Mild load for 14bore

[DesG]

Has anyone out there had any experience of using a 14 bore muzzle loader shotgun. I've acquired a rather nice 1790ish (judging from the Birmingham proof marks) section 58 percusion s/b which is too nice not to shoot. Can anyone who has used one tell me what powder and shot load would be nice and comfortable with it without overstressing the Damascus barrel. I'm thinking about 7/8 oz would be good but how much of Henry Kranks med would give a mild load for bunnies?

[tacfoley]

Has anyone out there had any experience of using a 14 bore muzzle loader shotgun. I've acquired a rather nice 1790ish (judging from the Birmingham proof marks) section 58 percusion s/b which is too nice not to shoot. Can anyone who has used one tell me what powder and shot load would be nice and comfortable with it without overstressing the Damascus barrel. I'm thinking about 7/8 oz would be good but how much of Henry Kranks med would give a mild load for bunnies?

So let me get this right, so's I don't make a mistook. You intend to shoot a 225-year-old muzzle loader with a 'Damascus' barrel? Or, at least, a twist barrel made of iron, as per the methods of the day.

There isn't anybody here, I hope, who is crazy enough to offer you a load for it - as per the rules of the forum, I believe. Go check and see if I'm right.

At the very least, before you even contemplate firing it with a live load, you should get the barrel checked out for the infamous damascus inter-laminate rust/rot. It is, of course, a converted flintlock if your dating is correct.

tac

[enfield2band]

I would not risk firing a gun that old now matter how good it looks. Apart from the historical value it would need to be x-rayed to check for corrsion in the laminations.

If they are defective the barrel will unwind like a corkscrew.

My advice would be to put it on the wall and enjoy it.

[airgunnut]

if i remember correctly there was 2 methods of proofing during the 16-1700s the expensive powder method and the water method (used for export guns) the water method consisted of the touch hole been bunged up, the barrel pointed up and filled with water and left overnight, if the gun did not leak it was stamped as proofed and exported, that's why some guns were stamped as proofed by powder
i cannot find/remember the tv program it was on

[enfield2band]

I have not heard of that method of proofing guns. I'm not saying it was not used though, but I would not fancy firing one.

The usual method was to double charge the gun and put in two balls, or two lots of shot and ignite it with a loose powder fuse on the flash hole.....from a safe distance.

I have a list in a book somewhere on the proof charges. I think some had a triple charge first and then the double charge.

[DesG]

Hi chaps. Just spotted my typo. I meant 1890 ish not 1790ish but what's a hundred years between friends. Thanks for your concerns but this gun belonged to a friend of mine and we've been shooting it on and off with .6in musket balls since the late seventies so I think it's fairly safe. I've now acquired it and as I have a permision on 170 acre farm and the owner is a black powder nut I thought it would be fun use it as a shotgun, thus my question about 14g shot loads.

To further allay your concerns I also own a le Page .36, Charles Moore .45, Hawken .45, 8 bore flintlock blunderbus, Roger and Spencer .45 revolver and a fair collection of section 58, most of which I wouldn't dream of shooting. I have held a blackpowder licence since 1976.

Since no-one out there seems to have used 14 bore I shall get on and find a load elsewhere.
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...608-WA0002.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...609-WA0000.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...107_110646.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...107_110635.jpg
http://i971.photobucket.com/albums/a...G/DSC_4727.jpg

Incidentally, 'mistook' is the past tense of 'mistake' so it would be impossible to make a 'mistook' in the future. "just saying like"