Smaller than usual smoothbores (~45 caliber)

[Skychief]

I'd be interested in hearing about smoothbores of 45 caliber or so.  I'm thinking one might be a nice rig for deer with prb, and close range squirrel with shotloads.

Anyone having experience with something of this nature, please tell about roundball accuracy and/or patterns and shotload used.

Thanks very much.

Best regards, Skychief.

[hanshi]

I don't have a .45 smoothbore but do have three rifles in that caliber and a smoothbore .62.  Ball is very accurate from the .62 at at least 50 yards and has taken deer.  My .45s have taken more deer (one shot each) than I can recall.  I think a .45 smoothbore would be both deer and squirrel capable.

[Skychief]

Thanks hanshi.  Good to see you!

[Nordnecker]

I had an original smoothbore in my shop earlier this year. It appeared to be .47 cal. It was still loaded with shot. I cannot comment on how it patterned, though.

[smokinbuck]

I have an original smooth rifle by Christian Seibert/Charles Seibert that is approximately .45 caliber. Although it's in excellent condition I have not fired it. I don't think smooth smallness were all that unusual.
Mark

[Hungry Horse]

I own a NOS .47 caliber 30” OTR barrel that I got from Dixie many years ago. I think these were more common than most think. I believe in the time before choking ( be it jug, or tapered) became known, the best way to get a tighter pattern was to reduce the bore size. That being said, one has to remember that the shot from a small bore like this will produce a long shot column that isn’t all that good for wing shooting, but works fine for more fixed targets like turkeys, rabbits, and squirrels.

  Hungry Horse

[Skychief]

Nordnecker, Smokin Buck and Hungry Horse.....Thanks for your replies.

You've done nothing to diminish my thought that such a gun could be very versatile, and, historic.

Best regards, Skychief.

[muzzlenz]

Having bowled a magpie (considered vermin here) yesterday with a 410 shotgun I was thinking a muzzle loading version would be quite useful/cool

[Daryl]

I built up a 1/2stock .44 smoothie 1/2 stock, decades ago. I used it in the 80's for snowshoe hares, as well as for the trap match at the local rendezvous. I jug-choked the tube as best I could, leaving a 1" end choke (bore parallel section in front of the jug choke)
I used 45gr. 2F Goex and 1/2oz #8 hard shot. Broke 10 straight with it, beating several 20's,  3 12 bores and a SXS 10 BORE.
For rb load I used  .433 ball and .020 patch. Was good enough for head shooting bunnies. Wish my 20bore shot as well with patched RB's at 50 yards.

[Dphariss]

I'd be interested in hearing about smoothbores of 45 caliber or so.  I'm thinking one might be a nice rig for deer with prb, and close range squirrel with shotloads.

Anyone having experience with something of this nature, please tell about roundball accuracy and/or patterns and shotload used.

Thanks very much.

Best regards, Skychief.

Based on my experience with 50 cal smooth rifle I rate them as basically useless.
Shot patterns sucked and was not capable of small game accuracy at 25 yards. Best accuracy at 50-60 yards was with 110 gr of FF. Hardly economical for small game.
Dan

[Dphariss]

I don't have a .45 smoothbore but do have three rifles in that caliber and a smoothbore .62.  Ball is very accurate from the .62 at at least 50 yards and has taken deer.  My .45s have taken more deer (one shot each) than I can recall.  I think a .45 smoothbore would be both deer and squirrel capable.

OK define "very accurate", not trying to be a jerk but apparently your very accurate is different than mine (5-6" group at 50 yards will kill deer), My very accurate is all shots touching at 50-100.
As I stated in a previous post the 50 cal smooth rifle I built was not squirrel capable at 25 yard probably 3 of 5 shots would hit a squirrel and the pattern was flaky as well for a tough critter like a Squirrel.

Dan

[bob in the woods]

I had a 28 bore  many years ago which performed much better than I thought possible for such a small gun. It was fun to shoot and patterned very very well. That said, the shot string was rather long, which isn't noticeable on stationary targets.
It handled like a dream, which was part of the appeal. In my limited experience, the small bores handle smaller shot better than the larger bores. As an example, my 20 doesn't seem to like anything smaller than #6 and prefers #4 .

[Mike Brooks]

I had a 28 bore  many years ago which performed much better than I thought possible for such a small gun. It was fun to shoot and patterned very very well. That said, the shot string was rather long, which isn't noticeable on stationary targets.
It handled like a dream, which was part of the appeal. In my limited experience, the small bores handle smaller shot better than the larger bores. As an example, my 20 doesn't seem to like anything smaller than #6 and prefers #4 .

Ditto on everything you have said about 28bore and 20 bore, my exact same experience. My 28 bore had a 48" barrel and shot a super long shot string., Nearly impossible on flying targets that were crossing but ideal for squirrels sitting still out to maybe 25-30 yards.
  I have built a .50 smoothbore and just sold it but never shot it. I would assume when comparing it to a .55 it would do almost as well and probably better with round ball. There was a guy at F-ship that had a smooth .40 that kicked everybody's but. Shot just like a rifled .40 to at least 60 yards.

[Dphariss]

I built up a 1/2stock .44 smoothie 1/2 stock, decades ago. I used it in the 80's for snowshoe hares, as well as for the trap match at the local rendezvous. I jug-choked the tube as best I could, leaving a 1" end choke (bore parallel section in front of the jug choke)
I used 45gr. 2F Goex and 1/2oz #8 hard shot. Broke 10 straight with it, beating several 20's,  3 12 bores and a SXS 10 BORE.
For rb load I used  .433 ball and .020 patch. Was good enough for head shooting bunnies. Wish my 20bore shot as well with patched RB's at 50 yards.

You could probably break more target with it than I could with a modern trap gun... Never learned to shoot a shotgun and killed most pheasants in Iowa and grouse in Montana with a pistol of one short or another. But I think its illegal in MT now, would have to check the regs again. Fortunately this was back when I was a big game guide way to long ago the think about. Had a good Appaloosa guelding, about as pretty as they get, smooth gaited and a fast walker almost too fasat for a pack string.... This was supper. Had rode out to the trail head but the horse trailer did not arrive til the next day... 6" 50 cal belt pistol with 45 gr of FFF just makes a hole in a grouse. Not meat loss at all.

Dan

[hanshi]

OK define "very accurate", not trying to be a jerk but apparently your very accurate is different than mine (5-6" group at 50 yards will kill deer), My very accurate is all shots touching at 50-100.
As I stated in a previous post the 50 cal smooth rifle I built was not squirrel capable at 25 yard probably 3 of 5 shots would hit a squirrel and the pattern was flaky as well for a tough critter like a Squirrel.
Dan
[/quote]


By "accurate", talking 20ga smoothbore here, I'm referring to 3 shots under 3" at 50 yards, repeatable.  This has worked on deer and on running shots.  I don't wing shoot or hunt small game (except turkey) with shot.  This level of accuracy won't lose a deer even beyond 50 yards.  Rifles & handguns (my passion) are a separate issue.  I've fired many 50 yard groups (5 shots) into one hole with both; that's my rifle/handgun requirement.  I've never owned a smoothbore prior to my current 20 ga.