.

 

[tenngun]

Fun
Like pretty girls and butterflies smoothies need no excuses

 

[B P Maniac Shooter]

You can shoot just about anything out of a smoothbore.
I've shot toothpicks, batteries, arrows, chicken skewers, etc, etc
and even undersized various size round balls as shown below:

 

[Juniata]

In Pennsylvania where the law is 44 cal minimum for deer and 40 cal max for small game, there's is no one rifle legal to hunt both deer and small game. You can with a smoothie, shot for small game and ball for deer. That was my plan when I built my first gun, a NW Trade gun. Till I got the bug pretty bad, then I had 2 smoothbores and 3 rifles. Just sold the one smoothie.
I like them both but I love a rifle.
Plus most BP shooters I shoot with are weird as it is, and guys that are all about smoothies tend to be the extra weird ones lol

 

[waksupi]

In Pennsylvania where the law is 44 cal minimum for deer and 40 cal max for small game, there's is no one rifle legal to hunt both deer and small game. You can with a smoothie, shot for small game and ball for deer. That was my plan when I built my first gun, a NW Trade gun. Till I got the bug pretty bad, then I had 2 smoothbores and 3 rifles. Just sold the one smoothie.
I like them both but I love a rifle.
Plus most BP shooters I shoot with are weird as it is, and guys that are all about smoothies tend to be the extra weird ones lol

"Plus most BP shooters I shoot with are weird as it is, and guys that are all about smoothies tend to be the extra weird ones lol"

You say that like it's a BAD thing! ;o)

 

[Juniata]

"Plus most BP shooters I shoot with are weird as it is, and guys that are all about smoothies tend to be the extra weird ones lol"

You say that like it's a BAD thing

Well if you're shooting at a club for competition sake and you go against everyone with rifles and you got a smoothie, that's fine whatever a guy wants to do go for it, but it's kinda like showing up with an f150 to the diesel truck pulls and expecting to compete!

 

[waksupi]

I usually finish well up in the standings shooting against rifles, and it's not unusual for me to shoot a higher score than my rifle scores, on the same courses.