As to accuracy with the smoothbore

- The larger the ball, the longer will usually be it's usefull accuracy range. This is a general statement. Few 12 bore flintlock shooters I've observed display such accuracy. Shinking from the 'manifestation of the charge' being the main reason (flinching). Of course, the best accuracy obtainable with a smoothbore is caused by the same reasons as in a rifle. Accuracy is in direct relation to it's charge and manner of loading, ie: diameter of ball, thickness of patch, lubricant used and powder charge developed to show that gun's best results.

In testing we've easily made many diagrams (groups) of 5 or more shots at 25 yards with 20 bore smoothbores, that run 1" in diameter - this with only the blade front sight- usually a small, low silver 'turtle' sight and using the 'hump' of the tang as the rear sight indicator. Some smoothbore shooters use the tang screw as an rear indicator for centre, but with my aging eyes that is invisible. For me, the top flat has to be sufficient.

Many smoothbores seem to have a habit of sending downrange, the odd 'flyer' - way out of the group. Whatever causes this is anyone's guess - perhaps something to do with weak patch combinations, too thin for consistancy. Using what we've learned about smoothbore accuracy, I've been able, with one particular 20 bore smoothbore, to make a 5 shot diagram of 3" at 50 yards. This is not common accuracy as most shooters will not be able to load the powder, ball/patch combination we've found necessary to procure such accuracy. My brothers/ 1728 Bess, with it's .774" bore and using a .740" ball along with a .030" denim patch, have been able to reduce this to 2 1/2" at 50 yards, but sending a 600gr. ball downrange with 100gr. 2F GOEX quickly becomes tiring shot off a bench. This particular 'Bess' dispatched a moose at 100 yards range - perfect hit ending up under the hide on the off side. 1 step and it was over. Simple math shows this gun's favourite and accurate load combination measures .800", therefore requiring .026" compression (.013" per side) to fit into the bore. There are not many shooters who load this tightly with rifles, let alone smoothbores. We find it loads easy. Many don't. The muzzle's gentle radiused crown allows such loading. A short starter is necessary. No, they didn't use short starters way back when - they didn't have the accuracy we have today, either.

100 yards shooting with smoothbores for many, becomes a 'hail Mary shot'. Being able to hold 8" to 10" is a sometimes thing, yet I've done it with a ctg. shotgun and round balls, but rarely with smoothbore muzzleloaders and not for the lack of trying. On the other hand, I've seen smoothbore shooters at rendezvous who shoot nothing but their smoothbores (refrain from shooting rifles), who with their smoothbores, push rifle scores all the way out to 125 yards and generally post scores on steel silhouette targets that rival the rifle scores and as happened last year, trounce the rifle scores entirely for 1st and 2nd places. We who shoot mostly rifles, are grateful the scoring is kept separate - yet, those smooth shooters shot little ones, only 20 bores.

A smoothbore therefore and only with good management, can have an effective range of 100 yards, but to do so, usually requires that the shooter use nothing else, becoming proficient in it's feeding and knowing where to hold the 'eye' (rear sight) to make such close hitting possible. This is why most smoothbores fall from grace at much closer ranges - 45 to 75 yards being the normal maximums, depending on the expertise of the shooter. They are capable of better, but few will spend the time and powder to do this.