Shoot a sheet of paper with us please.

[Skychief]

Hope some will participate in this.

Load up your unchoked smoothbores and find your densest shooting load at 25 yards.

Shoot a regular sheet of paper (8 1/2" X 11") WITH #6 shot with whatever combination of powder and wad/card system that shoots tightest from your gun.

Count the number of strikes and report back here.   Please include :
Gauge
Barrel length
Exact load (inc. wad/card/lube use)
Type ignition.


Maybe we can learn a thing or two from each other's results.

Please no plastic wads.

Some may want to try cloth strips/cups.   That is fine, but, I am more interested in quicker, "dump and ram" type loads.

Thanks for any participation you provide, Skychief.

[Skychief]

Anybody shoot smoothbores here?

[Habu]

Given that your conditions are a bit unusual, I think you may have to wait a while to give people a chance to shoot.  In my case, I tend to pattern shotguns with either a 3' square of paper or a patterning board, seldom pattern at 25 yards anymore, and seldom shoot #6 shot.   

Jim

[LynnC]

I'd play but work has got me near 7 days a week
Might get some time in a month or two

The sheet of paper is good idea - everyone can get paper and its about the size of an animal you might be hunting and that's the area that really counts IMHO

I'll try to get some time.......Lynn

[chuck-ia]

I will do it this Sunday if I shoot the trade gun. chuck

[Skychief]

Thanks Lynn and Chuck.   I appreciate it.

Skychief.

[chuck-ia]

OK, my gun is a north west trade gun with a 38" colerain barrel, no choke, flintlock. Using 2f goex, 80 gr. and equal in volume of shot, using 1/8" over powder wad (over the powder) followed by a 1/2" circle fly cushion wad and followed by another 1/8" over powder wad, I got 39 holes in the paper. Using the same in powder and shot, just using a 1/2" wad over the powder, followed by the shot and thin card I got 38 holes in the paper. Patterns on the paper were pretty much the same, maybe a more even pattern using the single wad, but pretty much the same. I have shot soup cans at 25 yards using the single cushion wad, and pellets passed through the can. The wads are from circle fly (no lube) which I lightly llubed the surface with crisco. chuck

[smokinbuck]

Skychief,
Shot a paper, and some clays, today. Gun is an underhammer, H&A, action with a 36" vent rib barrel in 12 gauge, maker unknown. I bought the barrel new from an estate and do not know if it is choked or what the choke may be. Load: by equal volume, 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 shot, did not not have #6, 2F Goex with 1 over powder card and 2 over shot cards, no cushion wad. By actual count there were 304 pieces of shot in the charge and 153 hits with in an 8 1/2X11 paper. No donuts were seen on the paper and the pattern was pretty uniform. Can forward pics if you want.
Mark

[Skychief]

Skychief,
Shot a paper, and some clays, today. Gun is an underhammer, H&A, action with a 36" vent rib barrel in 12 gauge, maker unknown. I bought the barrel new from an estate and do not know if it is choked or what the choke may be. Load: by equal volume, 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 shot, did not not have #6, 2F Goex with 1 over powder card and 2 over shot cards, no cushion wad. By actual count there were 304 pieces of shot in the charge and 153 hits with in an 8 1/2X11 paper. No donuts were seen on the paper and the pattern was pretty uniform. Can forward pics if you want.
Mark

Thanks Mark.   Heck, just post a picture on this thread.   Others might like to see it too!

Thanks, Skychief.

[smokinbuck]

Skychief,
I know everyone says how easy it is, except me. I can send it and you can post it if you like, just need an email.
Mark

[northmn]

Sorry, I would jump at the chance but my 20 is on the bench finally getting finished.  My 12 bore has a choke.  Been a busy time and have not had a chance to really work on the 20. 

DP

[LynnC]

Finally got some time this afternoon between showers.

I think this is either the 1st or 2nd gun I ever built loooong time back. 

Half stock 12 guage - 29 1/2" bbl - no choke - percussion, sorta French/English trade gun cross - not real attractive    Made near everything, Lock, Stock, furniture, all except the bbl. but I did breech it, mill the rear 1/4 octagon and turn a wedding band on it.  It can bite your cheek, best shot head up and back.  Gun weighs just over 5 lbs.


Load was 2 1/2 drams elephant 1Fg (trying to burn it up), 1/8" O P Card no lube, 1 1/8 oz. No. 6 Shot then thin O S card.

Tried different aim points and found just low of center got the most hits for me.

Best 25 yard target was 61 hits and pretty even.  Started raining so I called it a day.   Later I would like to try some shot cups and see if it helps get more hits.

BTW - I tried one load substituting a 1/4" cushion wad for the OP wad - Blew the pattern and on the way to look at the target I found the wad smouldering.  Probably should have lubed it with crisco or something.  Could easily started a fire had it not been damp today.

Anyway, it was a good excuse to get out an old gun I don't shoot much

[Skychief]

Thanks LynnC....much appreciated!