MuzzleLoading Shotguns
A Muzzleloading shotgun or “Fowling Piece” is any smoothbore firearm designed or used to fire shot or pellets, into which the propellant usually Black Powder and shot / pellets are loaded from the muzzle (open end of the gun’s barrel) of the shotgun .
Muzzleloading shotguns can be either single or double barreled and generally fall into two main categories; Percussion and Flintlock although historically Wheellock, Matchlock and other designs were used.
Double Barrel Flintlock Shotgun
Single Barrel Percussion Shotgun
Generally Muzzleloading Shotguns are loaded by first loading a measured charge of powder from a flask or powder horn, but can also be loaded from a pre-measured bag or paper cartridge . The powder is typically black powder but cleaner burning substitutes like Pyrodex are available for the modern Muzzleloader.
Next an overpowder card is used to secure the powder and prevent it from flashing through the shot column, followed next by a cushion wad that works the same as the spring section of a modern shot shell wad. A measured amount of shot is then loaded, often measured as the Equal Volume as the powder charge. Lastly an over shot card is loaded to hold the shot in place.
Black Powder Equal Volume Shot Loads
Drams of powder… Grains of Powder… Ounces of Shot
2------------------------------ 55.0--------------------------3/4
2 ¼--------------------------- 62.0--------------------------7/8
2 ½ ---------------------------68.0-------------------------- 1
2 ¾ -------------------------- 75.0--------------------------- 1 1/8
3 ------------------------------ 82.0-------------------------- 1 1/4
3 ¼ -------------------------- 89.0 ---------------------------1 3/8
3 ½--------------------------- 96.0 -------------------------- 1 1/2
3 ¾ -------------------------- 102.0--------------------------1 5/8
4 ----------------------------- 109.0 ------------------------- 1 3/4
4 ¼ -------------------------- 116.0 --------------------------1 7/8
4 ½ -------------------------- 123.0 ------------------------- 2
4 ¾ -------------------------- 130.0-------------------------- 2 1/8
5 ----------------------------- 137.0 ------------------------- 2 1/4
Loading and shooting a percussion shotgun
