So I've been wanting a flintlock single barrel shotgun for a while now. I have a percussion double already, but for some reason just can't get this off my mind. I like the looks of the Pedersoli mortimer 12ga, and it looks easier to clean (barrel held by wedges) but an indian trade gun is appealing also but probably harder to clean (pinned). The Pedersoli mortimer and quality trade guns are about the same price. Whatever I get, I plan on using it for hunting squirrels and such, not re-enactments. Am I worried too much about the cleaning? What do you have?
flintlock mortimer shotgun, or smoothbore trade gun?
- Thread starter noelf2
- Start date
Col. Mosby
New member
Cleaning.
Sir,
Cleaning is no big deal on either firearm you are looking at. The hooked breach of the Mortimer is convenient but you don't need to remove the barrel of the Fowler to clean it. Just plug the touch hole pour hot soapy water or other blackpowder cleaner down the bore. Let it sit a while, pour out, repeat till clean and follow up with some patches and oil. If you don't want to do that, Track of the Wolf sells a neat little rig that clamps to the barrel after you remove the lock. It has a tube that goes into your cleaning solution and you use a tight fitting patch and rod to creatre a siphoning action to clean the bore. I have clean flintlocks for years without pulling the barrel with no rust or build up.
Pick what you lke the best and ENJOY !
Sir,
Cleaning is no big deal on either firearm you are looking at. The hooked breach of the Mortimer is convenient but you don't need to remove the barrel of the Fowler to clean it. Just plug the touch hole pour hot soapy water or other blackpowder cleaner down the bore. Let it sit a while, pour out, repeat till clean and follow up with some patches and oil. If you don't want to do that, Track of the Wolf sells a neat little rig that clamps to the barrel after you remove the lock. It has a tube that goes into your cleaning solution and you use a tight fitting patch and rod to creatre a siphoning action to clean the bore. I have clean flintlocks for years without pulling the barrel with no rust or build up.
Pick what you lke the best and ENJOY !
I think that there's particulars that need to be inquired about to discover the most possible about any gun before making a purchase.
First is to determine which game animals or shooting sport will the gun predominantly be used for?
If mostly used for small game then the larger 12 gauge loads may not be ideal for hunting with heavy loads, and may not pattern the best if hunting with lighter loads.
For instance a 20 gauge may not only suffice but may actually produce optimum results for the intended purpose.
Also if desiring to ever shoot patched round balls with it then a .615 caliber 20 gauge may be more enjoyable to fire than a .729 12 gauge.
Try to determine which is a better gauge for the intended purposes. The 12 gauge is probably better for bird hunting and shooting single clays, while a choked double barrel gun may be better for other hunting & sporting purposes.
Look into all of the options for each of the guns that are available.
Maybe something will be uncovered about which gun will perform better and be more suitable for the most applications of interest.
First is to determine which game animals or shooting sport will the gun predominantly be used for?
If mostly used for small game then the larger 12 gauge loads may not be ideal for hunting with heavy loads, and may not pattern the best if hunting with lighter loads.
For instance a 20 gauge may not only suffice but may actually produce optimum results for the intended purpose.
Also if desiring to ever shoot patched round balls with it then a .615 caliber 20 gauge may be more enjoyable to fire than a .729 12 gauge.
Try to determine which is a better gauge for the intended purposes. The 12 gauge is probably better for bird hunting and shooting single clays, while a choked double barrel gun may be better for other hunting & sporting purposes.
Look into all of the options for each of the guns that are available.
Maybe something will be uncovered about which gun will perform better and be more suitable for the most applications of interest.
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