Deer hunting with a Smoothbore

[DLH]

I have a Indian Trade musket that I built about 10 years ago, and I have never used it to hunt with.  Well Primitive Deer season starts soon, and I would like to use this gun.
     I have several bullet sizes and some oversized minnies, but How much FF black powder should I use fot Deer hunting.
     The Barrel is one of NORTHWEST TRADEGUNS, that was out of southern Ohio.  and it is Flintlock.
     I would ask Curly Gostomski He made the Barrel but He died.
   Any suggestions? :-D

[Ted Kramer]

DLH-If it is in good shape, and a 20ga, I would suggest about 60gr 2fg and a .600 roundball to start. I know 60 gr sounds like a small charge, but you would be surprised what that big ball going at low velocity will do at smoothbore ranges. It may need more powder to get it to print a decent group or maybe a tighter ball/patch combo, but start low and slowly increase, your safety is YOUR responsibility. In a 20ga. Fusil deChase I had, I used 70 gr 2fg and a .595" ball with heavy denim patch, (heavy denim so as not to burn out) and it shot pretty darn good out to 60 or so yards. Good luck with it. Ted K.

[DLH]

Thanks TED.  My 20 gauge mikes .590" .    
      I'm going to the range Sunday, I'll have to get some FF, I thought I had some but it is all FFF. Thats what I shoot in my .58 cal Dimrick. But it has a 1.125 acorss the flats.

  Thanks agian.  

[tryit]

DLH, I have a Curly barrel in 20 guage and it mikes out to .619 to .620 and I use the .610 round ball and a pillow ticking patch with old Zip patch and 48 grs. of Goex 3f black. I have have had 6 peole take deer and turkey with that gun and she shoots a ragged hole at 25 yards and a 3 inch group at 50 yards. At 75 yards the group opens up to 3 1/2 inches. Are you sure you do not have the 28 guage.Tryit.

[DLH]

I goofed !!    I built this gun 10 years ago, and forgot that I choked it with a collet.  a .615 ball fits in the breach end, but the muzzel is .590.   Oh well it should drop squirrels nicly. I patterned it at  25 yds. and it does a nice job.

Thanks for the input.

DLH :oops:

[Anduril]

I have been toying with the idea of getting a NW trade gun for hunting for some time now.  Most are 20 bore, but I see where they can also be found in 28, 24, 16, 14 and 12.  I imagine the big ones thump more (on both ends) and the little ones less, but is any really that much better than the others?  Is a 24 guage barrel inherently more accurate than a 16?  Thanks for your help.

[DLH]

anduril;
      I belive the 28 ga  takes .54 ball, and the 24 ga. takes a .58 ball.   I don't know where you would get ball sizes for the other ones?   Mabey Dixie Gunworks.

[Anduril]

I'll bet that DGW would have them.  
Try Track of the Wolf.  They will sell you most any size round ball, 25 at a time, if you want to experiment to find what shoots best in your firearm.  They also have RB molds by Lee and Lyman in a lot of sizes.

For more info on shooting a smoothbore, check out this site-
http://members.aye.net/~bspen/SmoothboreLoads.html