[Dave A]

I am looking for a 12 gaugr flintlock shot gun. It would round out my collection of flintlocks nicely but I am having a hard time finding any for less than $600.00

[unspellable]

The tem “flintlock shotgun” is an oxymoron. There were flintlock “fowling pieces” but the true shotgun was not developed until after the percussion lock came on the scene.

The difference starts with the lock time. The flintlock has a give away flash followed by a long lock time which allowed birds to dodge and make good their escape. Follow through after the flash is extremely difficult. The technique was to stalk the fowl and take an aimed shot while they were on the water or ground as if hunting deer. In such a gun the weight, balance, and handling characteristics are not overly significant.

The percussion lock did not have the give away flash and had a much faster lock time, making it practical to shoot a bird on the wing. Since the technique is to point rather than aim, and have a good follow through, weight, balance, and handling became important and the true shot gun developed.

As for what is available in the way of fowling pieces in today’s market, I will have to let others answer.

[Starter52]

Dave, I've always called them "shotguns" too. I figure any gun that is designed to fire "shot" is a shotgun.

[unspellable]

To fire shot there is the blunderbuss, the musket, the cannon, the Le Matt revolver, and I'm sure there are at least three more I can't call to mind right now and a dozen more that I just plain don't know.

The trumpet shaped muzzle on the blunderbuss had nothing to do with patterning, it was simply a funnel to make pouring down loose shot handy.

Just this week end I was looking at a shiny new Winchester Model 9410 which technically is a musket chambered for the 410 shot cartridge.

What we refer to today as a cannon was originally viewed as an entire class of fire arms, only a few of which were called cannons, and several of which were primarily loaded with shot. For example, back in the day a Carronade was a Carronade and nobody referred to it as a cannon which most people would do today. (A Carronade was a piece with a relatively short barrel and large bore meant to be used with a relatively heavy round shot at modest velocity at close range.)

[Thefabulousfink]

I have found that this sight is an incredible resource on blackpowder shooting.

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/index.html

Bob Spencer is a huge enthusiest(sp?) and focuses on authintic smoothbore and flintlock hunting. Read some of his articles, I am sure they will help.

P.S. If you aren't allready completely in love with the flintlock, reading Bob Spencer's work is sure to get you hooked.

[unspellable]

Up to this point all my front stuffer shooting has been with the percussion lock.

I'm a bit reluctant to get involved with a flintlock.

If I did get a flintlock, I'd fancy something like the British Sae Service pistol or something that looks more or less like it. (Actually, while the Sea Service was official issue, I get the impression that the Navy was willing to use any pistol that fell to hand.)

[kentucky bucky]

Up to this point all my front stuffer shooting has been with the percussion lock.

I'm a bit reluctant to get involved with a flintlock.

If I did get a flintlock, I'd fancy something like the British Sae Service pistol or something that looks more or less like it. (Actually, while the Sea Service was official issue, I get the impression that the Navy was willing to use any pistol that fell to hand.)

I was reluctant too, until I started shooting flint. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Try it!

[BigG]

Take a look at this site Middlesex Village Trading Co. (http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/NEWmuskets.shtml)

They have muskets, i.e., smoothbores, that could all be used as shotguns and one specifically tricked out as a fowling piece. A guy on the forum tried one of their pistols and pronounced it very well done.

I agree with Kentucky Bucky, a flinter is the most fun shooting BP I know. :D