AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Osprey on April 16, 2019, 09:51:39 PM

Title: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Osprey on April 16, 2019, 09:51:39 PM

Just finished last week, patterned this past weekend and turkey season opens Thursday.   ;D  Based on the Armstrong fowler, 20 ga, 44" Colerain full choke turkey barrel, one of the last pieces of Ron Griffey A+ wood I had in the closet, finished with the Tannic Acid/Aquafortis combo, silver coins for inlays and front sight.  Little bigger through the breech than the originals I got to handle at the Baltimore show a few years ago, but one of the considerations that had to be made for the turkey barrel as it only came in one profile.  Have named her "Ol Snoodwhacker, we'll see this week if she lives up to it.  Few pics...


(https://i.ibb.co/vsrNVDX/Fowler-2019-01.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rbLBFvd)

(https://i.ibb.co/wpWvFpc/Fowler-2019-02.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DwCqHwr)

(https://i.ibb.co/GTJR4W8/Fowler-2019-05.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZmJxpBF)

(https://i.ibb.co/C6sHDWL/Fowler-2019-07.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Mf5CQ9d)

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: smylee grouch on April 16, 2019, 10:23:39 PM

Lusty looking lady for sure.  ;D It,s going to be hard to keep an eye out for turkeys when you have a good looking gun in your hands.  :)

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Mike Brooks on April 16, 2019, 11:55:10 PM

That's nice, I've been wanting to make one of those.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: moleeyes36 on April 17, 2019, 12:52:05 AM

Yes, a beautiful fowler and should be a great turkey gun.  I particularly like that it has decent amount of drop to the stock.  Many fowlers have a stock that is too straight for me and leaves me looking down on top of the barrel.  Great work.

Mole Eyes

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: BarryE on April 17, 2019, 04:54:08 AM

Very nice.  And I bet it shoots well too.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Osprey on April 23, 2019, 12:24:54 AM

After four days of full pre-dawn to noon quitting time hunts to start the season I'm starting to wonder if I built a jinx...

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: msellers on April 23, 2019, 01:29:51 AM

I am thinking it is not a jinx, just waiting for the right bird to be a proper first kill. Also, that is a beautiful gun that I am guessing handles very well.
Mike

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Osprey on May 13, 2019, 10:47:47 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/gPjPyf4/April-2019-9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xfCfhBF)

Finally!  Took a long time to find one that wanted to play, but got it done this weekend on an afternoon hunt.  Gun isn't a jinx after all.   ;D

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Craig Wilcox on May 14, 2019, 01:26:21 AM

Nice big bird - and really nice firearm!  Congrats!  I have yet to find mine this season.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Jeff Durnell on May 14, 2019, 03:53:01 AM

Excellent! Congrats on a nice gun and a good hunt.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Bob McBride on May 15, 2019, 07:10:32 PM

Beautiful bird. Gorgeous gun. Congrats all the way around.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: BOB HILL on May 15, 2019, 11:57:59 PM

Nice!
Bob

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: t.caster on May 16, 2019, 01:13:38 AM

New fowler, fresh kilt turkey, happy hunter! PRICELESS!

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Daryl on May 17, 2019, 03:16:48 AM

Vry nice, Osprey, very nice indeed - gun and bird.  Any pictures of your patterning? If not, perhaps some might like to know your wad column, pls.

Title: Re: Armstrong Fowler
Post by: Osprey on May 17, 2019, 05:57:03 PM

Sorry Darryl, no pics of the patterning and I haven't gotten too specific with it yet, need to spend some time this summer working on a final load/pattern combo.  I tried 90grFF, heavy 20ga cardboard wad over powder (1/8"), half inch 24ga fiber wad over that, lubed with wonderlube or bear lard, whichever is at hand, slightly more volume of #4 copper coated lead shot than the 90gr powder measure (2oz or so?) topped by a thin stock overpowder card, slightly cut in on one side.  Awesome patterns at 25yards on the range when I tried it out, and playing around at 50 yards it averaged 4-5 shot in a 2" steel mini gong (chipped the paint for count). 

So far I've shot a turkey and a fox with that load and neither flinched.   ;)