JeffG
Member
A few years ago, I built a flintlock 54 smooth rifle from a kit that I bought from Sitting Fox. It's 28 gauge, and I've shot a couple of turkeys with the help of a healthy dose of #6 shot. It's a very reliable gun. My big selling point was the ease with which it loads, and how easy it is to clean.
Anywho....I am getting serious about taking it on a hunt for larger game. I've only shot patched round ball in it once, when I was proofing it. The shot was slightly out at 8 o'clock on a bullseye. I started with 100gr FFFG with a cushion wad of Circle Fly fiber wad over the powder, lubed with a beeswax and olive oil mixture. The patched round ball went down over that. Priming from the horn with FFFG topped it off.
The first shot fell as expected, out at 8 o'clock. Careful drifting of the sights got me closer to the 6 inch bull at 25yards. One more sight adjustment put the shots touching on the smaller bull at 25 yards. I am happy with this to say the least. I spent the rest of my range time obliterating water filled jugs .
My point is, smoothbores are great guns! They are easy to load, relatively accurate with the right load, and the larger bores pack a big punch.
Thanks for lending an ear! Irondog
Anywho....I am getting serious about taking it on a hunt for larger game. I've only shot patched round ball in it once, when I was proofing it. The shot was slightly out at 8 o'clock on a bullseye. I started with 100gr FFFG with a cushion wad of Circle Fly fiber wad over the powder, lubed with a beeswax and olive oil mixture. The patched round ball went down over that. Priming from the horn with FFFG topped it off.
The first shot fell as expected, out at 8 o'clock. Careful drifting of the sights got me closer to the 6 inch bull at 25yards. One more sight adjustment put the shots touching on the smaller bull at 25 yards. I am happy with this to say the least. I spent the rest of my range time obliterating water filled jugs .
My point is, smoothbores are great guns! They are easy to load, relatively accurate with the right load, and the larger bores pack a big punch.
Thanks for lending an ear! Irondog