12 bore shooting

[snapper]

Well, I finally got out to shot the old girl tonight for the first time.  We had a brief calm between rain showers.  Heat index of 100 F.  Humidity was terrible.  But what the heck?

I started with 70 grains of 1.5 swiss, with a round ball, that checks in at over 800 grains.  The ball and patch combo is fairly tight, about .005 more than I would of started with I think.   


Started at 36 yards,  I shoot at a buddy's place and just stopped the pickup.

The first few shots you can see, I needed to drift the sights to the right, and was slowly getting towards center.

I backed up to 75 yards and shot two rounds that are low and to the left.  I upped the charge to 85 grains and shot the 3 center shots, and did not touch the sights.

I think it will shoot.....I love it when you dont have to work to hard to get a rifle to shoot.

I think I might just keep this old girl even though she slapped me around a little.

Fleener

[Pukka Bundook]

A grand start, Snapper!

This is the one with a lovely bore, right?

It may have been made for a bit stiffer load, but if it's shooting well that's all you need.  (quite often 120 -140 grs were used, but that for soft skinned dangerous stuff.)

Lovely rife, and I'd hang onto it if I were you!  (or sell it to me..... :-)  )

[snapper]

Yep, it is the one with the great bore.

My shoulder is very sore right now.  Been shooting a bow lately and last weekend went to a 2 day 1,000 yard match.  I got setup wrong on my first two shots and bruised my shoulder.

My first shot today was with out my shooting jacket, big mistake.  .

I doubt that I will do much more than what I already have it at.  The deer in Iowa are not that dangerous.

Fleener

[Semisane]

Snapper, that's some great shooting. But I'm confused about the 12 bore and a round ball that weighs over 800 grains. What am I missing? What diameter ball were you shooting?

[smylee grouch]

Me too. A true 10 bore ball would weigh 700 grains in round ball configuration I think.

[snapper]

I am using super heavy lead. 

I should of typed 580 grains.  Sorry.  Thought I had bigger balls than I do.

Fleener

[smylee grouch]

Well your forgiven. After shooting those loads it would be easy for me to get confused. Good shooting BTW.   

[Pukka Bundook]

My shoulder is very sore right now.  Been shooting a bow lately and last weekend went to a 2 day 1,000 yard match.  I got setup wrong on my first two shots and bruised my shoulder.

Fleener

Shooting a bow at 1,000 yards will hurt Anyone's shoulders, Fleener!   :-)

(Couldn't resist. Sorry!)

[snapper]

You let me shoot an apple off your head at 1,000 yards?

Fleener

[smokinbuck]

Snapper,
You talk about a 12 bore, but are you talking sighted smoothbore ore rifle? I'm finishing a 12 bore, .75 caliber, half stock rifle and am looking forward cautiously to firing it.
Mark

[snapper]

This an original English sporting rifle made in the 1800’s most likly.  It has a one in forty five twist

Fleener

[Semisane]

This talk about 12 bore size and ball weights is a bit confusing.

As I understand it, the 12 refers to a ball that is 1/12th of a pound of lead. More specifically, a pound of lead can be turned into twelve balls of equal size that are 0.729" in diameter. And a 12 bore (12 Gauge) barrel is 0.729" (.73 caliber?).

A 0.729" ball weighs 583.3 grains and would be a tight unpatched fit in a 12 Gauge barrel.

I've shot 0.690"/495 grain balls from my 12 Gauge smoothbore double with .018 patches (snug load) and .020 patches (tight load). The actual bore size on that gun is 0.710" as best as I can measure it.

Another option for a 12 Gauge would be 0.715"/550 grain balls.

[trentOH]

You let me shoot an apple off your head at 1,000 yards?

Fleener

I'll let you try. I'm quite confident you won't ventilate my body with an arrow at 100 yards.  Fling away, I won't even twitch.

By the by, a century ago, the Boy Scouts archery merit badge had 4 requirements. In a nutshell, they were build a bow, make it's bowstring, make arrows, and lastly, shoot so far and so fast as to have 4 arrows in the air at the same time.

Oh how I miss the 20th century.

[snapper]

I had a .730 mold made and shooting a .020 patch.

ch

[Semisane]

I had a .730 mold made and shooting a .020 patch.

ch

I believe your gun is a 10 bore - 0.770". No way could you get a .730 ball and a .020 patch down a 12 bore.

[snapper]

I am only going on what is stamped on the barrel.  Perhaps the 12 means something else?

11 bore at .751 would be closer than a 10.

Fleener

[Semisane]

Let's call it a "generous 12". 

[T*O*F]

12 bore is not the same in all countries.  The old Dixie GW catalog has a chart in the back giving the various diameters for each country.

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I built a 12 bore English styled rifle for a friend here, using a barrel by Don Getz that was .750" bore size (land to land)  It shoots a .735" Lyman hand cast pure lead ball that is close to 600 gr. using a .020" cotton patch.  Keith has hunted extensively with the rifle and 220 gr. FFg GOEX and that ball will pierce a bull moose lengthwise.