Author Topic: New turkey gun gets one (Read 1790 times)

rich pierce · « **on:** May 16, 2024, 03:06:16 PM »

Turkeys have been scarce here since last years big flood. Silent mornings and few seen. Some days, see and hear nothing. Finally connected this morning on a jake. I had them within 25 yards for minutes before I was sure he was legal.

Club butt fowler based on CB-6 and CB-7 in Grinslade’s book on colonial fowlers. 20 ga Colerain turkey choke barrel. Rifle Shoppe Wilson lock from castings. Fast feeling lock. 1 3/8 oz of #6 shot. About 20 yards.

Dave Marsh · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2024, 04:34:14 PM »

Congratulations on your success. Nice, tasty Jake and great gun.

Tony N · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2024, 04:37:46 PM »

Congratulations Rich! Nice bird and like the Fowler!

Tony

John Proud · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2024, 04:50:35 PM »

Congratulations and kudos for sticking with it on those silent mornings!

Bill in Md · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2024, 05:39:03 PM »

It is great watching these "antiquated" arms produce game for the table!

Daryl · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2024, 07:01:09 PM »

Well done, Rich.

Kurt · « **Reply #6 on:** May 16, 2024, 09:01:45 PM »

Congratulations! Is the 1&3/8 a "square loading", and would you explain how you load a muzzleloader with a "turkey choke"? Thank you, Kurt

rich pierce · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2024, 09:48:40 PM »

Quote from: Kurt on May 16, 2024, 09:01:45 PM

Congratulations! Is the 1&3/8 a "square loading", and would you explain how you load a muzzleloader with a "turkey choke"? Thank you, Kurt

Kurt, I pour 2F powder (volume same as 1 and 1/4oz of shot) then short start a hard over-powder wad and send it home. Then 1 and 3/8 oz of #6 shot. Then a thin white overshot wad.

Anyone considering a traditionally full choked barrel, keep in mind these are hard to load and hard to clean. I’ve been cleaning using a slotted tip with a strip of wet rag pulled through. I confess to using a power drill at low speed to swab the bore. Patches on jags won’t work and are guaranteed to lose the patch.

P.Bigham · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2024, 10:03:30 PM »

Congratulations nice accomplishment

Robby · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2024, 01:19:09 PM »

Nice!!!!!
Robby

alacran · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2024, 02:12:14 PM »

Nice bird and gun Rich. Did you reload just in case? I see the cock is on half cock.

rich pierce · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2024, 02:57:57 PM »

Quote from: alacran on May 17, 2024, 02:12:14 PM

Nice bird and gun Rich. Did you reload just in case? I see the cock is on half cock.

Yes I did! Lesson learned the hard way!

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #12 on:** May 17, 2024, 03:07:14 PM »

Way to go, it is always exciting.

Tim

rich pierce · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2024, 03:50:09 PM »

Quote from: Tim Crosby on May 17, 2024, 03:07:14 PM

Way to go, it is always exciting.

Tim

Yep, having 5 birds within 30 yards for minutes while lying in the grass and trying to peek to see which were hens and which was a jake or tom, but not spook them….. I felt a little flutter! This was a spot and stalk, then call, try at them. I now carry a gobbler fan and use that to peek through.

Jerry · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2024, 02:29:01 PM »

Rich, excellent results. What call did you use? Jerry

rich pierce · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2024, 03:09:11 PM »

Quote from: Jerry on May 18, 2024, 02:29:01 PM

Rich, excellent results. What call did you use? Jerry

Jerry, it was a stalk and call. I peeked into the field and saw them about 80 yards away. The area is like a dish-shaped field with a lip against the woods. I crawled through the grass to set up a hen decoy on the lip and backed out. Then a slate call with some waving of a gobbler fan. They were curious but the jake probably worried about getting his butt kicked so 30 yards was it. Full choke did the job. All the shot that hit him was in the neck.

okawbow · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2024, 03:42:53 PM »

Nice hunt! Turkeys seem to be learning every year. Harder and harder to get a tom to come into range. Especially with hunters using guns and ammo that can kill at 80 yards. I used to hunt with a smooth rifle that was only good to about 15 yards. Haven’t had a bird in that close for over 10 years. I use a 12 gauge full choke flintlock now that can reach out 30-35 yards and still have trouble getting them in that close. My bird this year was a jake, and he stopped at 35 yards. Good eating though!

Congratulations on a fine bird with a fine gun!

Kurt · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2024, 08:03:02 PM »

Have you shot round balls from your Fowler, and would you elaborate on how you load for that if you do? Thank you again, Kurt

rich pierce · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2024, 11:04:13 PM »

Quote from: Kurt on May 18, 2024, 08:03:02 PM

Have you shot round balls from your Fowler, and would you elaborate on how you load for that if you do? Thank you again, Kurt

Kurt, I can’t shoot round balls because the bird is .620 and the muzzle is .580 or so - a super full choke. In my cylinder bore 20 ga flintlock fowler I shoot 80 grains of FFG powder, a 0.015” patch, and a .610 ball. I know it shouldn’t go down but it does. I think my fabric measuring technique doesn’t compress the fabric as much as a short starter in the muzzle does. I’m still experimenting. Bob in the Woods and Smylee Grouch here and the Sapergia boys and Dale H and others here have far more smoothbore and ball experience than I do. The best shot locally (Brian R) has a .54 smoothbore and shoots .530 patched balls and wins many woods walks. Against rifles. Especially snowshoe biathlons.

Telgan · « **Reply #19 on:** May 19, 2024, 01:48:04 AM »

Nice job Rich - On both the fowler and the turkey - You got it done just in time to crawl through the weeds and kill a jake - The jakes eat better the the big old beard draggers

Flint62Smoothie · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2024, 12:55:22 AM »

Huzzah!

Pat_Cameron · « **Reply #21 on:** May 21, 2024, 04:39:34 AM »

Congratulations on the fine thunder chicken....
I swear..It never gets old.
It is always a special feeling to harvest game this way.

Pat Cameron

Osprey · « **Reply #22 on:** May 24, 2024, 01:35:17 PM »

Congrats, way to go!

rich pierce · « **Reply #23 on:** May 24, 2024, 04:10:40 PM »

The Colerain full choke barrel shoots a very tight pattern. I learned it’s possible to miss entirely at very close range!

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Author Topic: New turkey gun gets one (Read 1790 times)