Smoothbore Deerstalker

[rodwha]

Were I to have a blued .54 cal Deerstalker it would have .558" grooves with a max charge of 90 grns 3F with a 450 grn Maxi.

Would it be far out there to think I could have a barrel bored to 24 ga (.579") with the intent of a max charge of 60-70 grns of 3F pushing 7/8-1 oz shot? That would leave walls of 0.17925" vs 0.18975" thick.

It seems the reduction of powder, as well as weight in projectile ought to be enough to more than make up the difference. Is this a stretch?

 

[AJumbo]

I don't see a problem, particularly with modern steel. I'd run the idea past a good 'smith, just to be sure.

I have a TC .54 barrel that I've always wanted to turn into a fowler/buck and ball barrel. I'd like to have it bored out to 16 ga. and mount a turtle shaped front sight on it. The thought of throwing a one-ounce ball downrange gives me a warm feeling.....

 

[zimmerstutzen]

I just had an abused CVA Bobcat barrel reamed to 28 ga. Just got it back today won't get to shoot it until next week.

 

[Rojelio]

zimmerstutzen, who reamed your barrel, if you don't mind me asking.

 

[rodwha]

Is there any way to put a choke on something like this or would it be relegated to being a cylinder bore?

I would think that a screw in choke system might work, but that the barrel would be too thin to add threads to it.

I was hoping to have a dense pattern out to 25 yds or so, but I see that at 25 yds with a cylinder bore it'd have about a 40" pattern, and I'm not sure that would be enough for turkey, dove, quail, etc...

At 15 yds it would be about 26" of spread, and that would work well for small game.

Are there any affordable BP shotguns? The ones I see cost over $1k...