Chambers Penn. Fowler vs N.E. Fowler

[bob in the woods]

For those who own both, or for those who have a strong favoritism for one or the other; I'm interested in which you use the most.   I have 2 N.E. Fowlers and absolutely love them. One in cherry, one in maple.
They are 10 and 12 bores respectively. I was considering building a Penn Fowler, but find myself drawn again to that beautiful NE fowler  Perhaps an 11 bore in maple with steel furniture this time.
I find that when in the field, it is easier to load down the large bore, than load up a 20 bore,depending on what I'm after.
Thoughts?

[James Rogers]

My PA fowling piece was way too low in the comb for me. I have shouldered the NE musket and it fits better. I also like the bigger bores. You can load them down for lesser work.

[bob in the woods]

The last one I built, I was talking to Barbie when ordering,and she told me that I shouldn't be too conservative when taking off wood. I took her advise and slimmed it down way  more than my first one.
It is a delight.

[Daryl]

Taylor is shooting the Pennsylvania fowler he built for LB. It's a wonderful handling gun.

[WaterFowl]

Dunlap Woodcrafts is coming out with a half-stock fowler- 10 &12 ga...Copy of the Robins Fowler.. Looks like a nice kit!..It may catch your eye......E-mail Wayne at Dunlaps for more info...Good luck on your next fowler.

[Don Getz]

Of all of the smoothbore kits that Jim offers, I still like his "Officers Fusil" the best, that is really a neat gun.........Don

[northmn]

If you are talking kits or prebuilts then I cannot comment.  I always build from blanks such that any design that appeals to me is built to fit.  I sold a Bess that did not fit and built a 12 ga that did.  My attitude on smoothbores in general, is that I use them mostly for shot and as such, as stated, find it better to use a large bore with lighter charges than loading up a small bore.  Mostly I do not care to use much less than an ounce of shot for my hunting, even though I do admit to ruthlessly ground swatting any game that will let me with a flintlock smoothbore in an "unsporting" manner.  I feel the small bores are popular because of competition and RB use.  However there is something very satisfying in the use of a large bore round ball. 

DP

[axelp]

If the Chambers NE Fowler and the Officers Fusil handle any better than the PA Fowler, then they must be GREAT handling guns. I really like my PA fowler.

Ken

[bob in the woods]

The down fall of the NE fowler is that it devours lead if shooting round balls. My target shooting load is 80 gr FFg and a .735 patched ball.  Most everyone else shoots 20 bores.  I like to practice with what I hunt with, so I use the big bore. I have had 20 bores before, but since you can only carry one at a time, and I usually reached for the 10 when heading out, I have not as much experience with the 20
My Bess handled like a 2x4, so I'd take out the 20 sometimes, but now that Ihave the NE fowler, that handling problem is solved.  I shaved the comb 'till it points itself.

[northmn]

The 20 bores and 24 bores are popular because they can handle round ball for match shooting without kicking the snot out of you and are easier on lead.  More than a few deer and black bear have been taken with them.  The local Ojibwe used to use the 24 ga NWTG for about anything up to moose.  Still the biggerbores are satisfying.  T he first 12 bore I built was a substantial one with a 42 in barrel.  My current 12 weighs in at about 6 1/2 to 7 pounds and does not feel so good with RB.  For grouse the 20 bore is fine as I have not found them to be compatible for flintlock wingshooting.  For pheasants, turkeys or duck/goose hunting the bigs ones would be more suitable.  While a 20 is plenty for deer the 735 would also serve well as it would for about anything.  The 20's may be more popular as match guns but the bigger ones work very well out in the field.

DP

[bob in the woods]

DP,  that was exactly what I was thinking. When heading to the field, I generally pick up the bigger gun,