Picked up a gun just for the fun value

[David LaPell]

I decided I wanted to buy a gun with almost no practical value. I have always liked short barreled shotguns, and you can't get much shorter than this.

I bought a Pedersoli Baker Cavalry shotgun, it's 20 gauge, side by side and since it's a muzzleloader, it's perfectly legal as this doesn't violate any BATF laws. It has 11 1/4" barrels that are from what I can tell, cylinder bore. I really was thinking about buying a Blunderbuss, but this is easier to shoot and is a ton of fun.

I tested it with #7 1/2 shot & #4 birdshot at 25 yards and some .600" lead round balls with .010" patches. The holes in the bullseye target were from the # 7 1/2 shot and it was a good two feet plus from the target I used for that. I want to try it out with some buckshot when I get a chance and I have since changed the nipples from #11 caps to musket caps for the ease and more reliability.

[Winger Ed.]

Way cool.

I had a uncle that got his hands on a BP shotgun years ago.

Between him & a couple of buddies, they figured out how to load it.
Someone said the best wadding above & below the shot was wasp nests stuffed down in there.
They didn't have enough wasp nest, so they added in some Kleen-X tissues, and went squirrel hunting.

They missed the squirrel, but did manage to set the woods on fire.

[Texas by God]

Keep your off hand BEHIND the muzzles!! Or it will be an “off” hand....
Looks like just the thing for chasing pigs on horseback......Very Cool.

[richhodg66]

That does look like fun! Be sure to post some results as you experiment with different loads.

I want a black powder shotgun to hunt with. One day when I get ahead of the projects.

[LAGS]

I would love to have a Blunderbuss.
I may just have to build one once all these other projects are done.
They do make Kits that I have been looking into and look real interesting.
But your Short barreled shotgun may be just as fun.
But I was looking into a 1" bore or 4 ga. barrel

[Texas by God]

I killed two squirrels with four shots from a .410 muzzleloader years back. The first one I missed twice until I could scrunch my face down on the stock enough to shoot it straight! I used a .357 mag case for a powder and shot measure and newspaper wadding. I would purely love to have a nice 12 or 10 ga SxS to hunt with. They are kind of expensive, though.

[dverna]

You achieved your goal!!!

[Hanshi]

I had a Pedersoli coach gun 12ga for years. I liked it a lot and it was a beauty. The barrels were, IIRC, 20" or 22" (+ or -). Another shooter wanted it so I sold it to him. Now my only smoothbore is a 38" X 20ga flintlock.

20ga flint.

[rodwha]

I’ve been quite curious how the Howdah would actually do for a closer hunting weapon. While not quite good enough for 25 yds I’ve figured it might do well enough to 15. And then there’s the Mad Max factor...

You could get it jug choked which would make it comparable to a modified choke I believe. And you can still shoot patched balls.

[rodwha]

I killed two squirrels with four shots from a .410 muzzleloader years back. The first one I missed twice until I could scrunch my face down on the stock enough to shoot it straight! I used a .357 mag case for a powder and shot measure and newspaper wadding. I would purely love to have a nice 12 or 10 ga SxS to hunt with. They are kind of expensive, though.

A dram is roughly what the case can throw, and a .410 would use 1.5 drams.

For small game (55 grns and equal volume shot) and possibly turkey (with a full choke) I’m thinking 28 ga (though loaded to 20 ga specs for turkey - assuming it patterns well).