.58 caliber musket as a 24 guage shotgun ?

BluRidgDav · February 14, 2002, 10:45 AM

I hunt an area that has alot of squirrels, but rifles of any kind are prohibited. Blasting them with a 12 guage semi-auto doesn't appeal to me. So, before I spend another $500 on a double-barreled ML shotgun or flintlock fowler;

Anyone ever used a .58 caliber rifled musket as a 24 guage shotgun? My barrel is twisted very shallow & slow (1/72-80") so I don't think? the pellets will spin-out too bad. Lack of choke will probably also limit my range, but, how far? 20-25yds would be OK.

Anything else that might make this a bad idea?

Also, I'm having trouble finding .58 caliber / 24 guage wads to test my theory.

Thanx, Dave.

**Mike Irwin** · February 14, 2002, 12:59 PM

I've fired some shotloads out of my .50 TC Renegade flinter.

Results weren't at all good.

Your best bet is to take it to the range and try patterning it.

Salt · February 14, 2002, 01:38 PM

You got a great excuse to buy another gun. It may mean putting in some overtime in at work for the extra cash, but you will be glad you did when you take your ML shotgun or fowler home from the local gunshop.

ed mason · February 14, 2002, 08:39 PM

You might want to think about a 20 gauge because wads are all over the place.Ck out www.trackofthewolf.com

They have the best source of wads out there.

Also if you where thinking about shooting shot out of a already existing rifled muzzleloader forget about it.Patterns will stink big
time.The rifling puts a weird spin on the wad and causes the pattern to have a typical donut effect.That means all of your shot
is scattered outside of the center and there is a big hole in the center like a donut.
I have had a lot of experience shooting shotguns and just recently got a dbl barrel 12 gauge for turkey's.One thing you will find
out real quick is that fiber wads do not want to go down a barrel that has been choked very easily .For your squirrel hunting I
would suggest that you use plastic wads or go with a gun that has a open or Imp cly choke system.

I hope this can help you!

TC BEAR · December 20, 2015, 08:49 PM

I have a .58 cal. C.S. Richmond that I am about to start using as a shotgun. The difference between your musket and mine is that mine is smoothbore.
You can get the wads you need from a shop called Dixon's in Pennsylvania. (They have a web site.)
As to rifling, I agree with the others.
Think of it this way: What is the purpose of rifling? [It's to make the projectile rotate.]
Now, take a cup or bowl of water and start to swirl it. What's going to happen when the water swirls over the rim?
Same thing is going to happen with a bunch of shot exiting your muzzle.

**4V50 Gary** · December 20, 2015, 09:04 PM

I'd try to find an old muzzle loader that was converted to smoothbore.

swathdiver · December 20, 2015, 10:22 PM

If rifles of any kind are illegal, then shot or not, it seems to me that you would be using an illegal weapon to harvest game. You got rifling, you got a rifle.

Get the rifling out of the barrel and make it a true smoothy or get a smoothy barrel for it.

Am I missing something?

Hawg · December 20, 2015, 10:27 PM

The shot will follow the rifling and give a donut shaped pattern. The greater the range the bigger the hole in the middle.

February 14, 2002, 10:45 AM	#1
BluRidgDav Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 314	.58 caliber musket as a 24 guage shotgun ? I hunt an area that has alot of squirrels, but rifles of any kind are prohibited. Blasting them with a 12 guage semi-auto doesn't appeal to me. So, before I spend another $500 on a double-barreled ML shotgun or flintlock fowler; Anyone ever used a .58 caliber rifled musket as a 24 guage shotgun? My barrel is twisted very shallow & slow (1/72-80") so I don't think? the pellets will spin-out too bad. Lack of choke will probably also limit my range, but, how far? 20-25yds would be OK. Anything else that might make this a bad idea? Also, I'm having trouble finding .58 caliber / 24 guage wads to test my theory. Thanx, Dave. __________________ Watch your top-knot.

February 14, 2002, 12:59 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,382	I've fired some shotloads out of my .50 TC Renegade flinter. Results weren't at all good. Your best bet is to take it to the range and try patterning it. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 20, 2015, 08:49 PM	#5
TC BEAR Junior Member Join Date: December 20, 2015 Posts: 1	24 Gauge/.58 caliber I have a .58 cal. C.S. Richmond that I am about to start using as a shotgun. The difference between your musket and mine is that mine is smoothbore. You can get the wads you need from a shop called Dixon's in Pennsylvania. (They have a web site.) As to rifling, I agree with the others. Think of it this way: What is the purpose of rifling? [It's to make the projectile rotate.] Now, take a cup or bowl of water and start to swirl it. What's going to happen when the water swirls over the rim? Same thing is going to happen with a bunch of shot exiting your muzzle.

December 20, 2015, 09:04 PM	#6
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	I'd try to find an old muzzle loader that was converted to smoothbore. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 20, 2015, 10:22 PM	#7
swathdiver Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2012 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 335	If rifles of any kind are illegal, then shot or not, it seems to me that you would be using an illegal weapon to harvest game. You got rifling, you got a rifle. Get the rifling out of the barrel and make it a true smoothy or get a smoothy barrel for it. Am I missing something? __________________ “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” - Job 38:3

February 14, 2002, 01:38 PM	#3
Salt Junior member Join Date: December 26, 2001 Posts: 673	You got a great excuse to buy another gun. It may mean putting in some overtime in at work for the extra cash, but you will be glad you did when you take your ML shotgun or fowler home from the local gunshop.

February 14, 2002, 08:39 PM	#4
ed mason Member Join Date: October 23, 2001 Posts: 67	You might want to think about a 20 gauge because wads are all over the place.Ck out www.trackofthewolf.com They have the best source of wads out there. Also if you where thinking about shooting shot out of a already existing rifled muzzleloader forget about it.Patterns will stink big time.The rifling puts a weird spin on the wad and causes the pattern to have a typical donut effect.That means all of your shot is scattered outside of the center and there is a big hole in the center like a donut. I have had a lot of experience shooting shotguns and just recently got a dbl barrel 12 gauge for turkey's.One thing you will find out real quick is that fiber wads do not want to go down a barrel that has been choked very easily .For your squirrel hunting I would suggest that you use plastic wads or go with a gun that has a open or Imp cly choke system. I hope this can help you!

December 20, 2015, 10:27 PM	#8
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	The shot will follow the rifling and give a donut shaped pattern. The greater the range the bigger the hole in the middle.