Hunting with a Blunderbuss

[LAGS]

Today I took out my .75 caliber Blunderbuss to hunt Quail.
Didn't do too well.
The first shot only was a flash in the pan , and the barrel didn't go off.
That was a shot at three running on the ground.
The next shot when one took off and flew away from me on an angle.
I missed because I didn't figure the lag from the pan going off and the barrel ignighting.
It isn't that much of a lag , but it does make a little difference in how you leade a bird in flight.
The third shot attempt was at a running Cottontail.
The first cottontail I saw was out of reasonable range.
Then another took off right beside me.
But when I tried to shoot him , the Flint didn't spark at all.
Overall , the day was Fun.
It tells me I need to practice with a flintlock more and learn the ins and outs of making them reliable.
But all morning I was thinking about how it was 200 years ago when they went hunting.
I will be taking the Blunderbuss out hunting again , but only after I get out to the range.
I need to work up some loads and pattern the gun .
The Blunderbuss sas no sights at all.
So I need to learn how to shoot it better.

[LAGS]

I think I found the problems.
First ,
The Flint was worn really bad.
Almost an 1/8" of the point was gone.
The second issue was,
The screw that holds the hammer to the lock was loose.
So the Flint wasn't hitting the frizzen square.
Both items are corrected and ready to go.

[freakonaleash]

I have made several blunderbuss. They are not good for shooting shot in a hunting situation. Especially if you have slow ignition or the lock doesn't work.

[LAGS]

I like a challenge.
I bought it to shoot Portch Pirates

[M-Tecs]

Today I took out my .75 caliber Blunderbuss to hunt Quail.
But all morning I was thinking about how it was 200 years ago when they went hunting.


Theirs lives depended on them. They would have learned to make them work properly. A good flinter setup is very reliable and it has a surprisingly quick lock time.

[LAGS]

Of all the BP rifles I have had over the years , this is my Second Flintlock.
The last one I had was 40 years ago.
It was very reliable at the range , but I never took it hunting.
So I have to get back in tune with operating a flintlock.
Especially because my next kit I have to build is a
.32 flintlock Pedersoli Cub.
And that one will be used for hunting.

[toot]

I like a challenge.
I bought it to shoot Portch Pirates

it will certainally do that!! when they see that big funnel pointing at them they will mess there undies!!

[toot]

I also have one that I gave up on when shooting shot out oh it. I use it to make fire & Smoak on the 4th. and other holidays. with that big funnel out in front and no front sight at all, you are rely handicapped!

[waksupi]

A friend of mine spent a day trying to shoot gophers with his 4 bore blunderbuss using round balls. Didn't get any gophers, but he sure plowed the field with those big balls!

[fastdadio]

One problem with hunting with a blunderbuss, is that it wasn't designed for hunting. It's a coach gun. Designed for close range defensive work. That's why there's no sights on it. Commonly loaded with heavy buck. The bell at the muzzle wasn't designed to spread shot, but to aid in fast reloads under stress such as running, galloping, or riding 'shotgun' on a coach. Also one of the earliest arms I've seen to be commonly equipped with a folding bayonet attached. Best I know, it's the worlds first true, specially designed assault gun. Cool stuff.

[LAGS]

I think I will do better hunting Doves with this Blunderbuss later this year.
The Doves fly by me and you can see them coming from a distance.
I have to walk around looking for the Quail.
Then they pop up suddenly and sometimes in groups.
By the time I see them , they are going away and close to out if range for this gun.
Hmmm,
Maybe I should go to the range and try shooting Skeet with this.
It doesn't have enough range to shoot Trap.

[GregLaROCHE]

Less powder in the the pan will probably give you faster ignition, which equates to less lag time.

[toot]

boy they sure have a lot of variables!! just shoot them and make noise & a lot of Smoak!! have fun!

[LAGS]

I will experiment with how much powder I put in the pan.
I am using using home made BP which weighs a little less so it fills the pan up more.
But I will see if reducing the volume of my powder will go off better.

[freakonaleash]

I think I will do better hunting Doves with this Blunderbuss later this year.
The Doves fly by me and you can see them coming from a distance.
I have to walk around looking for the Quail.
Then they pop up suddenly and sometimes in groups.
By the time I see them , they are going away and close to out if range for this gun.
Hmmm,
Maybe I should go to the range and try shooting Skeet with this.
It doesn't have enough range to shoot Trap.

