Author Topic: Does anyone shoot a single barrel M/L shotgun? (Read 2855 times)

offhand35 · « **on:** July 23, 2004, 03:20:19 PM »

:-) Anyone shooting a single bbl shotgun?
Which model do you have?
I've got my eye on the Pedersoli Mortimer Percussion shotgun, but the lowest price at DGW is still a little high for me.

roundball · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2004, 04:18:39 PM »

Bought a Green Mountain .62cal (.20ga) smoothbore flintlock barrel for a TC Hawken...set it up for turkey hunting and it shoots outstanding shot loads...

jh45gun · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2004, 05:30:27 PM »

I am in the process of making one with a underhammer action. 12 guage with choke tube I am making a rifle also 54 cal underhammer fast twist Green Mountain Barrel. Bought both barrels on a close out they were for a knight inline switch barrel system that knight discontinued. I had my gunsmith revamp the breech plugs so I could mount a tang on them and drill and tap the bottom of the barrels for nipples. I am doing the rest of the work. Stocks will be full stock as I was able to pick up a couple cheap. They will be short full stocks as the barrels are not as long as regular full stock barrels but full stock none the less. :lol:

crow_feather · « **Reply #3 on:** July 24, 2004, 10:57:12 AM »

offhand35,
Check out the price at Northern Rifleman. I honestly do not know if they have one, but I got my Pedersoli double there for a pretty good price.

C F

filmokentucky · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2004, 02:47:00 PM »

I have a 20 bore flintlock fowler that I use as my main shotgun. It handles every thing from quail to turkey loads. I also have an 1842 musket that I'm working up loads for now. Basically, a musket is just a heavy duty shotgun. And if the shot doesn't stop 'em, I'll finish them off with the bayonet! I can always use a little aerobic exercise.

fffffg · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2004, 04:47:11 PM »

if shot a pheasant and maybe 20 ducks with the mortimer 12 gauge in flint. i had it jug choked to full for most of the birds ive gotten. it works pretty well but im not a fan of pedersolii. they are hit and run sales and if yhou have a problem you have a big problem.. the locks are the bigest problem as they are small and the flint (stone) wont hold up, so be ready to change flint in the field.. its very difficult to napp in the field with the tiny lock . if your getting percussion i dont knowif they are availabe but they should work better than the flint. i now shoot a 16 guage from jim chambers flintlocks and they are awsome.. the large very high quality locks and swamped barrel with longstock is what makes a good flint shotgun. it also shoots a 400 grain ball with reasonable accuracy out to 40-50- yards.. be ready to practice and learn to shoot flintshotgun for up to 2 years to be able to hit anything with regularity.. cylinder bore requires exceptional hunting skill to get within 35 yards terminal shooting distance of your target. that requires about 15 -25 yards stalking/decoy ability by the time you mount and shoot.. black powder patterns are different at diferernt temperatures and as the weather gets cold the rubber hits the road at about 10 degrees F.. loading with a steel barrel and brass tubes at 20 below without gloves is a chalange for the commited.. you can see a photo of me with three mallards taken on a 20 below cold morning 10-15 years ago with a mortimer at http://home.netcom.com/~imcanal/photos/gallery.htm .. im the fat guy named ffffg. (ive lost 40 pounds, drs orders) loading is a bit tricky, but not difficult, i have some pointers if you get one, contact me at ffffgdave@yahoo.com if you need more info.. you must learn sustained lead and hold the gun with the proper lead on the bird until it goes off.. one of the most difficult shooting conditions ive encountered.. but then havnt hunted charging rino.. good luck dave.

Will Bison · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2004, 05:07:14 AM »

I use my French Fusil 20 bore. Works great.

filmokentucky · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2004, 07:22:08 AM »

I'm told that replacement parts for Pedersolis are utterly outrageous in price. I've heard prices of over $400 for a barrel and nearly that for a lock. Haven't checked it out for myself so perhaps it's just an urban black powder rumor, but given what their guns cost new, it might have a grain of truth in it.
I've also seen folks have problems with Pedersoli flint locks eating flints.
Not sure why this is--could be as simple as going from bevel up to bevel down--or vice versa.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2004, 08:09:18 AM »

I've owned a pedersoli flint pistol for over 10yrs that I bought from cabela's for ~$100, bought replacement lock parts at rondys over the years, never paid any more for new parts from traders than for my L&R locks. I've also done some lock tuning which many locks require to get them to work their best, even the L&Rs. Some judicious heating and bending of the cock has solved the geometry of the lock to the point that it has allowed me to kick some serious butt in pistol competion against good shooters with way more expensive persuction guns. It's probably the best $100 I've spent on primitive firearms, ever.....

filmokentucky · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2004, 09:46:19 AM »

I had a Pedersoli Kentucky rifle many years ago and it gave good service. I'm not disputing Pedersoli quality. But their prices have risen to the point where you can often get a semi-custom piece for the same money or even a used high quality custom.
A check at Thunder Ridge's web site shows Pedersoli replacement locks
running from $130 to $420. You can get one of Jim Chamber's locks for less than the lower number. The higher number is simply ridiculous, even if some hand fitting is involved.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2004, 10:11:29 AM »

