12 guage sideXside

[twotoescharlie]

got one on the way, supposed to be here next Tuesday the 11th. anyone got any pet loads the would like to share? just want to have fun with it, don't need a shoulder bruising load. It's a navy arms with 28 inch barrels.

thanks fellers

TTC

[Buckshot]

.............HA! When I was a teenager I shot my great grandpa's Wm Moore 12 ga double quite a bit, but I sure didn't generate any worthwhile repeatable 'mentionworthy' results. Poured lino in a bucket of water for shot, and it looked like teardrops and icecycles. Newspaper for wads. One of Sam Fadala's books has a lot of ML shotgun info in it.

..............Buckshot

[KCSO]

First off a dram is 27.5 grains about. That should help some as most loads listed still use drams. For doves and blue rocks i used 75 grs of FFg or Fg powder and 1 1/8 oz of shot. This is good for 25-30 yards depending on choke. I loaded 1 thick hard card wad glued to a cushion wad and topped this with a thin card made of cork. You can also just use a regular overshot. For bigger game say rabbits, pheasants ect i went to 82 grains and 1 1/4 oz of shot and for turkeys i went to 92 grains and 1 1/2 oz of shot. The last load is a heavy hunting load and will let yu know when it goes off. I had to take the comb of the stock down on every N/A shotgun I ever owned to get them to shoot right for me.

[Dale53]

I hunted for several years with a Greener 12 gauge. Here is a really good reference on loading the muzzle loading shotgun:

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/starr.html

Good luck!
Dale53

[brayhaven]

I have a Navy "magnum" 12 ga. Their manuals claim you can shoot all 10 & 12 ga loads in it & light 8 ga. No idea, I had to make new tumbler support plates for both locks. They were pot metal. (there were a couple different makers) I also installed screw in chokes (thin wall). I agree the later navy's are boxy, especailly in the wrist. I took a pound or so :o), of lumber off mine and it's much nicer to hold & shoot now. The barrels are very strong and can take heavy loads. I've shot skeet with 2.5 dr 7/8 oz loads up to turkeys with 4 dr 1 5/8 oz. I use a size heavier shot than I'd use with a smokeless gun, because of the lower velocities. My Navy also has a small bore (@ .720") so I use 13 ga fiber wads lubed lightly with soy wax. Turkey hunting I always use a card over the powder to keep the wad lube from contaminating it. With heavy loads, be sure to use a very tight good over shot card wad. I shot a big gobbler in Apr with mine (#5's) and as I stood up to go get him, the shot from the other barrel rolled out the muzzle. Now I use a full over powder card on the shot.
You'll love ML shotgunning. Goog hunting !
Greg