Safely loading the versatile smoothbore

[rollingb]

This topic is kind of an offshoot of a previous thread where safe loading of flintlocks and percussion guns was the topic.

Unlike percussion and flintlock rifles,... where a lubed patched roundball seated upon a charge of black powder is normal procedure, smoothbores can be a different animal altogether.
Sure,.... a lubed patched round ball can be loaded in a smoothbore (pretty much the same as in a rifle), but what about all the other ways a smoothbore can be loaded?
(We can get into "Buck'N Ball", and "shot loads", in another thread.)

Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few different ways a smoothbore can/might be loaded,....

1. Powder,... lubed wad,.... ball,.... card wad.
2. Powder,.... wad,............ ball,.... card wad.
3. Powder,.... wad,............ ball,.... tow or blanket wadding.
4. Powder,.... tow,............. ball,.... card wad.
5. Powder,........................ ball,.... tow or blanket, grass, leather, and even tree leaves
    for wadding.
6. Powder,........................ ball,..... and nothing except the fouling (from
    previous shots) to keep the ball in place on the powder charge.

From the research I've done (mostly by reading old journals) it seems as though #5,... and #6, were pretty much typical "back in the day".

Of course "ball size" plays a big role in how accurate the above loads shoot, and balls can range anywhere from a measly few "thousands" smaller than bore size,.... to 0.020" smaller than bore size, and achieve a passable form of accuracy out to 50+ yards that can rival a rifled bore.

I'd like to hear some thoughts on this, as well as YOUR favorite technique when loading your smoothbore.
Due to cold weather and old bones, I haven't got much load testing done this winter.

[Bigsmoke]

Haven't really done a lot of smoothbore shooting, but I usually loaded it like a rifle, powder, patched ball, prime and boom.  Did that with a t/C New Englander with the 12 bore barrel and the group rivaled anything I ever shot with a rifle at 50 yards.  Scary accurate.  Couldn't see any reason to try any other method.
In full disclosure, I did have a rear sight on it.
John

[Ohio Joe]

Good topic thread, Rondo! 

As you know, that smoothie I bought from you back in 2017 at Chadron Fur Trade Days - paid off for a 3rd place finish at the 2018 FTD Rondy ('course remember they at first said I finished 1st in the SB Shoot and I said "Really???" They then realized they had made a mistake and it was a 3rd place finish,,, (again me with, "Really?" 

What worked for me that day last year at CFT was;

80 grains 2fg - spit paper wad - .570 ball - spit paper wad top of ball - 2fg prime - (I hit 3 stationary targets from different yardages)

-and-

80 grains 2fg - spit paper wad - 7/8 oz shot - spit paper wad - 2fg prime (hit both my flying clay pigeons & splattered my Turkey target)

I might note this was my best guess for a load as I had not shot any flying clay pigeons or a Turkey paper target with "shot" out of that smoothie until that day) - I was pretty happy for just guessing on this load, for being the first time at shooting "shot"...

Now I can hardly wait to get out and shoot that smoothie since the topic is up here 

[rollingb]

Good information there Joe.

When my rib quits hurtin' and the weather here warms up a bit, I'm gonna be playin' around with some bare-ball loads, in a search to duplicate some of the loads mentioned in the journals I've read.

[Oldetexian]

Hey there.
I have a .75 cal  flint trade gun that I have only shot a few times. Now, however, it is time to get serious with it and start putting meat on the table. I have killed a half dozen deer or so with my .60 cal Jaeger, but missed (flinched) badly with the only shot I had with the .75 cal.

My question is about suggested powder loads for the beast? I have not had tome to test different loads, and I have seen everything from 80 grains of ffg to 120 grains.

I also really like the thought of using tow instead of a patch. How well does that work?

Thanks.

[Ohio Joe]

The TMA has some good smoothbore shooters and I'm sure some of them will be along with some info. My smoothbore is a 24 ga / .58 caliber flintlock (an old Pedersoli) and it likes 80 grains 2fg, ball, and a spit newspaper wad... When I shoot shot - my load is 80 grains 2fg, newspaper wad, 7/8 oz shot, spit newspaper wad...

I've also played around with 1fg powder, and found it works pretty good also. That's about the extent of my knowledge as I've only been shooting a smoothy for two years. I've always been a rifleman before I got that smoothy, and they're fun to shoot IMHO...

By the way, welcome to the TMA! 

[Oldetexian]

Can you tell me more about the spit newspaper wad? I've never heard of using newspaper, but would love to know more.

Thanks

[Ohio Joe]

Well, I might be the only one who does it, but I take a piece of newspaper that's about 4 x 4 inches and slobber on it and roll it up into a wet ball and send it down the bore and pack it down. Seems to work good (at least good enough) for me. I wouldn't use magazine grade paper / but newspaper does wad up good.

 

Good topic thread, Rondo! 

As you know, that smoothie I bought from you back in 2017 at Chadron Fur Trade Days - paid off for a 3rd place finish at the 2018 FTD Rondy ('course remember they at first said I finished 1st in the SB Shoot and I said "Really???" They then realized they had made a mistake and it was a 3rd place finish,,, (again me with, "Really?" 

What worked for me that day last year at CFT was;

80 grains 2fg - spit paper wad - .570 ball - spit paper wad top of ball - 2fg prime - (I hit 3 stationary targets from different yardages)

-and-

80 grains 2fg - spit paper wad - 7/8 oz shot - spit paper wad - 2fg prime (hit both my flying clay pigeons & splattered my Turkey target)

I might note this was my best guess for a load as I had not shot any flying clay pigeons or a Turkey paper target with "shot" out of that smoothie until that day) - I was pretty happy for just guessing on this load, for being the first time at shooting "shot"...

[Hank in WV]

Get the Sunday paper Joe. The comics are much tastier.

[Ohio Joe]

Get the Sunday paper Joe. The comics are much tastier.

Yes, the red color has a hint of strawberry, while the yellow I believe I'm tasting banana? My wife does say fruits are good for me. Try a page or two, you might just like it. 

[Oldetexian]

Thanks. Sounds delicious...might have to start subscribing to the local rag again...lol.

[Ohio Joe]

   Muzzle loading health food... 

[Nessmuk]

 

[Winter Hawk]

I just sent off to Track for some balls, over powder wads & top (over ball) wads to get the new .62 barrel broke in.  I'll save the Sunday funnies from now on to ruminate into cushion wads.... 

~Kees~