These don't shoot a tight enough pattern to hit a dove. I have shot skeet with one and the only bird I could hit was station #1 low house...in other words it was probably 10 foot off the end of the barrel. This one had an excellent chambers english lock on it. Lightning fast lock time and 100% reliable. Do some pattern work with it, you'll soon see it won't work.

[Eddie Southgate]

It's a sign that you should not be shooting game birds on the ground except in a survival situation .

[megasupermagnum]

It's a sign that you should not be shooting game birds on the ground except in a survival situation .

Keep your ethical opinions to yourself.



As for the Blunderbuss, I can't think of a worse gun for hunting. The stocks are anything but made for accurate shooting. The muzzle is flared, so the bird is completely covered by the barrel when you shoot. You don't really need sights on a shotgun, but this is just not an accurate setup at all. I don't have any experience with the patterns of any kind of flared muzzle. I wouldn't think it would effect patterns, but I don't know that either. From what I've seen, they should pattern about like a cylinder bore.

200 years ago, nobody would be hunting with a Blunderbuss. It can be done, but it is a real challenge, and you will have to figure out how to shoot in a non-traditional manner.

[LAGS]

As far as a Blunderbuss goes.
Not All Blunderbuss we're the 12" long naval Boarding weapons that most people think of first.
Mine is a 20" barrel and more of a Musketoon.

[megasupermagnum]

I don't know a great deal about either, but to me a Musketoon looks like a Blunderbuss with a full sized stock. Or maybe better put, a Blunderbuss is a Musketoon with a cut down stock. Both appear to have been made in a variety of barrels lengths, but most consider 12 gauge to 4 bore, and 16" to 24" the standard. I always assumed the flared muzzle was a distinction of both, but apparently you can have a blunderbuss with a regular muzzle. Either way, to meet even the most lenient of criteria for either makes them rather poor hunting weapons. I suppose a Musketoon with a 24" non-flared barrel and jug choke would be a decent turkey gun though.

[LAGS]

Hmmm.
I wonder what the Pilgrims used to get the Turkey for the First Thanksgiving dinner ?

[Ithaca Gunner]

From what I've read, the Pilgrims didn't have turkey for their thanksgiving. They had venison, and sea food as their meats. Their firearms were standard matchlock muskets, (flaired muzzles or not, I do not know) maybe about 20 of them all together, (most never fired a gun prior to their voyage, but were issued some on the voyage).

Interesting story, the Indians weren't invited at first, but crashed the party out of curiosity, (they heard shooting in the air and ''whooping'' from the Pilgrims settlement as they celebrated their harvest and survival of that first year) and were welcomed to join in the festivities to which they added to greatly.

[megasupermagnum]

Hmmm.
I wonder what the Pilgrims used to get the Turkey for the First Thanksgiving dinner ?

Of course we can never know, but it's worth noting the only firearm known to still exist from the original pilgrims is a 50 caliber wheellock carbine/rifle. I've found no evidence a blunderbuss was among the pilgrims in Plymouth, although there's no reason they couldn't have had them.

Turkey on thanksgiving or not, if a blunderbuss was present, It would be with the guard. The ones out hunting would have a rifle or musket, I'm not even sure if any smooth bore guns could have been called fowlers then.

[toot]

they have a name for guys that shoot birds on the ground, with out shooting them in flight! give them a chance!

[toot]

they bartered with the INDIANS! every one knows that. well most every one? trinkets go a long way back in the day.

[LAGS]

You are correct Toot.
But sometimes because of the weather and terrain the Quail refuse to fly.
But I prefer Wing Shots on everything.
But I haven't got Cottontails to fly.

[Edward]

Hmmm.
I wonder what the Pilgrims used to get the Turkey for the First Thanksgiving dinner ?

An arrow :bigsmyl2:

[waksupi]

they have a name for guys that shoot birds on the ground, with out shooting them in flight! give them a chance!

Ground slucieng is a tradition in his area. The timber is so thick in this area you would never get a grouse. The fool hens are so dumb here they had to make a rule you couldn't take them with a rock or stick!

[megasupermagnum]

they have a name for guys that shoot birds on the ground, with out shooting them in flight! give them a chance!

Shooting flying birds is unethical, leading to high amounts of cripples. If you can't get within range of a bird on the ground, you are a bad hunter.

[Eddie Southgate]

Shooting flying birds is unethical, leading to high amounts of cripples. If you can't get within range of a bird on the ground, you are a bad hunter.

