Quenstion on 20 gauge smoothbore pistol

[Sixgun Symphony]

Should I use a patched ball like I would in a rifled bore or should I go with wads like a shotgun?

[frkelly74]

Be careful there. You might be getting into destructive devices or something. Sawed off shotguns are a little dicey.

[frkelly74]

I forgot we were in muzzle loading section , Sorry.

[waksupi]

Patched ball.

[swamp]

Wads with shot loads. Fun at short range.

[Ragnarok]

Isn't that about .69 caliber?

I own a cheap flintlock pistol which is approx. .69 and shoot a .60 patched ball...I just patch it thick.

[waksupi]

For a 20 bore, they should be .595-.600.

[John Taylor]

Need to measure the bore size. Standard for a 20 is .615". I have seen several at .620". Sense you are not trying to grip any rifling a thin patch with the larges ball you can fit will work best. It don't need to be real tight for a smooth bore.

[DIRT Farmer]

I have sot balls both wadded and patched. If the ball is near bore size the wadded load works fine. My 28 ga. trade gun shoots reasonabley well for deer hunting ranges with a wadded load but it is well worth the effort to patch the load for target. I also shoot a lot of shot from it and the patched round ball load cleans the lead out of it quickly.
The only definate answer is to try both.

[Sixgun Symphony]

I will have to try both.


BTW, It is a "Howdah Pistol" that I purchased from Dixie Gun Works Catalog.

[Shooter]

I will have to try both.


BTW, It is a "Howdah Pistol" that I purchased from Dixie Gun Works Catalog.

I thought that was what you were talking about. I want one, and will find a used one eventually.
Load one barrel with ball, and one with shot.:guntootsmiley:

[waksupi]

The company I put guns together for markets 20 bore pistols, and I don't have one! I have to fix that one of these days.

[.38 Special]

I generally use both lubed patch and lubed wad, finding that produces best accuracy and least fouling in most guns.

Having said that, the wad rarely helps accuracy in smooth bores, in my experience. It does help keep them clean and easy to load, though.

I would try .010" or even .005" lubed patches with whatever ball size gets you to or slightly under bore diameter. As an example, if the bore is .600", then a .580" ball plus .010" patch gets you right at .600". Try the combo with and without a lubed wad to see which is more accurate and/or cleanest to shoot.

The combination of thin patching a ball to get it to or slightly under bore diameter, along with a lubed wad, in my experience usually produces as much accuracy as the gun is capable of, along with much easier loading than most people expect from their muzzleloading guns.

<edit> There is one significant concern with double guns, however - you don't want the unfired ball moving forward under recoil. This is one instance where a somewhat tighter ball/patch fit can be critical.

[Sixgun Symphony]

Thanks for the heads up. I will be taking the Howdah pistol down to the local gunsmith to have the barrels miked for exact size before ordering a ball mold.

:cbpour:





I generally use both lubed patch and lubed wad, finding that produces best accuracy and least fouling in most guns.

Having said that, the wad rarely helps accuracy in smooth bores, in my experience. It does help keep them clean and easy to load, though.

I would try .010" or even .005" lubed patches with whatever ball size gets you to or slightly under bore diameter. As an example, if the bore is .600", then a .580" ball plus .010" patch gets you right at .600". Try the combo with and without a lubed wad to see which is more accurate and/or cleanest to shoot.

The combination of thin patching a ball to get it to or slightly under bore diameter, along with a lubed wad, in my experience usually produces as much accuracy as the gun is capable of, along with much easier loading than most people expect from their muzzleloading guns.

<edit> There is one significant concern with double guns, however - you don't want the unfired ball moving forward under recoil. This is one instance where a somewhat tighter ball/patch fit can be critical.

[Sixgun Symphony]

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/Sixgun_Symphony44-40/19th%20Century%20Firearms/IMG_0724.jpg

Here is a picture of my Howdah pistol. It's a very well made firearm, I can't wait to get it to the range for some pattern testing.

[excess650]

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c215/Sixgun_Symphony44-40/19th%20Century%20Firearms/IMG_0724.jpg

Here is a picture of my Howdah pistol. It's a very well made firearm, I can't wait to get it to the range for some pattern testing.

I'll bet it would work wonderfully for snakes with a load of shot.