the barrel has been cut from 40 in to 32 in, otherwise I wouldThese are great candidates to restore back to military configuration. Reline the barrel, source an original stock, start shooting minies.
Many muskets after the Civil War were converted to shotguns and sold cheap.
In the OP's example, the barrel has been chopped. So you would need a new barrel, stock, and minor parts such as bands.These are great candidates to restore back to military configuration. Reline the barrel, source an original stock, start shooting minies.
If that load blows ‘donut hole’ patterns … where the center of the pattern has no shots in it, one cause of that is pellets impressing into the #3 lubricated 'cushion' wad. That makes that wad heavier, retaining energy and it flies through the group, blowing out the center of the pattern. A great way to cure it is to add a thin over shot wad on top of the cushion wad. I just tried this the other day and now my flintlock smoothie patterns great!1) powder
2) over powder wad
3) lubricated wad
4) shot
5) over shot wad.
There were 2 band muskets with shorter barrels. One easy example was the "Macon" conversion where the Confederate arsenal in Macon cut down battle damaged arms and reissued them.the barrel has been cut from 40 in to 32 in, otherwise I would
I go a different route, powder, plastic 1 1/8 shot cup/wad, shot, over shot wad. Also patterns great. Same thing with my tradegun.If that load blows ‘donut hole’ patterns … where the center of the pattern has no shots in it, one cause of that is pellets impressing into the #3 lubricated 'cushion' wad. That makes that wad heavier, retaining energy and it flies through the group, blowing out the center of the pattern. A great way to cure it is to add a thin over shot wad on top of the cushion wad. I just tried this the other day and now my flintlock smoothie patterns great!
So my loading sequence is:
1) Powder
2) Over powder or 'Nitro' wad (a hard disk wad to seal the powder)
3) 1/2 a lubricated cushion wad
4) Over shot wad
5) Shot
6) Over shot wad
Patterns amazing! But of course, there are zillion ways to load a MZL shotgun ...
There were 2 band muskets with shorter barrels. One easy example was the "Macon" conversion where the Confederate arsenal in Macon cut down battle damaged arms and reissued them.
When I finish my trade gun, I'm going to try it both with and without your #4.If that load blows ‘donut hole’ patterns … where the center of the pattern has no shots in it, one cause of that is pellets impressing into the #3 lubricated 'cushion' wad. That makes that wad heavier, retaining energy and it flies through the group, blowing out the center of the pattern. A great way to cure it is to add a thin over shot wad on top of the cushion wad. I just tried this the other day and now my flintlock smoothie patterns great!
So my loading sequence is:
1) Powder
2) Over powder or 'Nitro' wad (a hard disk wad to seal the powder)
3) 1/2 a lubricated cushion wad
4) Over shot wad
5) Shot
6) Over shot wad
Patterns amazing! But of course, there are zillion ways to load a MZL shotgun ...
Please be aware that donut patterns don’t show up on EVERY load or shot, sometimes only every 4 to 5 loads, so you really need to spend time with patterning paper.When I finish my trade gun, I'm going to try it both with and without your #4.
Not as a production item, but with a war going on, lots of damaged stuff got cut down, modified and put back into the fight.Those were 1842's and possibly some 1855's. As such a two band Springfield never officially existed.
Not as a production item, but with a war going on, lots of damaged stuff got cut down, modified and put back into the fight.
Evidently there were enough back during the War that the SAC (Small Arms Committee) of the N-SSA has sanctioned them for competition and there are some originals floating around. Some guys have built ones from parts and they're generally called "razeeds" in the N-SSA. That's not the correct term but the internal slang for a 2 band Springfield. Again, not a production item but not unknown either.I'm just saying there's no records that I know of of an 1861 or later Springfield being cut down. There are records of 1842's being cut down. I'm not saying it didn't happen but since there's no records I'm thinking they would be rare. Maybe by the time they came around there was no real need to.
The cool thing about shotguns is...they throw big old hunking heavy giant round balls. I probably shoot more round ball through my smooth-bores than I do shot loads.Not really into shotguns much myself
You haven't tried it though, have you?Sky Chief loads on another forum. To whit;
Powder charge
Nitro (hard) card
Shotload
Thin overshot card
Full fiber cushion wad*
*The cushion wad needs to be SATURATED (the wetter and heavier, the better) with oil. I like to use olive oil.”