Taking my 10 gauge muzzleloader shotgun to shoot clays this weekend. Really never shot clays before. Do I want cylinder choke or a little tighter?

Smokin.50 will have answers for you. Either wait for him to see this or pm him. Nice guy and loads of knowledge. I have seen him shoot his 10gauge at clays before.

Might want to go improved cylinder or even a modified choke but honestly, I have no experience with 10 gauge shotguns or muzzle loaders. I use a modified choke on my Mossy500 field and use no choke on my HD Mossy500 to bust clays.

 

BTW, where are you going to shoot clays this weekend? I might pass by the Clay Target Club Thursday after work for a few rounds.

Rob,

 

Either choke will work fine IF you don't let the clay get too far away from you.  So you should try to break them "on the way UP", since when they get out there far enough to drop out of the sky, your pattern is really well dispersed (thin) and the clay could sail right through it without a visible chip coming off of it (which is scored as a HIT, the same as "dusting" the bird).  I usually use the Cylinder-bore side of my 10 ga. double, since it's easier to load all of the wads repeatedly.  If your Pedersoli is like mine, the left side is about "Improved Cylinder", so no radical difference in the patterns between the two exist, especially at muzzleloading distances.

 

I've found that 1 5/8 oz. of 7.5 shot does pretty well on clays.  You can use up to 2.0 oz of shot, but the gun likes anything between 1 1/2 oz. and 1 7/8 oz.  The more shot you use, the more recoil with any given qty of black powder, AND the more dense your pattern will become.  There's a "magic balance" of shot pattern density vs. load speed (heavier loads move slower), and any lead you give the bird has to be adjusted based upon this and many other factors.  "Magnumizing" a black power muzzleloader by using more powder in an attempt to get the shot charge to move significantly faster usually results in patterns with "doughnut holes" where most of the shot is dispersed at the edges of the pattern since the force of the excessive charge drives the buffered shot wad through the shot column as it exits the muzzle.  So a clay can fly completely unscathed right through what would normally be a direct hit.  This doesn't happen with centerfire shotguns since all manufactured shotgun ammo uses plastic "shot wads" that hold the shot in place as velocities reach 1200-1700 fps.  The wad doesn't get a chance to "blow through" the shot column since the plastic wad is built like a cup.  The use of any shot cups in muzzleloading competitions is verboten since the user would be at a distinct advantage (able to use more powder and still get a good pattern). 

 

Just like in rifle shooting, with the Holy Black it's all about the science, and once mastered, you overcome the obstacles and just enjoy it all the more!

 

I'll have some extra supplies with me, but as I'm also lending my scattergun to another member, please remember to bring everything you were given when you bought the gun.  I'm going to Dixon's this Saturday for the Fair, and will be picking-up more 7.5 shot and a pkg. of Ox-Yoke 10 ga. lubed wonder wads.  

 

See ya on Sunday at the Farm!

 

Rosey