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To get, say 1,550fps with a 14 bore, you'll need 155 to 165gr. 2f powder. This charge is Ok to shoot with a 480gr. ball, whereas, for instance, a 600gr. ball shot from a large 12 or 11 bore, will require 200gr. to get the same speed. Recoil is the deciding factor. Most agree that 9 to 9 1/2 pounds is a good hunting weight. In order to reduce the recol to the same comfortable level of the 14, the 12 or 11 bore would have to be 12 pounds or more. More powder plus more ball weight, while being the better killer, just kicks too much for most people to shoot accurately and this recoil usually prevents serious practise which is necessary to become familiar with the rifle over different ranges.

The 14 bore is easy enough to shoot that I use it for rendezvous conpetition shooting when I want to seriously contest for first place - it seldom lets me down.

I have a buddy with a .75 rifle, similar to my 14 bore. Both guns weigh the same and mine is easy to shoot, while his gets used only for hunting as it recoils too much. To deliver good accuracy, both guns demand to be fed a decent charge and the most he's comfortable shooting in his 9 pound rifle, is 130gr. This only gives him about 1,250fps with the 600gr. ball, and his drop at all ranges is more, demanding more accurate range doping even at fairly close ranges.

After using this .75 calibre gun for some 20 yards, many years it's the only gun he used for deer, elk and moose, he's of the opinion he should have had my bro make him a 14 bore instead just because it's powerful enough and is much easier to shoot well. Although his gun has more power, it's more difficult to shoot and not as accurate as it wants more powder for equivalent accuracy, which is more than he's capable of handling. Reducing the charge makes it easier to shoot, with about 1/3 more drop at any range in comparrison. With the 14, judge a deer as 100yds. when it's actually 120, even holding in the middle and you'll end up with a low or mid heart shot with a centre hold. The same scenario with the .75, and the ball will miss low, just barely punch the brisket or hit a leg, both of which are bad wounding shots. On a moose, the difference isn't as noticable due to the huge kill zone, however, add another 40 yards and adequate accuracy begins to enter the equation. Although the .75 is quite powerful enough on any continent, much more than necessary for N.A., the gun quite literally kicks too much to use an appropriate charge to maintain accuracy, so he reduces the charge and limits his range. My 14 bore as it's loaded is good to at least 200 on ungulates & has the power and accuracy for even farther shooting which has been demonstrated quite often.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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