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I have a 20gauge trade gun by NSW that Ric on this site built for me. I’ve only use it with shot for squirrels and rabbits but TX has a late muzzleloader season in my county so any quick tips for accurate round ball loading techniques would be appreciated.
Thanks
Does your 20 ga have a smooth bore.
I had a TC .56 SB for a while.
That is basically 28 ga.
I had to work up my own loads to determine what patch and if I used over powder cards or actual wads.
For bird shot and some slugs , I used the 28 ga plastic wads.
Your loads of powder have to be worked up also , but weren't that complicated.
I've tried everything and in my own particular gun a cloth patch like you'd use in a rifle works best. Yours will probably be different.
Start out with a .600 rb with an .018 patch and 60gr 2f.
I shoot an old NW trade gun from time to time. To shoot a PRB out of a trade gun and do it well takes lots of practice. 12 years ago I could could explode a half a dozen gallon milk jugs at 75 yds in a row with as many shots. Over the summer I couldn’t do it consistently at 25 yds, because I hadn’t shot anything out of it but #5 shot for 10 years. My suggestion for what it’s worth is if you truly want to hunt a deer and not have it turn into coyote and wild hog food, you practice a couple times a week over the coming year and be ready for next season. Your other option is to buy a good flintlock rifle and try to figure out what load and patch combo it likes rather quickly, because accurately shooting a patched round ball out of a smooth bore is something that doesn’t just happen. It is a hard earned acquired skill learned over time.
I use 65 gr. 3FFF, round ball, pillow ticking patch.
Start out with a .600 rb with an .018 patch and 60gr 2f. Freak on a leash or Waksupi's advice work!
Experiment with different thickness patches and lubes, ball size and 2F and 3F. My 62 fowler loves 3 F but my father in laws Tulle preferred 2F.