A single barrel 12 gauge ML

[Adam Helmer]

A few years ago I traded for a single barrel 12 gauge shotgun barrel that fits my .54 Renegade caplock stock. I finally got around to working up some loads for it and like it a lot for crows and varmits. I read that modern plastic 12 gauge wads work fine for holding the shot when seated on top of the over powder wad and under to overshot wad.

Shotguns are easy to load, it takes equal volumes of powder and shot to get a pretty good load; my favorite is 80 grains of 2F BP and same volume of #5 or #6 shot. My barrel has about an improved cylinder choke that is fine for woods hunting. If the small game hunting ever improves in northcentral PA, I will get a side by side 12 gauge double ML shotgun.

Adam

[multibeard]

I bought a Navy Arms double 12 front stuffer a few years back. I bought it with killing a turkey with it in mind. I haven't really used it for any other hunting.

I tried using cut down regular shot cups and they worked alright. The problem was I couldn't get a pattern that I felt confident in to use on turkeys.

One night I decided I would call Cabela's customer service to see if they had any shot cups for muzzle loader. It took the guy 15 minutes before he came up with a muzzle loading shot gun kit they had. It had the shot cups and wads in the kit.

The cup was a hard plastic that was not slit. The directions said to slit it but I didn't and was able to get a satisfactory pattern. The shot cup held 100 gr of pyrodex and I loaded an equal measure of #6 lead on top of that. The shot cup went thru the cardboard I was using to pattern at 25 yards.

I was able to take a jake with the gun that spring. I turned down
a number of toms that just didn't get in close enough before I finally shot him at 20 yards.

[Adam Helmer]

multibeard,

Good post. I found my 12 Gauge barrel on the .54 Renegade stock give a very muzzlelight arm. I have a good pattern out to about 35 yards with the plastic AA wads. I see turkeys here on the farm, but have yet to bag one. Our Spring gobbler season opens on April 29 and I am ready.

Adam