Shotgun Roundball Load

[Erik Johnson]

I've got a Pedersoli 12 ga double and I'm working on developing an accurate roundball load for deer hunting. The gun has interchangable chokes so I put in two cylinder chokes. I've tried a .715 roundball with no patch (because a patch doesn't fit with this ball) in front of a fiber wad but accuracy is horrible with any charge. I've ordered some .69 cal balls and will endeavor to improve accuracy with a patch. I'm wondering what powder charge might be best.

Has anybody developed a roundball load for the 12 ga that is worthy of deer hunting out to 50 yards?

Also, I'm wondering if anybody has used a foster style slug in a muzzleloading shotgun with good results.

 

[Macmac]

As close as I have to compare with you is a Brown Bess and it eats patched 0.735" rb.. I run 0.10" patching and can get thinner or thicker.

I think you should not be using a choke on a ball, and should use a bore sized thread protecting choke, which does not compress, or try to compress a ball at the last instant.

This gun Is 0.715" ? Or is the ball that figure? Either way it would be nice to know which is which.

A Nor' West Gun I have is 0.620" at the bore, I run 0.12" patching, and 0.600 ball. That is snugg, but I can get 0.15" patching to go if I work harder.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The problem I think is your wad. I don't have any problem with a bess at 50 yards using a .690 ball with a .015 patch on top of the powder, and that's from a .77 caliber barrel. The wad gives shot a level launching platform, unnecessary with a round ball.

80 grains of BP is right about 3 drams, and is plenty.

LD