.50 smooth?

[Forager]

Any thoughts on the practicality, use (game, range, capability, recoil), and otherwise of a .50 smoothbore in general?

How about a rather lightweight version (sub 6#)?

[sse]

There are guys out there who shoot 'smooth rifles', smaller bores, and I guess they can dial them in to be pretty accurate.  I was on a woods walk once and one of the shooters was using one and he was hitting his mark pretty well.  They are historically correct and I think the use in hunting would be about the same as any other muzzleloader.  I'd have to wonder about the effective range as far as accuracy, as compared to a 'rifle'...maybe somebody who shoots one will chime in.

[rollingb]

Any thoughts on the practicality, use (game, range, capability, recoil), and otherwise of a .50 smoothbore in general?

How about a rather lightweight version (sub 6#)?

Sean,...... I have no experience with a .50 smooth bore (smallest smoothie I have is a .58 ca. /24ga.),... but the NWTG's in 28, 24, and 20 gauges were very popular trade items during the fur trade era.

28 gauge is .54 calibur.,.... so a .50 calibur is 32 ga. (32 balls to-the-pound)  

[pathfinder]

David Robinson here on our site has one I built,and when I had it,she shot r/b well and shot so-so. I never spent a lot of time working up a load,but a cyliner bore,i wouldn't expect a whole lot. As a rifle,she was a shooter!

[gunmaker]

Well I've build a number of 32 bore, .50 cal. guns cap & flint.  At 15-20 paces they will throw a shot pattern of # 7 or 8's to point of aim. I have a target with 138 strikes @ 20 yd.  in a 30" circle  #7 lead.  30" bbl.  50gr 3f & equal shot.  Great for small critters.  A .490 PRB with a tight patch will kill a deer sized animal @ 25 yd. With a LOP of 13-14" and drop 2-3/4" -to 3.00"@ heel recoil is very mild.  Weigh ?  about 4 lb.  with a sling.  I carry one one our local treking gigs.   Like the 22 long rifle they are much underestimated....Tom

[Uncle Russ]

We have a member by the name of "Three-Hawks", and if I am not mistaken he still owns and shoots his .50 smoothie.
Had a long discussion with him one time in Monroe, which was the only time I had ever met him, and it seemed to me he was totally convinced that the 32 bore smoothie was all a man ever needed for about anything, but especially for living off the land.

Maybe he will see this and stop by, he has a way with words and he can tell the stories much better than I can repeat them. Very interesting gun, this 32 bore smoothie!

Uncle Russ..

[gunmaker]

Here's one. .50 cal. Rayl bbl.  Siler little lock walnut stock....Tom

[Uncle Russ]

Is this the one that only weighs about 5#???
Nice looking little riflegun!  

I like your work, Tom

Uncle Russ...

[Forager]

Well I've build a number of 32 bore, .50 cal. guns cap & flint.  At 15-20 paces they will throw a shot pattern of # 7 or 8's to point of aim. I have a target with 138 strikes @ 20 yd.  in a 30" circle  #7 lead.  30" bbl.  50gr 3f & equal shot.  Great for small critters.  A .490 PRB with a tight patch will kill a deer sized animal @ 25 yd. With a LOP of 13-14" and drop 2-3/4" -to 3.00"@ heel recoil is very mild.  Weigh ?  about 4 lb.  with a sling.  I carry one one our local treking gigs.   Like the 22 long rifle they are much underestimated....Tom

That's about what I'm talking about!

So, is about 25 yards all that can be expected with a prb?  What's it like at 50 and 75?

The shot patterns are about what I was anticipating, and that's good to know (pot filler).

[gunmaker]

I just haven't fired it at more than 25 yd with PRB.  I really don't have a plan to shoot deer with it, mostly doves, pidgeons  grouse & rabbits.  They make great rondy guns for trail walks---Usually almost everyone else has a 20, or 12 bore.  They quit smirking when it rings the gongs just like a REAL gun...Tom

[LeeRoy]

Tom
Nice looking Smoothy !

LeeRoy

[Captchee]

I   have French  32 bore in the planning stages .  past that I have never  built a smooth 50 .
 But I can tell you about smooth 54 cal  which IMO would be near the same .
Now those I have built a couple of .
 Here is my smooth  54 . Which is set to a Hudson valley stock . The barrel is 52 inchs long .
With shot , she holds a  tighter group then full choke . With Rb she shoots better IMO then any of my 62 cal smooth guns ever did . as to range ? i have no more issue with hiting targets at distance then i did with the larger bores . rested she will still  place the balls on a 8 inch target every time









 here is the original link to  when i first finished it and took it out to shoot

http://www.traditionalmuzzleloadingassociation.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13956&hilit=hudson+valley

[gunmaker]

4 lb. loaded with sling Russ.  That's a great one Cap,  to bad you didn't put a long barrel on it....Tom

[Forager]

Can we get some other pictures of that little four-pounder?

And, yeah, captchee's work is VERY nice.  I've had the privilege to handle a few of his pieces, and highly functional (probably habit-forming) art is about the best description I can muster to cover the breadth.

[gunmaker]

Forager, there are 3 pic's at gunbuilding.  Under bunny snuffer....Tom