Lyman 28 ga Barrel

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rodwha

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For some time now I've been considering buying a Lyman barrel for my Deerstalker to have bored to 28 ga and adding a screw-in choke installed (cyl and full).

Two barrels are drop-in and I'm uncertain what I really want. The 24" Deerstalker and 28" Trade Rifle.

The shorter barrel seems more handy, especially for small game hunting. But the longer barrel seems more ideal for turkey hunting (if it will do well enough).

As for turkey use I see no reason why I couldn't load it up on the heavy side using the .54 cal info. I'm not sure if I'd need all of that powder or not (a can will tell), but I have read up on how more shot (volume) to powder will help keep the pattern more dense.

If the .54 cal can load a slug that weighs about 1 1/32 of an ounce over 90 grns of 3F (110 grns of 2F) I don't see why I couldn't get fairly close to the bottom edge of a 20 ga load by reducing the powder charge a little. In theory it sounds good...

This would mostly be a small game gun, and so I lean towards the shorter barrel. But I guess I'm not convinced... What would you choose and why?

I like the idea of the Lyman working much like a T/C Contender with various barrels and have a few other ideas. I think this will be my next BP venture.
 
I guess that I would go with the shorter barrel. Those 4" make a big difference when moving through brush in pursuit of small game. It will also swing easier for birds. I have a green river 54 smoothbore barrel on a T/C hawken stock and lock and it works well for birds and deer. Never tried it on turkey but if it had a full choke on it, I would think it would do well enough if the ranges were not too long.
 
That's about how I've been viewing it, though, for turkey I wasn't sure if the extra 4" would be beneficial enough.

I don't care for the fiber optic sights on my Deerstalker and figured I'd swap them out if I got the Trade Rifle (at least the front).

I looked for someone who could bore my barrel smooth (.550") and create a jug choke but it seems no one does this for something this small. I'd prefer the ease at loading but then it might keep it from being useful for turkey unless I could get them to my feet.

I've done a bit of reading about using a smaller gauge for turkey and I'm a bit torn on what shot size would be ideal. Initially I figured #4 or 5, but then it would also reduce my pellet count. However, being a muzzleloader, I'm not constrained to a shell and figured I could easily get up to 1 1/4 oz of shot and possibly a hair more.
 
I know this is an older post After many many years I finally laid my hands on a T.C. renegade in 56 smoothbore I have been playing with loads My thoughts are this is a hunting gun and after sight in and patterning I won't be shooting High volume so I order myself a bag of nickel plated shot from Ballistic products it is magnum shot plated with nickel plus you can buy it in Half sizes I bought 6.5 I had all ready shot it enough to be comfortable to shoot at a rabbit or squirrel at 25 yards I would have stopped at 20 for a turkey . The little bit of patterning with the nickel shot shows it tightening up the pattern some some time in the next few weeks it will get tried on squirrel .
I shoot 60 grains of ffg or pyrodex rs 28 ga. 1/2in cushion wad 7/8th oz of shot 24 ga overshot card as 28 ga. card are a little loose 90 grains of powder 1/4 in hard card over the powder and a .535 r.b. patched with patches cut from a cotton uniform shirt I can shoot 4 inch group at 50 yards

I had most of the 28 ga. stuff around from a 28 ga slug project
 
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