Author Topic: Ordered Kit today (Read 624 times)

Hoyt · « **on:** August 09, 2004, 08:00:01 AM »

Finally decided on what flintlock kit I wanted..as close as I could get anyway...I guess.
I will have to do some serious pattern work, because I went with 20ga. cylinder bore..36" octagon to round barrel.
After researching an much as I could deal with..I went with Pecatonic River Long Rifle Supply. This flintlock is for spring gobbler hunting, but I didn't want a fowler so I ordered an Early Virginia grade 2 maple stock with Chamber's Siler lock..wanted his Colonial Virginia lock but they don't inlet for it. I'm putting front and rear sights on it and having the barrel cut down to 36". Single trigger.
The only thing I'm not at ease with is the 20ga. cylinder bore...I was going with 12ga. cylinder bore but couldn't tell him if the o.d. was same as 20ga. or not. If it was more than 1" it would be too big for the barrel inletting.
I still may change the barrel..if I could get the 20ga jug choked that would solve it all. Don't know who does jug choking.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** August 09, 2004, 08:49:53 AM »

If you want a reasonable load for 20yd turkeys, try working up some paper cartridge loads for the smoothie. I used 2 wraps of writing paper glued in a cylinder shape, then loaded 1 oz of #6 shot inside with both ends folded over to the middle. I then glued an over shot wad to each end and loaded it over the powder with an over powder wad between. You'll need to experiment with paper weight and wraps to get a load that will open up before hitting the target or you'll end up shooting a paper wrapped slug! I had several that key holed thru the target, effectively beheading the would-be gobbler! IIRC, there were instructions for this in either MuzzleBlasts or Blackpowder Hunting magazines at one time. Although I never got to use mine on a turkey(2 yr dry spell), it worked great on a lot of turkey targets at 15-20yds effective range, as I like to call em in close anyway. hth, Tim

filmokentucky · « **Reply #2 on:** August 09, 2004, 09:33:05 AM »

Hoyt- I doubt you'll find a 12 bore in a one inch barrel. But a 20 will get the job done just fine without a choke.
It only takes about a 3 dram(82 grain) charge of ffg and a 1&1/4 ounce shot charge to get the job done, and the 20 can handle this. My fowler will put an effective pattern of #5 shot on a turkey head and neck target out to 30 yards, though I wouldn't take a shot past 25. People hunted without chokes for centuries and did fine. And it is a whole lot easier to load a front stuffer that isn't choked. A friend had a choked fowler for a time but it was such a pain to load that he replaced the barrel with a cylinder bore after a single season and cut the choked one down and used it on another gun he built. There wasn't all that much difference in the patterns anyway.

Hoyt · « **Reply #3 on:** August 09, 2004, 11:23:14 AM »

Quick..I've heard about using the paper cups..I will most likely give them a try..it's not going to be easy working up a gobbler load with 20ga. cylinder bore that will do the job out to 25+yds...and that's what I would like.

Filmo...I agree with what you say..the whole purpose for me getting this traditional flintlock is because I was not getting a good feeling hunting with all my modern rifles and handguns. I killed this gobbler http://www.hunt101.com/img/127589.jpg...called him up to right at 25yds...a 20ga. would have been just as good....last spring with T/C percussion although it was a thrill doing it on public land with single shot purcussion..the gun has screw in chokes, synthetic camo stock..and I knew soon as it was done..way before really...that I wanted to get a real traditional smoothbore flintlock and hunt like they did in the old days. Like you say I feel the 20ga. cylinder bore is the way to go. If I got a 12ga. I'd just want the challenge of a 20ga. next. I'll just have to call em in close and work on the shot column. It is a pain trying to get the wads down through the choke tube..had to take it off and on to load.
Now I got to decide on a deer and hog flinter..can't make up my mind between 54cal. or a lightweight...I don't like carrying heavy guns.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 09, 2004, 12:10:22 PM »

Nice gobbler, Hoyt!! :-D I should say that maybe some shooters would think that the patterns I got with the paper shot cups would be acceptable to them at 25yds, but with the possibility of a hole in the pattern, I always curbed it to 20yd, 15 is even better with the smoothie flinter. Of all the turkeys I've killed, most have been closer than 25 yds. The tom in my avatar was killed at 10 yds, just wish it had been with my flinter! :oops:

filmokentucky · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2004, 12:15:33 PM »

I have a .62 caliber flintlock rifle that weighs in at just over seven pounds and balances right behind the entry pipe. It uses a Jim Chambers English style lock and a 42" Colrain swamped Griffin fowler barrel. It is a
copy of a rifle that was built in the Connecticut River Valley somewhere around 1730-1740. It is a treat to carry and has a fine, lively feel to it. Using an 80 grain charge, I can shoot it all day long in comfort.