black powder shotgun ordered...

[Rustywreck]

Saturday I ordered a black powder 12ga double barrel shotgun - should be receiving it Friday.
My hope is to take it turkey hunting in late Arpil. I've done some reading on making a load for this type of gun, but what I'm not finding a good solution to is what to use for wading between the powder and the shot, and what to use on top of the shot.
I would appreciate any advice regarding wads, quantity of powder, shot, etc.
I'm not new to muzzleloaders in general, but I am new to shotguns.
thanks.

[Adam Helmer]

Feathermax,

Excellent post! I am envious about that 12 gauge double since all I have is a single barrel at present.

In Sam Fadala's BP hunting book he talks about using regular 12 gauge plastic reloading wads in the ML 12 gauge. I have used Winchester AA wads along with some others with good success. In the local gun shop, I noticed 12 Gauge BP over powder and overshot wads in a "baggie" of 50 or 100 for about $8.00.

The Lyman Blackpowder Handbook covers shotgun loads pretty extensively. Hope this helps.

Adam

[Tioga Flinter]

It really depends if the shotgun is choked or not. If its choked its hard getting the cards down the choke, so for my choked T/C New englander I use powder, 2 over powder wads, shot, another wad. These are flexible enough to clear the chokes.

For my fowler I use powder, over powder card, half inch fiber wad, shot, over shot card.

Check out the track of the wolf link, its pretty straightforward.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/categories/tableList.aspx?catID=2&subID=37&styleID=120

[Tioga Flinter]

I might have added that you generally match powder and shot by volume, so use the powder measure.

70 gr powder = 1 oz shot
90 gr powder = 1 and 1/4 oz shot
110 gr powder = 1 and 1/2 oz shot

Not to overload you with information but the following links are excellent reads on ML shotguns, the last link is working up a turkey loads.

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/shotgun.html

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/starr.html

http://www.98.net/ibha/shotguns.htm

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/SmoothboreLoads.html

http://www.caywoodguns.com/working_up_turkey_loads_for_opti.htm

[Rustywreck]

This gun is choked, in fact I ordered an extra X-full so I can have both barrels full choke.
I've read some about making loads with a shotgun. I do remember in one of them the cautioned about using standard shot cups, as they are smaller than the size of the bore (due to having to fit in the shell).
I haven't been to my favorite gun store to see what they have for wads of the correct size, but I'm guessing it will minimal since blackpowder shotguns aren't very popular - a few of my friends are asking me, "what the heck are you thinking?"
I do have a couple books on black powder shooting, but didn't even think to look at them.
I read about using cardboard of different thicknesses for the over powder wad and to hold the shot in place.
For those who use this kinda stuff, is it something I can buy at a place like Office Max and cut to size?

[Tioga Flinter]

For my choked new englander i use powder, 2 wads, shot, an additional wad. You cant really use shot cups as they are to rigid to get by the choke. I am sure taking out the choke each time would not be to your liking.

I buy my wads from rmcsports.com, look under their blackpowder shotgun accessories. they are a great place to do business with, quick and reliable service. I think the wads Adam mentioned are the same wads, the store he mentions carry RMC products.

You could make your own as you suggest however I have found getting anything semi rigid past the choke tube is really tough without deforming the card. the wads i recommend are nice as they are flexible enough to pass.

And despite what your friends say, bp shotgunning is so much fun. It opens up a whole new area of muzzleloading.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Congrats on the shotgun, and good luck taking your tom with it.;)

I'm relatively new to the world of black powder shotgunning myself...I bought a 62 caliber flintlock trade musket last year and have been playing with it. I get my wads from a local place called "Kenockee tradin post" near Port Huron, MI. They don't have a website, but they do have their address and number on a number of black powder sites and they do have a catalog. If you can't find thier address/phone # via google or some other search engine, let me know and I will try and look it up for you.

[larryours]

Feathermax, you will need to work up a good load for turkeys, back when CVA put out their first Trapper model shotguns, I ordered one, it had an improved choke. I ordered some over the shot cards, they were just a little larger than a nickel ($.05) but smaller than a quarter($.25) , back then it was hard to get wads and cards, I ended up making over shot wads(cards) from cardboard poster paper. And I read in an old book where earlier
settlers used hornets nests for wadding. Guess what it works better than some factory wadding.. If you can find any hornet nest, ( hopefully abandon) tear the nest up and make wadding out of the light gray material, pour in your powder, add you nest wadding then your shot , then over the shot card.
My .12 gauge Trapper shot #6's, with equal amount ( 1 1/4 oz) shot and FFFg blackpowder, Goex I killed several nice long beards over the years following, Two, one season a week apart. It's a great feeling to kill one with a blackpowder shotgun. Work up a good load and shoot at different distance, find your maximum range, remember your distance will be cut down , from a modern magnum shotgun, but heck the experience and the thrill is well worth it when you walk up to your first long beard.