fowler build questions

[brokenflint]

What do you guys like in the way of a fowler build in regards to barrels.  Preferred length and caliber,  full round or oct to round, manufacturer's etc  ?

[Roger Fisher]

Lots of ideas in Grensdale's book on Fowlers..I have only built 'more than one' so better minds here than I.  I build to shoot 'em.  so I like the 28 gauge for r ball shooting Oct to round full stocked walnut with E.K's ol tyme boiled linseed oil rub rub rub rub!     Oh yes steel mounted...

[James Rogers]

Full round or Octagon to round.  36 to 60" in barrels and 28 to 10 bore  Like em big, like em small, like em all!

If only 1 to choose it would be 14 42" barrel

[billd]

I'm doing one now with a 12 ga. 46" OTR barrel from Ed Rayle and jugged choked by Lowell Tennyson. It's the first fowler I've ever built so don't take this advice to seriously.

Bill

[David Rase]

I like my 44" 16g.  20 seems to be one of the most popular.
DMR

[northmn]

Its kind of like asking what is the preferred rifle caliber and length.  Competition roundball shooters like the smaller ones.  For hunting squirrels with shot and smaller game birds like grouse, doves etc the small ones works.  Personally when I wanted a smoot bore for hunting I built a 12 ga.  I had a Bess and a fowler in larger bores and liked them better than the small ones.  They do kick with roundball and the melting pot drops significantly when casting them, but they also really hit.  I quit shooting some gongs at local shoots as a curtesy to the clubs as they destroyed them.  Its easier to load a big bore down with shot than a small bore up.  Some hunt turkeys, I also hunt ducks and pheasants.  Even in modern guns I have liked at least 1 1/8 ounce of shot or more for these birds.  Some use that much in 20's, it works better in bigger ones.  A 16 or 14 (.69) gauge to me would be a nice all around gauge for ball and shot.  Length is personal and conditional on use.

DP

[Stophel]

I've never been much of a shotgunner, but I'm working on one for myself.  Well, it's off to the side right now, but I'll get back to it.  16ga.  VERY light barrel.  Basically the same outside profile of the common Colerain 20 ga., but with a bigger hole in the middle, so thinner barrel walls (like they should be).