In that case shouldn't you use a pellet rifle so as not to foul the air with chemical particles from the powder and priming ? Maybe a BB gun so the birds don't die of lead poisoning ?:bigsmyl2:

[Geraldo]

Well, LAGS, you've learned that it's unethical to shoot birds on the ground, and that it's unethical to shoot birds in the air. :???:

With those lessons done, you need to hit the pattern board. My jug choked .62 will hold decent patterns to 20 yards, maybe a bit more.My unchoked .62 will not.

[LAGS]

I intend on Patterning my Blunderbuss.
But from what I have seen so far , I really don't expect for it to do well beyond 15 yards.

[waksupi]

Well, LAGS, you've learned that it's unethical to shoot birds on the ground, and that it's unethical to shoot birds in the air. :???:

With those lessons done, you need to hit the pattern board. My jug choked .62 will hold decent patterns to 20 yards, maybe a bit more.My unchoked .62 will not.

Interesting. My cylinder bore holds a good enough pattern to thirty yards to make kills.

[toot]

a friend of mine spent a day trying to shoot gophers with his 4 bore blunderbuss using round balls. Didn't get any gophers, but he sure plowed the field with those big balls!
sorta like caddy shack!!!??

[toot]

You are correct Toot.
But sometimes because of the weather and terrain the Quail refuse to fly.
But I prefer Wing Shots on everything.
But I haven't got Cottontails to fly.

OH NO!?well just you keep trying. lol!

[toot]

I intend on Patterning my Blunderbuss.
But from what I have seen so far , I really don't expect for it to do well beyond 15 yards.
good luck in you're r quest!

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Hmmm.
I wonder what the Pilgrims used to get the Turkey for the First Thanksgiving dinner ?

Beads?

[CTI1USNRET]

Hmmm.
I wonder what the Pilgrims used to get the Turkey for the First Thanksgiving dinner ?

The only surviving Mayflower shoulder gun is an Italian wheellock. No complete list of what they brought with them survives. That they had a blunderbuss or two cannot be ruled out. The captain, crew, and the passengers, were well armed with a variety of weapons from daggers, swords, pikes, and halberds, to handguns, shoulder arms, and cannons.

[Alasgun]

298458298459298460

Here’s a “blunderbuss” i once built, don't under estimate a smooth bore! This 4 bore was quite accurate with a patched round ball to 50 yards and would throw a 1/4 cup of shot with the best of them! I’d have no hesitancy to hunt “Anything” with it. Range of course being the deciding factor.
250 gr. Of 2-f was a starting load and very comfortable to shoot; maybe it’s 15 lb. Weight had something to do with that comfort.
“Filius Tormentis” = son of a cannon!

[Bmi48219]

One problem with hunting with a blunderbuss, is that it wasn't designed for hunting. It's a coach gun. Designed for close range defensive work. That's why there's no sights on it. Commonly loaded with heavy buck. The bell at the muzzle wasn't designed to spread shot, but to aid in fast reloads under stress such as running, galloping, or riding 'shotgun' on a coach. Also one of the earliest arms I've seen to be commonly equipped with a folding bayonet attached…...

Interesting facts!

[Nobade]

298458298459298460

Here’s a “blunderbuss” i once built, don't under estimate a smooth bore! This 4 bore was quite accurate with a patched round ball to 50 yards and would throw a 1/4 cup of shot with the best of them! I’d have no hesitancy to hunt “Anything” with it. Range of course being the deciding factor.
250 gr. Of 2-f was a starting load and very comfortable to shoot; maybe it’s 15 lb. Weight had something to do with that comfort.
“Filius Tormentis” = son of a cannon!

Now that's cool! Did you use a gun barrel or seamless pipe to build that? I would like to do something similar some day.

[Alasgun]

No; i machined the barrel out of a piece of 4140. After honing and lapping the bore it was within .0005 end to end and had a 4 micron finish!

[armoredman]

Wow. That is a beautiful piece of black powder machinery!
I've handled LAS blunderbuss, and it is more like a musketoon, but as a hunting gun, challenging, very much so. Might be interested to try it. :)

[Nobade]

No; i machined the barrel out of a piece of 4140. After honing and lapping the bore it was within .0005 end to end and had a 4 micron finish!

Nice work. You certainly know your way around a shop!

[toot]

A friend of mine spent a day trying to shoot gophers with his 4 bore blunderbuss using round balls. Didn't get any gophers, but he sure plowed the field with those big balls!

that is because there is no front site on them!