Does anyone own/shoot one of those Funneled Pilgrim Shotguns?

Jamie Young · December 27, 2001, 04:01 PM

What was the point of these shotguns? I'm talking about the ones you always see the Pilgrims with.

And the one Elmer Fudd chased Bugs Bunny with.

Can you get something like that these days?

SDC · December 27, 2001, 04:06 PM

I don't shoot blackpowder (too messy for my liking), but you're thinking of what is normally caled a "blunderbuss". There are still a few reproductions of these made (mainly in Italy), and the point of the "bell" at the muzzle wasn't to spread the shot pattern out, but to make it quicker to load; since you had that wide muzzle to work with, you could just drop in your powder charge, then follow it with whatever size of shot you wanted.

bastiat · December 27, 2001, 04:07 PM

Quote:

And the one Elmer Fudd chased Bugs Bunny with.

And if anybody knows where I can get the double barrel pump shotgun that moe the bartender uses in 'the simpsons', let me know. I'm planning on going pheasant hunting next year and need all the help I can get.

Jamie Young · December 27, 2001, 04:14 PM

Well I need one for a Sporting Clays Tournament I've entered in next month.

KSFreeman · December 27, 2001, 05:09 PM

The bell mouth helps you reload as you skip through woods communing with nature.

I bought one this fall with help from the fine folks at TFL no less. Where else can you go and people will show you, for no fee, where to spend your cash?

hksigwalther · December 27, 2001, 05:34 PM

"And the one Elmer Fudd chased Bugs Bunny with."

The interesting part is that he had seemed to be using caseless ammo.

Dave McC · December 28, 2001, 07:45 AM

Those blunderbusses were the original Coach gun. Besides the increased speed of reloading possible, the larger diameter had some deterrent effect when pointed at a highwayman or other perp. They were also used as boarding guns by pirates,privateers and Euro Navies.

Most ran between .69 Caliber(16 gauge) and one inch bore diameter, and had bbls, oft made of brass for sea duty, between 12-16". Almost all were flintlocks, by the time percussion locks are available, the bell mouthed wonders weren't fashionable.

The usual load was about 6 "Small pistol bullets", 40-70 gr of coarse musket powder, and whatever wadding material was available. Effect was probably about what a modern 12 ga 000 load would do.

December 27, 2001, 04:01 PM	#1
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Does anyone own/shoot one of those Funneled Pilgrim Shotguns? What was the point of these shotguns? I'm talking about the ones you always see the Pilgrims with. And the one Elmer Fudd chased Bugs Bunny with. Can you get something like that these days? __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

December 27, 2001, 04:06 PM	#2
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,652	I don't shoot blackpowder (too messy for my liking), but you're thinking of what is normally caled a "blunderbuss". There are still a few reproductions of these made (mainly in Italy), and the point of the "bell" at the muzzle wasn't to spread the shot pattern out, but to make it quicker to load; since you had that wide muzzle to work with, you could just drop in your powder charge, then follow it with whatever size of shot you wanted. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

December 27, 2001, 04:14 PM	#4
Jamie Young Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: SE/PA Posts: 4,834	Well I need one for a Sporting Clays Tournament I've entered in next month. __________________ Find out about Gun Shows and Training activities. www.TheRallyPoint.org Get your gun club involved!!

December 27, 2001, 05:34 PM	#6
hksigwalther Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: NE OH, USA Posts: 3,198	"And the one Elmer Fudd chased Bugs Bunny with." The interesting part is that he had seemed to be using caseless ammo. __________________ - Ron V.

December 27, 2001, 05:09 PM	#5
KSFreeman Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: Lafayette, Indiana--American-occupied America Posts: 5,418	The bell mouth helps you reload as you skip through woods communing with nature. I bought one this fall with help from the fine folks at TFL no less. Where else can you go and people will show you, for no fee, where to spend your cash?

December 28, 2001, 07:45 AM	#7
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Those blunderbusses were the original Coach gun. Besides the increased speed of reloading possible, the larger diameter had some deterrent effect when pointed at a highwayman or other perp. They were also used as boarding guns by pirates,privateers and Euro Navies. Most ran between .69 Caliber(16 gauge) and one inch bore diameter, and had bbls, oft made of brass for sea duty, between 12-16". Almost all were flintlocks, by the time percussion locks are available, the bell mouthed wonders weren't fashionable. The usual load was about 6 "Small pistol bullets", 40-70 gr of coarse musket powder, and whatever wadding material was available. Effect was probably about what a modern 12 ga 000 load would do.