Hunting Turkey with a Smooth Bore Flintlock | Ask the Experts
Questions and answers from the Rocklock Enthusiasts Facebook Group
“Anyone turkey hunt with flintlock smooth bore ? Interested to know success, favorite load. I’ve never come up with any consistent load. I have a 62 cal. Cylinder bore..”
-Jeff Fox
This question from Daniel racked up about 70 comments over the weekend, many of them very helpful to new hunters, so we wanted to share them!
Here are some of the most informative comments from the post.
Photo from Ken Rupert Jr.
Ken Rupert Jr. - I shot this hen last fall, best I could do with lead was a 20-yard shot max. I recently shot a load of TSS #9 shot and added another 10 yards to my effective range. 90 grains 2F , 2 thin overshot cards, 711grains TSS 18cc , OSC
Paul Courtemanche 80 grains of 3f wasp nest wadding 1and1/4 oz. of 4-5-6 mix of short with overshot card. 25to 30 yards
James Genovese
James Genovese - Have not hunted any turkey yet but I do hunt pheasant and other upland birds with a smoke pole. My load is 68 gr of 1f Goex per oz of shot. That is the original "square load" BTW and what all shot shells are compared to today . (Drams Equivalents. i.e. the poop in these shell is the same as the above load. ) I load the same in a 12 ans 20 as well as my BP shot shells. Good pattern at 35-40 yds.
A photo from Michael Nicholson
Michael Nicholson- I have and do. I shoot 65 grains of FF, a cushion wad, card, 1 1/2 volume of #5 shot and a card over the shot. Shoot only after he turns to walk away.
Boyd Staley
Eugene Hornbeck- I have a 20 gag. Colerain turkey choke barrel 44 inches long 90 G 2f. 1 and a half ounce no 6 shot taken a lot of turkeys over the years it will get them an extreme long-range if needed. I use 3 card wads over powder 1 Overshot
Boyd Staley 12 gauge 42” barrel jug choke 100 grains 2f 2 oz of 6 shot
David Clifton- Every single season with my .62. I use 65gr of 2f felt wad 1oz of #5 then cardboard wad. Great pattern at 25yds
Everyone remembers, what works well in one gun may not work at all in another. Use the pattern board, discover the distance your gun will hold a turkey killing pattern and call the bird into that range. Then continue to experiment with your load until you find what your gun shoots best. Load development doesn’t have to be done in a day. Keep good notes. Eventually, you become thoroughly familiar with your gun and the loads it shoots best.
Enjoy the process, it’s all fun.
If you’d like to join in on the conversation, head on over to the Rocklock Enthusiasts Facebook Group! The group is open to anyone who is interested in Muzzleloaders and living history as long as they follow the rules.
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