bladesmith 1
New member
I had shot muzzleloaders since around 1970. I usually shot pistol and some rifle on the national range. Then I made up a trap gun and we'd shoot trap at night under the lights, always using fiber wads. Down there they wouldn't allow plastic wads. Anyways, fast forward to around 2005 and my interest in old American made Damascus barreled SxSs. One time, maybe 10 years ago my friend and I decided to shoot smoke at an event- he with plastic wads, me with fiber. Well I must say his SxS looked awfull funny with all the plastic " snakes " growing out of the end of his barrels after a 100 shots. He had been complaining how it seemed to kick more. You couldn't hardly see down the barrels they were so full of plastic. All those little plastic worms wiggling around in there. Man, I bet his chokes really increased. He said it took him over an hour to clean them.
In that trap gun I made I jug choked it to shoot tighter patterns. I did it at work where I had the time, because it took plenty the way I did it. You want to increase the bore diameter. I did it with a split wooden rod and emery paper wrapped around the rod and spin it with a electric hand drill. You go back in about 7" and make it bigger coming toward the muzzle for 5", then it's back to bore diameter again. This gives the shot a chance to open up, then when it's forced back to bore diameter, it's like a choke acting on it. With a jug choke the bore isn't smaller at the muzzle making it harder to load. It may not work if you have chrome lined bores. First I'd try some home made paper unslit [ or just maybe two slits ] wads. Be a lot easier and less time consuming. Just how far do you want tight patterns, how tight, and what will you be shooting ? JMHO, but if you're gonna shoot plastic wads in a MLer, you might just as well shoot a modern gun. No offense mind you. Good luck. Paul
In that trap gun I made I jug choked it to shoot tighter patterns. I did it at work where I had the time, because it took plenty the way I did it. You want to increase the bore diameter. I did it with a split wooden rod and emery paper wrapped around the rod and spin it with a electric hand drill. You go back in about 7" and make it bigger coming toward the muzzle for 5", then it's back to bore diameter again. This gives the shot a chance to open up, then when it's forced back to bore diameter, it's like a choke acting on it. With a jug choke the bore isn't smaller at the muzzle making it harder to load. It may not work if you have chrome lined bores. First I'd try some home made paper unslit [ or just maybe two slits ] wads. Be a lot easier and less time consuming. Just how far do you want tight patterns, how tight, and what will you be shooting ? JMHO, but if you're gonna shoot plastic wads in a MLer, you might just as well shoot a modern gun. No offense mind you. Good luck. Paul