Author Topic: Colerain turkey barrel  (Read 4108 times)

Offline Mauser06

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Colerain turkey barrel
« on: July 28, 2016, 06:38:43 AM »
I'm sure some of you have guns with the Colerain Turkey barrel....??   



I've read of honest 40-50 yard patterns with the barrels...

I've played with powder charges, pay loads, wads, buffering etc...

I have an honest 35yd gun...and absolutely that is more than satisfactory...will kill any turkey I hoot at stone cold dead...

But, if I can tighten the pattern and put more hits where it counts that is not a BAD thing...not looking to extend my range....just looking to ensure good clean kills....

Not sure if I'm "missing" something...or if mine shoots as well as any...?


I have shot several different combos at 30 yards that result in patterns similar to this...





That's one of the nicer evenly spaced ones... you get the idea...(referencethat is a 1" sticker)

Just not sure if there is anyway to bring everything in a bit?   


bkb

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2016, 02:27:16 PM »
I have a Colerain 38" turkey barrel on a cherry half stock that I have killed turkeys at 45yds.  I like to call them closer, but when they hang up it's good to know the gun will reach them. My load is 80gr. 3f, 1-.125 over powder wad, 2- felt wads, 1 3/8 #6 hardened shot. (I would send pics of gun but I can't seem to get things to work).

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2016, 03:02:43 PM »
Is that a 20 bore? If so that's a helluva load. Jugs are the only way I have seen super tight patterns WAY out there. I believe the colerain barrel is a taper choke. Can't get the wads down with out deformation. Only thing I can think of is felt wads, they are a bit more forgiving. Plated shot will help also...#4's

I would settle around 1 5/8oz if that is a 20 bore and cut back on the powder a bit.
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bkb

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2016, 05:39:08 PM »
Yea, it's a 20.  I tried different loads and this one is the best that I have gotten, the gun kicks like a mule but the results are outstanding,  pretty close to my 3 1/2 shotgun.

Offline Mauser06

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2016, 07:11:01 PM »
I have the 44" 20 gauge...


I've actually found my better patterns come from a nitro card over the powder.. essentially a very hard compressed cardboard like material..it's hard almost like wood..then felt wads, shot, overshot cards..


I have no issue getting wads down...takes some finesse but even the card hard nitros go down and they seal to the extent that I have to sent it slowly to let the air out...


I'm happy with the range and patterns...just isn't know if there was anything I can do to tighten the pattern up a  little...





Mine doesn't kick bad at all...and I've sent some heavy payloads and burnt a good bit of powder...the heavier loads get your attention..but it's not bad...

I'm shooting nickel plated #6s.


(That bird was killed with lead #5s before I got the nickel plated stuff and started doing a good bit of patterning).
« Last Edit: July 28, 2016, 07:11:57 PM by Mauser06 »

Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2016, 07:39:51 PM »
Yea, it's a 20.  I tried different loads and this one is the best that I have gotten, the gun kicks like a mule but the results are outstanding,  pretty close to my 3 1/2 shotgun.
Not your load I was referring to, yours seems very reasonable to maybe a little light for a 20 bore. What ever works!
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Mauser06

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2016, 07:30:46 AM »
Mike, I will try lighter some more...but when I went lighter prior it didn't seem to pattern as well...


Not sure if you can decipher my load...100gr of 3f and 110gr of shot.. without my chart I think that's like 1 3/4oz? 

Also worried slightly about penetration and the shot doing its job when it does hit a bird..not sure where I need to keep the powder level..Another reason I went with nickel plated#6 shot..hard and small should aid in penetration....though I know they are lighter than bigger shot so energy is less..catch 22 type thing...wish I could buy nickel plated shot by the pound to test different sizes...



Like I said, I am happy with it...it'll do what I want it to...just didn't know if there is a way to tighten things down...



Offline Mike Brooks

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2016, 02:10:11 PM »
Mike, I will try lighter some more...but when I went lighter prior it didn't seem to pattern as well...


Not sure if you can decipher my load...100gr of 3f and 110gr of shot.. without my chart I think that's like 1 3/4oz? 

Also worried slightly about penetration and the shot doing its job when it does hit a bird..not sure where I need to keep the powder level..Another reason I went with nickel plated#6 shot..hard and small should aid in penetration....though I know they are lighter than bigger shot so energy is less..catch 22 type thing...wish I could buy nickel plated shot by the pound to test different sizes...



Like I said, I am happy with it...it'll do what I want it to...just didn't know if there is a way to tighten things down...



If that load works don't change it. Personally I have always worked with jugs, they have always been easy to work up loads for. You can shoot about anything and it will work.
NEW WEBSITE! www.mikebrooksflintlocks.com
Say, any of you boys smithies? Or, if not smithies per se, were you otherwise trained in the metallurgic arts before straitened circumstances forced you into a life of aimless wanderin'?

Offline Mauser06

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Re: Colerain turkey barrel
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2016, 08:58:13 PM »
That's one thing I like about the Colerain.... everything I've tried has shot pretty much similar results....


I haven't shot a jug yet...but might try it whenever i build my own turkey Fowler...