Filmo, I see whatcha mean, went to Jed starr, my pistol(M310) now sells for almost $300!! When I bought mine from Cabela's, J Starr was selling it for ~$140. Locks are spendy compared to traditions locks at $55 which I would say were comparable in quality from those that I have owned.
https://www.jedediah-starr.com/

http://thegunworks.com/

offhand35 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2004, 11:49:02 AM »

:-) Thanks for all the replies!!!!
I've pretty much shied away from the Pedersoli, but NOT from BP shotgunning.....
I contacted Blue Grouse BP, and it turns out that I can get any configuration shotgun built on an underhammer action, which I'm already very pleased with in my 50cal
I just have to sell off a couple of those :eek: centerfire rifles :eek: still kicking around to pay for it....
Meanwhile, I can decide what I really want to get.....10ga, 12ga, straight round or octagon, octagon-to-round....

fffffg · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2004, 05:10:13 PM »

i wouldnt get a 10 gauge, they are beasts.. if your hunting geese ok, but a 12 gauge will do a good job.. i got a 16 becouse the 12 gauge balls are huge.. the 16 will work for pheasant and duck at 35 yards fine. the 16 shoots a 400 grain ball the 12 shoots about 540 grain ball.. the 10 gauge you willl not be able to get a ball easily.. the brown bess shooters will will argue with me in a hurry tho.. the bess is not a 10 gauge in the 10 gauge modern world.. my pedersoli 10 gauge sxs was used to work up loads and i quit at 165 grains ffg and 1 3/4 oz shot.. it was just getting started, so it seemed, too much for most including me.. bess will not handle that heavey load.. a good 12 will shoot lots of powder and shot. old guns wont.. be sure to follow mfg recomendations.. im sorry to say youll end up with flintlocks, its the natural progression of the mind, but go at your own pace. good luck dave...

crow_feather · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2004, 04:00:45 PM »

I have to wonder how people can manage to loose so many locks. I have had my Pedersoli 10 guage and rifle for a few years and have not lost one lock.

I have never broken a lock either, they are hard to break. If a part in a lock breaks, I guess I will have a part made by a gunsmith or order a part from Pedersoli - but I doubt it will cost much more than a part from Lyman.

If I ever lose one of my Pedersoli locks, I guess I'll have to eat my words, something which I've done before, but I really don't expect to.

I don't think that I would NOT buy a rifle/shotgun because of the price of replacement parts. I sorta expect not ta loosem.

C F

quickdtoo · « **Reply #14 on:** August 06, 2004, 05:28:59 PM »

Loosing locks reminds me of a pistol shoot I participated in where a lady shooter had a loose lock on her flinter. To make a long story short, she continued loading(unknowing) with the loose lock and quite a bit of 4f priming found its way behind the lock and somewhere during the end of the trail, the powder behind the lock detonated, much to her and everyone's surprise. Fortunetly, no one was hurt but the same could not be said for the now multiple piece stock and detached lock....so be careful out there.... :wink:

filmokentucky · « **Reply #15 on:** August 06, 2004, 07:05:43 PM »

Crow feather-it's not that folks lose locks- it's that the Italian locks do seem to break more often., especially the springs. And it is difficult to find just the spring. The locks are outrageously overpriced. I don't know any one using their locks anymore as they have gotten around the problem by fitting another make of lock. People like Jim Chambers not only make high quality locks for very reasonable money, but they stand behind them as well. And their relacement parts, ready to go are priced low enough to keep a set around just in case. Ditto for R.E. Davis and other American lock smiths. And I have yet to have a Chambers lock fail or eat flints.
I've never lost a lock myself but I once tried to lose a Spanish made flint rifle. Didn't work though as people kept finding it bringing it back to me. Such is life...

crow_feather · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2004, 01:15:06 PM »

I have yet to have anything break on my Pedersolis. I guess when or if something breaks, I will be singing another tune, but as for now, things seem pretty good. I do know that I have never had a more accurate 54 caliber rifle that shoots round balls. I would rather buy for the barrel and the looks, than the chance that something won't break.

C F

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2004, 01:55:37 PM »

I had a main spring break on my flint pistol, there's not a more disheartening sound or feel than that of a main spring giving out, especially at a shoot! I carried a spare spring with a screwdriver and a ms vice in a little leather bag after that..... :cry:

offhand35 · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2004, 03:09:18 PM »

Well, I won't (don't) have to worry about mainsprings breaking, since I have (2) Hopkins & Allen underhammer actions, on which the spring forms the trigger guard (BEEFY!)

Even though some have advised against the 10ga, that is what I ordered. Right or wrong, I will find out as time goes by. I went this way, looking for good strong patterns when full loads are needed, and hope to load down to 12ga equivalent for lighter game. I'll post how this goes when I get some patterning work done.

Dixie gun works can custom make a round ball mold up to .830". This is pretty inexpensive, about $30 for one of my other guns.

