Muzzleloading 12 gauge

[filmjunkie4ever]

So no doubt due to a mild case of sentimentality and possibly some heat exhaustion a pal of mine (we are both on the local volunteer fire department) recently gifted me a Traditions In-line muzzleloading 12 gauge. This is not your typical fouling piece. It is housed in a synthetic thumbhole stock, painted from bow to stern in camouflage pattern and is topped off with fiber optic open sights. Although a smoothbore, complete with a removable choke tube, my pal gave me a box of .71 caliber round balls! Yee haw!

While this gun screams “turkey hunting” the round balls have me curious as to what it could/would do with a deer or elk, inside of typical shotgun ranges. Heck of a cool gift that I plan to wring out once these purgatorial fires decide to lay down and die.

Anyone here use muzzleloading shotguns with shot or ball?

My research suggested 70-80 grains of 2F with either the round ball or 1.25 ounces of whatever size of shot one chooses to employ. Will post pics sometime soon!

 

[JN270]

I hunted turkeys one year with a similar muzzleloading shotgun. I believe it used 80 grains of pyrodex and I thought 1.25 oz shot. There was a plug/stopper that seated over the shot. It's been 20 years and I don't remember the specifics.

Was fun for turkeys. I don't think a muzzleloading slug would be that great. I don't have experience with it though so could be wrong.

Have fun with it.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Had a Navy Arms T&T double barrel muzzleloader shotgun back in the 80s. I used 90grs of Pyrodex , 1 1/4 oz of shot. Powder first, over powder card, cushion wad, shot then thin overshot card. Patterned descent killed one nice gobbler at about 32 yds. Stock didn't fit me really well so traded it for something else to another turkey hunter to try.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

So it’s not a Traditions, but a Knight TK2000. I have attached some pics below.

Thanks for the tip on those “shot cards” WV, I will get some ordered.

I wonder if with the .715 roundballs, any sort of wad or patch is desirable?

 

[3 Meter Para Bellum]

I have never checked what caliber a 12 gauge barrel comes out as... .71 caliber sounds fun though! I feel like I remember people shooting with patched roundballs out of smoothbores but I don't remember anymore. I think it is hard to get great accuracy beyond 50-75 yards without rifling, but if you can get that close, a hunk of lead at .71 inches ought to knock down most things alive.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

So it’s not a Traditions, but a Knight TK2000. I have attached some pics below.

Thanks for the tip on those “shot cards” WV, I will get some ordered.

I wonder if with the .715 roundballs, any sort of wad or patch is desirable?

There is a ton of info on the Traditional Muzzle Loading Forum. As for shooting round balls thru a smooth bore most do use a patch you just try different thickness to see which combination gives best accuracy. If you plan on shooing round balls in this gun I would recommend not thru that full choke tube. See if you can find an Imp Cyl tube. The beauty of the smooth bore muzzle loader is it can be loaded with different combinations from shot, ball to buck and ball. Whole different ballgame.