New Englander 12 gauge

[Loyalist Dave]

Hey folks, I've got a "line" on a used but very good condition TC New Englander caplock in the rare 12 gauge version. I have one myself in .54. The seller tells me that this does not have screw-in choke tubes, but it's a synthetic stocked version, with a cylinder bore? I can't find any technical info on the barrels offered by TC in the 12 gauge. Is it possible it is choked, but it's merely "fixed" at perhaps "modified"? I thought that the originals if they were cylinder bore would have only been in wood stocks, not the later synthetic versions, which I would expect to have had the choke tubes.

OF course this may have been an early version with a later version stock added to it by the previous owner....

I am thinking since my teenage son really likes the New Englander in .54 that getting this should give him a second barrel for upland and forest small game, plus an extra lock and other spare parts since they are no longer made. This of course means also hoping that the barrel drops in just like the once offered after-market TC barrels were supposed to do....

Can anybody clue me in as to whether this is probably a cylinder bore? Also, anybody out there ever sent out their cylinder bore TC NE barrel to have it converted to take choke tubes? (It would be nice to black powder duck hunt, with bismuth shot, one day).

LD

 

[Patocazador]

I don't know about T/C shotgun barrels but I have two SxS 12 ga. shotguns. The cylinder bore makes it much easier to load since you don't have to fold the cards and wads to get them past the choke. If you want to get a tighter pattern, you can use plastic shotgun wads like power pistons or just cut the cup off and use that. Ballistics products sells unsplit turkey shot cups that hold a real tight pattern. They also protect your bore from steel shot.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Thanks Bob,
I have lots of experience with cylinder bore flinters..., I just use a fiber wad that gets compressed when I use my caplock, choked, SxS, or compressed paper cartridges. I was just thinking in this case of at least a modified choke to go for some ducks. I could possibly have the barrel jug choked if the walls are thick enough.

LD

 

[Choctaw]

I hope you enjoy it. I have a soft spot for the New Englanders.

 

[eastbank]

my NE 12ga has choke tubes with syn stock.

 

[Noz]

Been a long time since I saw a reference to "jug" chokes.. Baikal used to do quite a bit of that.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

T...I was just thinking in this case of at least a modified choke to go for some ducks...

Is it even rated for Steel Shot? or were you planning on using something else?

 

[Ironhand54]

Never heard of a New Englander without choke tubes. Mine had tubes. Has the barrel been shortened? I know some people did that to get rid of the tubes.

IronHand

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

Early T/C NE shotgun barrels were cylinder bore. If the owner has dial calipers, barrel should mike out at .729 bore. Later, T/C offered the screw-in choked barrels. The later barrel was furnished with I. C., Mod, & Full choke tubes. Correct barrel length (I think) should be 26".

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Early T/C NE shotgun barrels were cylinder bore

Thanks, that's what I thought.

Has the barrel been shortened? I know some people did that to get rid of the tubes

Ya know that never occurred to me..., I wonder if it has been shortened. Looked pretty good as far as photos can tell. I wonder if somebody shot it with shot, forgetting to replace the choke tubes, fubar'd the threads, so had it shortened.

OH well I guess I will find out.

LD

 

[D. Buck Stopshere]

My bad. I need to have written proof before I write (don't we all?).

According to the 1990 Shooter's Bible, Black Powder section, page 381, "This new 12-gauge muzzleloading percussion shotgun weighs only 5 lbs, 2 oz. It features a 28 inch, improved cylinder (choke) round barrel and is stocked with selected American black walnut." $ 220.00. Available in Left-Hand Model $ 235.00.

The 2000 Dixie Catalog indicated the T/C New Englander Shotgun with fixed choke, so the screw-in chokes appeared after that year