I have a Navy Arms double barrel 12 ga muzzleloader in excellent condition. I have been trying to find out a ball park value on it. I haven't been able to find one on the various auction sites. Since Navy Arms doesn't import them anymore, they don't have a price list either. Thinking of selling it so I can make Christmas a bigger surprise for my wife. I haven't used it in about 15 years. Last time I did, I used a .69 cal patched ball to put a very big hole in a deer at about 50 feet.
Navy arms shotgun
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gunnerh
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I picked up a nice Navy Arms DB 12Ga last weekend for $200 at a swap meet . The reason I got the gun was the wood (great looking full curl walnut). I have never shot BP before. I been shooting for over 40 years.
After deer season I have time to shoot some clays with it. Anybody got a good target load with FFg BP(unopen 1 pound can came as throw in.)?
After deer season I have time to shoot some clays with it. Anybody got a good target load with FFg BP(unopen 1 pound can came as throw in.)?
arcticap
Member
Here's a guide for shot loads:
Generally, the rule of thumb is to use an equal amount of powder and shot. But in reality, people use a little less powder than shot depending on the type of shooting, whether hunting or target.
I'd suggest a load of 80 - 90 grains of powder with about 90 - 100 grains of shot. Some folks may go as low as 70-75 grains of powder with a little less than 90 - 100 grains shot, but muzzle loading shotguns tend to shoot wider, more open patterns. So more shot usually gets better coverage, and then tweek the powder upward to improve velocity, range and lethal performance.
90-100 grains of powder with 100 -110 grains of shot (by volume) should be a very effective and potent load.
It helps to use an over powder wad & an over shot card, and try to make sure that the load in the 2nd barrel stays on top of the powder charge. Keeping the muzzle elevated between shots will help to accomplish this if the load is packed too loosely.
I've substituted newspaper & cotton balls for wads when I didn't have anything else to use, and modern plastic wads can improve patterns dramatically too. But I would still try to protect the plastic base with some wadded newspaper or over powder wads and over shot cards. Some people have reported some soft or melted plastic, but I didn't when using Pyrodex and enough newspaper wadding under the modern plastic wad.
But be careful about smoldering embers exiting the barrel if using newspaper or cotton ball wadding, especially if there's any fire hazards where you shoot.
Good luck & let us know how it shoots.
Generally, the rule of thumb is to use an equal amount of powder and shot. But in reality, people use a little less powder than shot depending on the type of shooting, whether hunting or target.
I'd suggest a load of 80 - 90 grains of powder with about 90 - 100 grains of shot. Some folks may go as low as 70-75 grains of powder with a little less than 90 - 100 grains shot, but muzzle loading shotguns tend to shoot wider, more open patterns. So more shot usually gets better coverage, and then tweek the powder upward to improve velocity, range and lethal performance.
90-100 grains of powder with 100 -110 grains of shot (by volume) should be a very effective and potent load.
It helps to use an over powder wad & an over shot card, and try to make sure that the load in the 2nd barrel stays on top of the powder charge. Keeping the muzzle elevated between shots will help to accomplish this if the load is packed too loosely.
I've substituted newspaper & cotton balls for wads when I didn't have anything else to use, and modern plastic wads can improve patterns dramatically too. But I would still try to protect the plastic base with some wadded newspaper or over powder wads and over shot cards. Some people have reported some soft or melted plastic, but I didn't when using Pyrodex and enough newspaper wadding under the modern plastic wad.
But be careful about smoldering embers exiting the barrel if using newspaper or cotton ball wadding, especially if there's any fire hazards where you shoot.
Good luck & let us know how it shoots.
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gunnerh
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To Arcticap Thanks , this is a great forum
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