Flintlock shotgun, finally

[Gil Martin]

For some reason, I have wanted a flintlock shotgun and have been considering how to achieve that goal. Most muzzleloading shotguns offered for sale are percussion. I lucked out and got a .54 caliber smoothbore Green Mountain barrel that will fit a T/C Hawken for a bargain price. Then I called T/C and got some of their discontinued .54 over powder bore buttons to use as over powder and/or over shot wads. Last week, I was surfing the Cabelas website and found .54 sabot cups that will serve as shot capsules. I ordered them and the brown truck dropped them off the other day. Now if the temperature gets above freezing, I will go to the range and see what happens. All the best...
Gil

[Adam Helmer]

Gil,

Keep us posted on your smoothbore results. I have a .50 smoothbore flintlock that is a handy shotgun as well as a ball arm.

Adam

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Congrats on the shotgun Gil....I am still trying to learn how to hit something on the fly using my trade musket.
IIRC, I believe that the .54 cal is pretty close to the 28 gauge in bore diameter, so maybe you can use 28 gauge wads as well.

[roundball]

I have the GM 15/16" x 33" .54cal Flint smoothbore barrel and it's outstanding...here's what I settled on if it'll shorten your trial period:

ROUND BALL DEER LOADS
70/80/90grns Goex 3F
.018" TC prelubed pillow ticking
Hornady .520 (or .530's work with .015")
Very accurate, took a couple bucks with it the first fall I had it.

SHOT LOADS
70grns Goex 3F
Two Oxyoke .28ga prelubed Wonderwads
1+1/8oz #6's
Circle Fly .28ga over shot card
An outstanding even pattern at the 25yds I patterned it.

[Gil Martin]

Thanks for the information. I will give these loads a try. All the best...
Gil