I ordered an Ed Rayl barrel, 32", 1st 12 1/2 " octagon to 2 wedding bands, to tapered round, with a bead sight. No fore end on this gun, you use your walking stick for a loading rod, or

you can also use your loading rod as your walking stick!

It should be nice looking after I get it browned when it comes in..in September...though I may have to learn a lesson and decide on a 16ga later......

filmokentucky · « **Reply #19 on:** August 07, 2004, 04:56:18 PM »

At the F&I War Grand Encampment at Fort Ticonderoga back in June, I
bought a well seasoned piece of South Carolina shell maple from Allan Sandy a gunbuilder from West Virginia. He makes some of the most beautiful 18th century flintlocks I've ever seen. Anyway, I've been trying to decide what to do with the wood for the last 6 weeks.
Sometimes I think I'll build an early rifle and sometimes an early fowler.
Lately, I've been thinking about a 10 bore fowler-musket, such as was used around these parts in the mid to late 18th century. They did double duty as hunting guns and militia weapons both in the F&I period and in the Revolutionary War. To tie this in with your choice of a 10 gauge, these guns were pretty light--about the weight of a Pedersoli double,say---and used a stiff powder charge, yet recoil is not bad in the ones I've fired. I
think you'll be pleased with your choice-and you can also use it with reduced loads for smaller game--just as was done 200 years ago.

crow_feather · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2004, 01:17:20 PM »

In my ten guage, I load with 80 grains of 2f and same volume of shot. Recoils about like a 20 guage, but clay birds find it very difficult to evade the pattern.
Best of luck with your mew purchase.

C F

fffffg · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2004, 02:45:46 AM »

i guess i shouldnt be so harsh on the 10 gauge. if you want to use reduced loads with consistent good patterns, that is many in a row without a failure here and there you need to use a longer column to keep the load from tipping.. that is as the powder and shot shortens in the big caliber the hard card can tip.. so if your getting a blown pattern here and there lenghten the wad column a bit.. another problem i had with my pedersoli 10 gague was that some of the hard cards i ordered were undersized.. i finnally had to make my own punch and make a picture frame matting card that i put under the hard card to ge a good seal.. any gun takes some work to get them into top shooting condition with loads that it likes ..my pedersoli shot quite a bit off center from pattern to pattern and it took quite a while to grind the chokes to get it in reasonable shooting patterns with that problem.. so again if your willing to work on it you can do alot with most guns and get acceptable results.. good luck dave..

Charlie1947 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2004, 10:41:30 AM »

Hi folks,

I shoot a Caywood, R Wilson, English "Chiefs Trade Musket". It is a .62cal/20ga, flintlock. It is very comfortable to shoot, with very little recoil. I shoot both RB and shot.
Regards,
Charlie1947

crow_feather · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2004, 12:13:07 PM »

Charlie1947,

Hey, welcome to Greybeard Outdoors. Do you hunt with your trade musket, or just clay bird and target shoot?

Hope you enjoy GBO.

Charlie1947 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2004, 02:48:18 PM »

Thanks Crow Feather,
Isn't this a great place to be, especially when you can't be hunting. As one "Graybeard to another", MR Graybeard has a marvelous site for us to come to.

The Caywood is new. I WILL be hunting and throw in a little rendezvoin'
too.

crow_feather · « **Reply #25 on:** August 12, 2004, 03:44:51 PM »

Awsome,
I'm heading to a little vouz in Evenston WY the end of the month. Bridger is the week after and is a Large Vous. I just don't like the crowds so I will miss Bridger. I do like visitin the dog's grave though.

I was in Texas hog huntin last year by River Pines - I think. Texas is a great huntin spot, more animals than people. The only thing I had a problem with was them little suckers that you can't see and bite the heck outta your legs. I had sores on my legs for over a month. But it was pretty country and if I and the missus (yes, there is a woman that will have me) didn't like snow so much, we woulda probably moved there.

Best of luck

C F

turfman · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2004, 03:24:30 AM »

I hunt with an original mississippi rifle that was given to me about 20yrs ago. It had been bored out at the end of the 1800's and sold as a cheap shotgun. It is 24ga and handles most of my Pa. pheasant duty. My other is a Curly trade gun my father bought back in 74. I love toting this gun through the woods; almost an extention of me.

turfman

daddywpb · « **Reply #27 on:** August 14, 2004, 09:21:14 AM »

I have a Knight TK200 12 gauge. It has three choke tubes, and I hunt with it all year long. Doves, crows, rabbits, turkey. It's a lot of fun.

crow_feather · « **Reply #28 on:** August 15, 2004, 04:56:02 AM »

daddywpb,

If you like that, you should try shootin a muzzle loading shotgun sometime.

C F

daddywpb · « **Reply #29 on:** August 15, 2004, 01:46:50 PM »

CF,
Sorry to interupt your little pity party here. I thought I had clicked on the
INLINE forum. I never even read the TRADITIONAL forum, and comments like yours are the reason why. Tell you what, I'll try a REAL muzzle loader someday, and you try to pry open the locked door of your mind, and try to get some kind of a personality. Now go ahead and block this post, and run crying to GB. We all understand.