It looks to me that we have two really good threads about m/l shotguns going at the same time. This is all to the good. IMHO "front feeder" shotguns do not always receive the attention that they deserve.
Mike makes a couple of good points.
First, fire hazard. Any black powder load poses at least a bit more of a fire hazard than most smokeless powder loads because b/p, being less efficient than smokeless powder and thus requiring more powder per load, tends to generate more unburned and burning powder as ejecta. Whether this additional fire hazard is significant or not may be a matter that has to do with specific situations. This consideration pertains to both m/l and cartridge guns.
Perhaps a matter that has more to do with fire hazard than powder is wadding. For example, I have seen people use shredded paper as wadding. This stuff works well but it also can generate smouldering "confetti" that can be very bad news in dry conditions. Similar problems can result from the use of felt or fiber wads that are placed directly over a powder charge without an OP wad. This consideration, too, pertains to both m/l and cartridge guns. It also pertains to both b/p and smokeless powder loads.
You also make a good point about "feeding" c/b shotguns. These guns often operate under somewhat different "rules" than "choked" shotguns. In my experience, c/b shotguns, whether b/p or smokeless or m/l or b/l, tend not to like being "pushed too hard" if maximum pattern density is to be achieved, especially when plastic wads are not used ( as they most likely should not be when b/p is the chosen propellant). Hard shot can help but the old saying, "Much powder, little lead, shoots fast, much spread. Little powder, much lead, shoots far, kills dead" tends to be the watchword, in this case. Velocities of around 1100 f.p.s., or less (sometimes much less), seem to work the best along with shot loads that are approximately 1/8 to 1/4 ounce heavier and at least one shot size larger than would most likely be used in choked guns.
I suspect that V. M. Starr achieved this kind of a result when he used relatively large charges of slow-burning Fg powder that most likely have helped to keep wad columns intact and shot deformation at a minimum. Of course, old V. M. tended to use choked guns, too. Thus, his overall recommendation of "bulk for bulk" loads [or, perhaps, "shading" the loads in favor of shot as has been recommended elsewhere] is probably the best way to go for c/b guns.
Also, in spite of the fact that old V. M. was m/l's "jug choke guru" he also had good things to say about c/b guns, too. There is nothing to fear from properly "set up" and used c/b guns. In fact c/b guns may be the best, overall, for most conditions and shooters. The old British saying, "Who tightens his choke lightens his [game] load" might have relevance, here. Too, c/b guns tend to work much better than choked guns when "punkin balls" or buckshot are the projectiles of choice.
Last edited by Dingelfutz; 02/27/09 01:26 PM.
