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Big Balls and a little history

Shovelbuck

Shovelbuck

Active Member
Yep, I've got em. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
A while back when I purchased my antique muzzleloading shotgun it was advertised as a 12 gauge with "full" chokes. Well, I got a bit of a history lesson. Chokes weren't invented/patented, until 1874. Since my gun was built in the 1860's there was no way it was choked. So, since the barrels measured .658, it's a 16 gauge with cylinder bores, as they all were until Mr. Greener perfected and put a patent on choked bores.
Just a bit of history there.
Now, about the big balls. Since it's cylinder bore, I can shoot round balls out of it besides shot. I picked up some .648 balls and with any luck, I'll be able to put a big hole in a deer with one this fall. Pretty versatile gun.

big_balls.JPG
 
Nice, a 16 gauge. Makes the gun even sweeter for me since I'm mighty fond of the 16.

What's one of those .648 cannon balls weigh? Touching off a load of powder behind one of them ought to wake a guy up. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Thought I would try to answer my own question. Gauge number is determined by the number of round lead balls (of bore diameter) it takes to make one pound. I'm assuming this is without choke. So a 16 gauge would have 16 round balls each weighing one ounce or roughly 440 grains. That seems light to me, but it's a stab in the dark.
 
Guess they are a little lighter due to choke and the need for a patch. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Recoil shouldn't be all that bad (as long as one doesn't get carried away with the charge) as most shotguns are throwing an ounce of lead.
 
Cool!

that is a big set of balls!!!
/forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Recoil shouldn't be all that bad (as long as one doesn't get carried away with the charge) as most shotguns are throwing an ounce of lead.</div></div>

Yep, it should have less recoil than the shot loads I've worked up that are 90 grains of powder pushing 1 3/8 oz. of lead.
 
Thats over an inch and a quarter on lead in his palm.

Ya know what they say about guys with big hands? They wear big gloves.

The 'Bonker
 
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