Alrighty then....did some shooting today with the Little Beast, just concentrated on the "chewed bare-ball" load. I set up at 35 yards.
That load being a little over 100 grains 2fg Swiss, wax wad over the powder, then a non-lubed wool wad over that, to keep the wax wad from sticking to the ball. Wads sticking to the ball destroys accuracy...don't ask me how I know that. Then the ball, which I lube well, and then another wax wad over that to hold the ball in. I stack the load in the muzzle, then send it home all at once. Picture of the chewed hard balls, for those who are not familiar with chewing (rasping) round ball.
Quite satisfied with results. The top hole, in the top plate, was a patched hard ball (non-chewed) already loaded in the bore. I was curious as to how a thinly patched hard ball would go down. Them hard balls have no give to them. Patching them is not an option, unless one wants to risk getting one stuck in the barrel on the side of some mountain. It went down the clean barrel fine, but I can tell it might be a problem in a fouled bore. They just don't have the "give" that a soft, pure lead ball has.
Moving to the bottom target, I fired three shots, with the chewed bare ball and load described above. Previous testing told me that the chewed bare balls were more accurate than a patched ball, in this gun. As you know, the patched double .530" ball load had mixed results, but I'm not going to work with that, as all things considered, and as suggested, the single .570" ball should penetrate deeper. Anyhow, since it was obviously grouping I was happy with the three shot group.
I then moved back to 50 yards, and popped off one more, and that's the lower hole in the top target. I'm thinking 50 yards is max range, with 30 and closer being ideal. But in a starvation situation, I'd chance a 50-60 yard shot at a deer.
However, considering the "mission" or purpose of this gun, she's good. The Little Beast is strictly a trekking, exploring and survival self defense gun in the deep wilderness infested with critters that will (or can) bite, scratch, eat or kill me. Anything over 25-30 yards I don't consider a threat. If something is a threat, hopefully I'll keep my cool and wait until I can just about smell it's breath. I mean, I only get one shot. The closer it gets, the harder to miss.
My butt has been in the fire a few times in this life, and I kept my cool every time. So I'm not too worried about that. !!
The other purpose of the smoothbore is to be able to shoot small game, grouse, rabbits or squirrels when I'm starving to death after busting a leg or ankle. !!! That is also the beauty of the bare-ball, it's a very easy load to pull, and then throw some shot down the barrel, another wad, and SHAZAM! Shotgun!! Of course, that's when Grizz shows up.
The old TC is proving quite reliable too. I originally had my doubts, knowing of the contorted TC flash channel. But now I'm thinking, and it seems to be, that if you get that breech flushed out real good when you clean it, and prep the rifle properly before loading it, she'll fire every time. yeah yeah you guys know that.
Okay, looking forward to taking her up North when the snow melts. I've had it on a few walkabouts on the state land, and it's a very comfortable carbine to carry, good balance, light, just feels good to carry. Feels fast and "handy".
The Little Beast says: "thanks for listening".
