Having a new gun built in 24 gauge. I'll have to expend some powder and lead to find the right combo. I'll get back to you on what I find.
doggoner
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. --Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 31 | Location: Perkinston, MS | Registered: 13 April 2013
My gun seems to shoot well with 80 grains of 2f, 2 wool wads, a .570 ball, and a tow wad over the ball. Its a good 50 yard load for deer but Lawd is it dirty. I want to go back to the range with 3f and see how it does.
Posts: 552 | Location: SC | Registered: 03 May 2009
I shoot a patched .565 ball over 65gr of FFFg for most applications, but the only game I've taken has been grouse, with about the same powder load and a bit more, by volume, of #5 or #6 shot, with a hard card, 3 felts (I punch them out of old army mukluk liners) under and an overshot card. Never ran into a deer when my priming was dry. windy
Posts: 487 | Location: wetside o' washington | Registered: 14 October 2005
I think I am going to settle on 75 grains of 3f, 2 lubed wool wads, a .570 bare ball, followed by another wool wad. I gave me a 3" group at 50 yards. Now to settle inconsistent ignition!
Posts: 552 | Location: SC | Registered: 03 May 2009
If you shoot a flintlock, think vent pick, vent pick, vent pick BEFORE you prime the pan. Works for me.
doggoner
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. --Thomas Jefferson
Posts: 31 | Location: Perkinston, MS | Registered: 13 April 2013
Been shooting them for years. All my other guns had vent liners and were lightning fast. This fowler is a direct drilled vent. I redrilled it from .062 to .070 which made it a little more consistent. I think I will go up again to .078 and see if it helps.
Posts: 552 | Location: SC | Registered: 03 May 2009
Three inches at 50 yards is excellent. That's about what I get with my 20ga. I've played around with bare ball loads and they easily stay on a paper plate at 50 yds; but I just prefer patching the ball. Good luck.
*Young guys should hang out with old guys; old guys know stuff.*
Posts: 3559 | Location: Maine (by way of Georgia then Va.) | Registered: 26 January 2009