Recommendations for smooth bore muskets

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  • Last Post 15 March 2025
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delmarskid posted this 09 March 2025

I have been tormenting myself with a craving for a smoothie flinter musket. I own and enjoy several rifles including a flint gun and several cap locks along with an evil in-line. Sometimes I get tired of shooting the perfect group and I just want to shoot something cool and noisy. I own a .715” and .735” mold so of course a bess loos good. Alright, I have my extinguisher handy. Been considering an Indian repro. There are many variations of the bess available and prices are in line with my budget. I’m open minded and thick skinned so don’t be afraid to discuss or instruct. Thanks

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Aaron posted this 09 March 2025

I have to cast my vote for the Pedersoli Brown Bess musket. While I do not own one, I have been on the fence about getting one. I shoot their 1853 Enfield and 1861 Springfield rifled muskets and am impressed with the overall quality of their products. Were I to fall off the fence, it would be for one of their Brown Bess muskets.

 

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Lucky1 posted this 10 March 2025

35 years ago I bought a Pedersoli Sea Service Musket (the shorter one) and like it enough I still have it. My first smoothbore for rendezvous. It shot really well with the .735 RB and about 75 grains of 2f Goex. My patch was tight pillow ticking so there wasn't much windage and that really made for surprising accuracy. The .715 was best for when speed was more important like a post cutting match but accuracy went down. Since then I added a 20 ga Gostompski trade gun, a Springfield musket bored out to 20 ga and a whopping big 4 bore flinter. Other really old ones that I don't shoot too. They're all interesting in their own ways. So go and have fun. I can attest that the trade gun and the Bess make for a great challenge deer hunting too.

Scott Ingle

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waksupi posted this 14 March 2025

Skip the India, lots of quality and safety issues with them.

You would enjoy a 20 bore a lot more if you are going to shoot much round ball. Those .700+ balls pack a good wallop on the hind end of the gun. 

If you have some minor skills, I would advise looking at the Kibler Fowler. If they go together as easily as his Woodsrunner (which I suspect they would), they would be well worth the consideration.

 

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linoww posted this 14 March 2025

Pat I Shoots quite a bit with smoothies. I hope he chimes un.

"if it was easy we'd let women do it" don't tell my wife I said that!

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longhunter posted this 14 March 2025

Go with a 20ga smooth bore.  Trade gun of good quality.

.600 round ball patched they shoot well. Contact me for more.

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

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pat i posted this 15 March 2025

Agree a 62 would be a much better choice. Dropping the money you're looking at I wouldn't let having a couple of molds make my decision on bore size. I have both a North Star and a NSW gun in 62 caliber and I love them both. If I was looking at a smooth bore now it would be a Kibler fowler again in 20 bore. I have one of Jim's SMRs and it's a gem. I can't see his fowler being any less of a gun and itll be something youre proud to own and in the long run isnt really that much more expensive for something youll probably own the rest of your life. From personal experience I've learned the old saying is true. Buy once cry once.

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Aaron posted this 15 March 2025

Buy once cry once.

 

Agree completely

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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Lucky1 posted this 15 March 2025

The 20 gauge trade guns and fowlers are the most pleasant to shoot and can do most everything a modern person wants to do. I agree that good quality is the key and the ones from India are just too hit or miss. And yes, you'll probably have them a long time. The 12 bores handle shot loads better if you want to tackle that challenge. The Bess is my favorite aquatic mammal blaster with a healthy load of buckshot. It's spectacular when you let it loose in the dark and the flames seem to go out forever.

Scott Ingle

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