Osage Roost
All Hunting => The Ol' Skinnin' Shack => Topic started by: Old Geezer on April 18, 2011, 08:41:34 AM
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I took the old Muzzleloader to Iowa and called in this boss gobbler and his buddy about 8:30 in the morning. He crossed in front of me at about five yards, drumming and moving in slow motion. When he moved away to 14 yards he turned his back to me. I raised my gun, gave him the "Hello" and dropped the hammer. They really stand up tall when you talk to them. He put on one heck of a show. 24lbs 14oz, 1 1/4" spurs and 10 1/4" beard.
Ralph
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/yelper_2006/010.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/yelper_2006/005-3.jpg)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k273/yelper_2006/008.jpg)
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All right Ralph, Congrats .... That's a big bird for sure!! Great Job!!!
Brent,
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Awesome bird Ralph! Love that last picture hanging in that Dogwood is absolutely awesome!
Mike
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Congrats Ralph on a fine Iowa turkeybird. Those darn birds out there grow BIG. Good job!
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That's a nice one Ralph. Congrats to ya.
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Man...gotta love it when they limb hang on their own, fabulous gobbler and a very cool gun--ole Dave from Blackfalcon would be proud and jealous. Congratulations *up*
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Man, they do grow'em big up there! Awesome hunt!
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Love that dogwood pic...Good bird...Congrats!
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Congratulations Ralph !
Andy
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That is a limbhanger for sure. Congrats! *up*
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aaaah---a LIMBHANGER.
That pic in the dogwood looks great !!!!!!
Congrats Ralph
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thats a stud bird
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Awesome bird! Congrats!
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Congrats, Ralph.....
That's a fine gobbler...... *up*
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Great job Ralph . Nice gobbler for sure ! *ride*
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Congrats Ralph !!!
... what a great hunt, a great gun, & a great gobbler - very cool pics indeed - outstandin' !!! ... *cheers* *cheers*
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Congrats Ralph..
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Awesome bird! Congrats!
X2 Roc *up* *up*
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Way to go Ralph...I love that s x s muzzle loader..You are the man. What size shot and powder charge did you use?
Charlie
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Congrats Ralph! *up* *up* *up* *up* Wish I had the nerve to use a front end loader. Guess I'll just stick w/ the 20 ga.
Bill
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Ralph - Congratulations on the darn fine bird, especially with a smokepole! Kyle
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My load for the muzzleloader was developed over about a year of trial and error. When I started I was lucky to get one pellet in the brain and neck bone at twenty five yards. the gun is cylinder bore in both barrels as is the case of guns of that era. Some shooters have had their old guns jug choked to improve patterns There you must have enough wall thickness in the barrels and I was not willing to go that route. I decided to see if I could build a load that would have a dense enough pattern with good penetration to kill a gobbler at a maximum range of 25 yards or less. My last seven gobblers have been taken at yards of ; 15, 15, 11, 17, 12, 24 and last 14. The last two with the old gun.
Anyway, I started trying traditional loads of different combinations of grains of powder, 1/8" card wads, cushion wads, equal volume of powder and over shot card. Nothing worked. I went and talked to many muzzle loading enthusiasts trying out their advice still no success. Then I saw that modern inline muzzle loaders were using plastic shot cups. Got some and cut them down, some improvement, still not there. Found Ballistics Products and ordered some of their wads. One that made an improvement in pattern was the unslit BP12. I custom cut it to hold 1 1/4" oz of shot and cut four slits 5/8" long in the sides. This cup also has raised parts around the OD which decreases friction and amount of plastic left in barrels. Next improvement came after trying all types and sizes of shot the best patterns were with #7 Nickel plated shot. Nickel plated shot has a harder than lead, outer skin that is much smoother than lead. When a bird is hit with NP shot it does not draw feathers into the hole like lead resulting in better penetration. I cut over shot wads from egg crates with an old 12 ga choke tube.
The final load which consistently puts six to seven pellets in the brain and neck bone and is 26" across at 25 yards uses 1 1/4 oz of shot with equal volume of FFg blackpowder. I always fire a cap into each barrel to make sure the nipples are clear and dry out any residue that might be left from cleaning. Then load the powder, followed by 1/8" card which acts as piston, then 1/2 lubricated cushion wad that also keeps the fire from melting the plastic cup, then cup and 1 1/4oz NP #7 shot, last the over shot wad.
In addition I ordered a hone and worked it through both barrels. I did not see an increase in pattern efficiency but noticed that it made the job of loading and cleaning easier. I can clean my gun faster than I can clean an single barrel inline gun. One thing I had not counted on was the way the gun has become an extension of myself. The process of loading, firing and cleaning have taken on new meaning.
Ralph
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Congratulations Ralph! Love the old guns, they were built for a life time of use and more, and I can certainly relate. Well done!!
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Great hunt! Thats a goodun for the ole memory chest! *up*