doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Something for you old timers, black powder duck sh

Excellent video. I've killed mallards in the Bayou Meto. Tough, tough place to hunt ducks. But, hugely satisfying on a good morning.

Having killed a limit of doves with an original 16 ga. muzzleloading double I can very much appreciate his satisfaction at taking a brace of greenheads with his.

Thanks for posting the video Mike.

As a black powder enthusiast, I thank you.

I have posted this before, but ...

Just a story to warm my heart. Some years ago, I was acquired by a Quality II L. C. Smith in 10 gauge that was made at the old plant.
I feel that she is one of the last hammerless made at the Syracuse plant. She has damascus steel barrels that are beautiful to look at.
One day she and I were involved in a gentle warm discussion and she asked me if I would take her duck hunting.
I tried to explain that the rules had changed and now steel shot was required and smokeless powder was the norm.
She looked at me with that special way that only she can do and said "Please, please." Well, no way that I could say no to "Her Sweetness."

So what is a fella to do. I found 25 Alcan all brass shotshell hulls that take the 57 size primers.
I made a sizing die to insure they might fit into her sleek chambers. She was really excited when I showed her the brass hulls.
She said she remembered the days when brass and also paper hulls were very common. Wow, is she pretty when she smiles.
Now, I found some 1F black powder, and some 10 gauge over shot wads. I also bought some MEC 10 gauge steel wads which I cut off to the correct length to fit into the alcan hulls.
I talked it over with her and said I would only be using #3 steel pellets to insure she would not get swollen. She sure did appreciate that.
So, I combined the hulls, primers, dipper load of 1F black, cutoff MEC wad, same dipper of #3 steel shot and topped it off with an over shot wad and Elmer's glue around the edge.
I did insure the shot volumn was a little smaller that the wad volumn to insure all the shot stayed in the wad during the travel down the barrels.

I showed the finished cartridges to her and wow, did she shine with joy. Well now we made a date to go to the duck blind.
I was so proud to show her off to my buddies, I mean who would not brag if his special gal would get up and go so early in the morning.
Well, here came the test, I caressed her and THEN here came the ducks and it an instant, she was up and spoke with authority and power.
Smoke was everywhere, but when it cleared TWO green head mallards were feet up on the water.
WHAT A JOY. She has told me things that she has kept in her heart for years. She and I have grown closer and closer.
We often just gaze at each other and smile. She does wonder if any of her old girlfriends out there hunt any more. I did assure her that I would find out.

Enjoy the hunt,

skeettx
Great story, it just "made" my morning. I don't even like black powder (or steel shot) but the way you told the story almost changed my mind. I am happy to find out all the good writers haven't died after all.
Mike

Nice!

I have an old Elsie (actually a couple, one even has ears) and I have wondered about using it on game and ducks would be a great re-entry for it.

Now...if I could just get an old duck boat to float and an even older duck boat motor to run (to the point where I'd trust them both again).

I have a Westley Richards 8 gage single that dates somewhere around 1850 I would think. I bought it from a Kent UK wildfowler who said it did go out and worked on the marshes with him.

i use an Osagian Missourian canoe
17 long and square stern, with a Johnson outboard

It drafts but one inch of water and gets me where I want to go

https://www.osagian.com/products/17-fisherman-3

I quit using my percussion shotguns when the non-toxics became mandatory. Never shot ducks in wooded areas, but it looks like lots of fun! I see he spit down the barrels to clear some fouling and make loading a bit easier. I used to just chew on the overpowder wads a bit for a little more uniformity. Where loading becomes tough is when you are standing in deep water. Can be done, but you have to stick the butt inside your beltless chest waders. This is where small leather powder and shot flasks and a capper become handy.

The only black powder firearm I have ever shot was a Colt 1860 New Model Army. Great fun!! I have never had any experience with a black powder long arm other than to hold a Hawken and put it to my shoulder. After seeing this and reading these stories I may just reward myself on my 76th birthday next month with a black powder shotgun, probably a Pedersoli, unless an original of some sort pops up. Thanks for the post guys.