Using plastic shot cups to increase range

[smokepole45]

That makes a lot of sense. How can a well sealed BP load create more heat than a modern cartridge? I am going to go for it. If things F**** up, I will reply to this post. My guns are not for for display. I HUNT with them.

[Feltwad]

Smokepolo.

Good luck with them if your gun is an original you will need it ,has I said early on I have seen too many guns ruined with them.
Feltwad

[Skychief]

If I felt the need to shoot plastic wads, I'd have to dust off the 1100.  I just wouldn't feel right about them with my muzzleloading smoothbores, but, that's just me.

If you try it and like it, that's great.  There's a lot of different interests and perspectives with black powder guns.  Good luck.

[smokepole45]

Thanks for your input. Believe me, I have no love affair with plastic wads and for that matter, I rarely shoot modern firearms anymore. Muzzleloaders are just more interesting. The problem is one of range. Sharp-tails and pheasant shots are most often in the 30-40 yard range, especially late in the season. My smooth-bore is cylinder choked and the barrels are too thin for choke tubes or jug choking.
  I have tried paper shot cups but the results were not satisfactory as the pattern density was not consistent. That is the reason for looking at all other options. I am also looking for some sort of heavy card type cups, so the search continues.
Thanks

[Longhunter]

If I felt the need to shoot plastic wads, I'd have to dust off the 1100. I just wouldn't feel right about them with my muzzleloading smoothbores, but, that's just me.

I second that. For me it's about getting the game within killing range of my BP smoothbore

[cyotewa]

All I can say is come on out here and go goose hunting with me and see how you do???

[rollingb]

I've never had any interest in loading my traditional muzzleloaders with non-traditional components,.... doin' so just don't seem right some how.  :rt th  

[Longhunter]

All I can say is come on out here and go goose hunting with me and see how you do???

We've got geese up the ying yang here in Michigan with a special early season. With blinds and decoys it's not hard to get geese within spitting distance, I've even hunted them with a longbow. Like I said, get them within range, if you can't do that with a muzzleloader then get a modern 10ga

[snake eyes]

I've never had any interest in loading my traditional muzzleloaders with non-traditional components,.... doin' so just don't seem right some how.

  [/color]

[sse]

Muzzleloaders are just more interesting.

Oh yeah...

[smokepole45]

Sorry to stir up such a fuss between the very traditional and the progressive traditional muzzleloading community! I am just a novice and have so much to learn from those who have 'been there and done that'. I really just want to shoot 'Ugly Betty'  30 to 40 yards and cannot jug choke or invector choke her due to barrel walls being too thin. There is one thing I just cannot figure out. Why would a muzzleloading shotgun melt plastic to the inside of the barrels when a cartridge gun does not? The heat surely is more intense in modern gun.
BTW- I used to be a member of the Cro-Magnon website, but quit it in pure disgust. Some of those members were taking sharpened rocks and wrapping them to the end of poles. Can you believe it? They called this stupid invention 'Spears'. All of us true Cro-Magnons know that when you are taking down a Mammoth, you have to get in close and use a flint knife. What a bunch of Neanderthals!

[rollingb]

All a "spear" is,.... is a knife with a looooong handle.  

[No Deer]

Sorry to stir up such a fuss between the very traditional and the progressive traditional muzzleloading community!There is one thing I just cannot figure out. Why would a muzzleloading shotgun melt plastic to the inside of the barrels when a cartridge gun does not? The heat surely is more intense in modern gun.

Don't worry about ruffling feathers, some people just want to be as historically correct as they possibly can, and respond on the computer about how it offends their sensibilities to use any modern components (Ironic ain't it?   ).  I personally think that it is a matter of personal taste as to how historically correct someone wants to be, and we should not criticize anyone that thinks outside that box, especially someone fairly new. I respect those that are striving for historical accuracy, and wish them luck, as I am comfortable with the level that the crowd I run with, and I have reached.  It is all about where the level of enjoyment is that an individual wishes to attain.

No scientific evidence to back it up, but just based on my experience shooting black powder shotguns and cartridge guns, the barrel gets very much hotter with black powder than it does with cartridges.  Can't explain why, just know it does.  I can shoot a string of trap with my cartridge gun and the barrel gets warm, but shoot a string with  a muzzleloader and almost can't touch the barrel, depending on how fast you can reload.  It is really evident with a black powder cartridge shotgun.

[snake eyes]

Sorry to stir up such a fuss between the very traditional and the progressive traditional muzzleloading community!There is one thing I just cannot figure out. Why would a muzzleloading shotgun melt plastic to the inside of the barrels when a cartridge gun does not? The heat surely is more intense in modern gun.

 I personally think that it is a matter of personal taste as to how historically correct someone wants to be, and we should not criticize anyone that thinks outside that box, especially someone fairly new. I respect those that are striving for historical accuracy, and wish them luck, as I am comfortable with the level that the crowd I run with, and I have reached.  It is all about where the level of enjoyment is that an individual wishes to attain..

No Deer,
              [/color]

[rollingb]

Lest we forget, our TMA Mission Statement is:.....

The TMA is dedicated to preserving the rich and fascinating heritage of the traditional muzzle loading firearms of early America. Whether your interest is in rendezvous, re-enactments, historical clothing, camps, trapping, weapons, accoutrements or American history, all historical topics in relation to the muzzle loading firearms prior to 1900 are welcomed.

Thanks everyone, for keeping this in mind.
rollingb