Thread on birdshot in ROA?

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Tallbald

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The search feature is not working for me when I search for threads either started by or responded to by me, and I think quite a way back I asked for input on using my ROA's with a small shot charge to handle rabbits and other varmints eating our garden to pieces. Tired of replanting several times a season, (tried human urine, hair, tighter fencing, etc.) I'm ready to get more ruthless. I live in a county subdivision and can let loose with an ROA, but really don't want to use ball. Anyone remember the posting and could they offer a link? Thanks, Don
 
I have fired buckshot with my Remington New model Army. It's kinda like having 6 .22 LR rounds hit all at once. That stuff pretty good in that gun! I haven't tried birdshot yet, but that would probably work just fine. I have tried birdshot in my .22 cap and ball, I'd imagine that with a .45 it would be pretty devastating given you used Triple Seven. The shot pattern will spread quickly, but at 10 feet it should be just fine. I think you should use a ball, maybe with ten grains if noise is an issue. I'd personally go with a ball, but for critters up close shot would probably do just fine.
 
I have used half a cylinder of black powder then a 45 cal gas check then fill to level with no. 9 shot then cap with another 45 cal bas check. I have never patterned this and have never shot it very far but is instant death on rats.
 
Because of the rifling in the barrel you'd need to be pretty well up close and personal to the rabbits or other varmints. Shot from an ROA would be much like shot rounds from any other revolver in that way. I understand from reading the results from others that the shot gets a spin from the rifling which tends to make it pattern in a donut like manner.

Frankly I suspect that the varmints would skeedaddle by the time you're that close. So it comes down to traps and/or a combination of traps and some .22 work I suspect. And .22 shots from a rifle tend to be quiet as well. Another plus. Especially if you find that .22short works pretty good on most of them.
 
At five paces, the pattern opens up considerably... In my case, a circle that just barely fits on the silhouette of a B27 target. That's ~15-20gr of BP, topped with an equal or preferably greater amount of 8 shot. Lubed wad between powder and shot, wad over the top of the shot to hold it in. I'd say that the shot density is a problem at that range, if you are trying to hit and kill varmints. The shot is starting to get fewer and farther between.

*Using an 1860 Army.

FWIW, they also make cartridge shotshells for a number of common calibers. Not worth much at any range, but up close they can be effective. Remember to check the pattern, it will open up rapidly after it leaves the muzzle.
 
I've fired bird shot from my Colt 44 C&B. The patterns are doughnut shaped. As I recall they leave an empty hole about 12" in diameter, surrounded by a ring of hits, from about 10 feet. Whatever the doughnut size, I deemed it largely worthless. I was using various shot cards and wads, as one might use in a shotgun. The gas check idea sounds interesting, between the powder and shot, but you only need an over-shot card to hold the shot in. I never had any come loose under recoil. Try it anyway, to see how it patterns from your gun. Who knows; maybe vary the charge and the shot load and something might actually work. Since the Colt has an easily removable barrel, it has occurred to me to get another barrel and ream one of them out to smooth bore. Why, I don’t know. It merely occurred to me.
 
That would be cool to have a choked Colt barrel, maybe with a good tight choke for shooting shot. Of course it being a blackpowder firearm and NOT a cartridge gun there wouldn't be the whole ATF short barreled shotgun stuff you'd have to deal with as long as no cartridge conversion cylinder is added. They make plenty of smoothbored muzzleloading pistols, so it shouldn't be restricted. Being choked it wouldn't be good for solid projectiles given the pressures, but for shot that would be great! In fact once I get a Colt I might try making a shot barrel for it.

You know it always occurred to me, to get around the short barreled shotgun thing couldn't they just make straight rifling or rifling with a very slow twist? I do believe that wouldn't be considered a short barreled shotgun given it's got rifling, I don't think it will matter if it's straight or not. I know that they have .410 revolvers, that would probably be a great little loophole around the law.

~Levi
 
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