I will apologize to begin this, if this topic is an overdone one. Been shooting since the early 1960s. I handload, and at times have reconditioned guns. Never ever have I shot a blackpowder pc. Not once! Or handled a loaded BP. It�s been one of those projects that always seems to get put on the back-burner. I love the look and feel of these fine guns, just never got around to doing it. Came very close this Summer in the U.P., but the Heavens opened up with rain for two days. I'm making this my Spring project.

Now, maybe a bit of not so quite "newbee" typical question. I would like to start out with a good exposed hammer double. Is this a wise decision? We shoot clays a great deal, and maybe would like to load for Geese. Two, how much wallet damage will a fairly good to fine gun be? I read in a 1869 publication, a good shotgun could run you as high as $18.00. I assume they have gone up from since then.

Scott

A BP double shotgun should be a lot of fun. I believe Navy Armys once sold a double that had full choke tubes, primarily as a turkey gun, but such a rig would also be great for geese. Don't know if they still offer this gun. Get a Dixie Gun Works catalog, and also check out the Navy Arms website. I also believe Pedersoli sells double shotguns. I have a Pedersoli double .54 Kodiak rifle. Quality is very high!!

The Navy Arms shotguns were primarily Pedersoli's
I think they are the main manufacturer of Percussion shotguns, I believe Pieta also makes or made them and from some of their revolvers I'd pass. At any rate I recently bought a used
Pedersoli 10 ga. from this site it has the same stock as thier Kodiak double rifle, chrome lined
bores and removeable chokes and a very nice straight grained Walnut stock. I think you'll be quite suprized how effective BP shotguns are, My first was a rusty old 140 yr. old original no name American 10 ga. double my best friend who is veteran shotguner (smokeless) said mine was an Elmer Fudd shotgun we went trap shooting and I waxed him, I was quite suprized how much reach the old girl had with it cyl. bores, I bought the Pedersoli as mine has some pitting making it
somewhat of a fouler, and the ancient Damasus barrels caused me some concern. At any rate Navy
arms no longer sells shotguns, but I believe Dixie does as well as any number of smaller BP oriented sites and most of them are more reasonable than DGW.
Regards fredj

Thanks for the response. Sounds like this will be a fun project, and maybe fruitful hunting too. Have requested a Dixie catalog. You never know with shotguns. One of the most requested shooter we have out here is an exposed hammer .410 single for hitting informal clays.

Thanks for the responses. My normally reliable personal shooting advisor (good buddy) is adamantly against BP shotguns, and am getting no help in this area.

Stopped by Cabella�s today to check out strictly Black Powder guns today. Was handed a Pedersoli 10 Gauge, and almost put the thing through a glass topped counter. Hahahhahahhahaha Wasn�t ready for the wt. difference, for it looked just like a lightwt French dbll I used to own.

Was a bit taken back by the price, but after the initial sticker shock began to appreciate the craftsmanship. Most certainly liked a Pedersoli 20 G, but it did not have "excellent" folding V sights like the 10 and 12 gauges. I�m assume, these guns can be used to shoot solid loads too. Like a musket. I may be wrong. Now in doing a bit more research, and your help, I�ve found an odd point. Pedersoli seems to be the only manufacturer of authentic BP shotguns, and even odder, Pedersoli�s website indicates they do not sell or produce them. Dixie Gun Works sells them, and I held several brand new ones today. So, I know they make them.

Questions. Can these shoot a single projectile farily accurately? Are there other manufactures of traditional BP shotguns which won�t include putting a second mortgage on my home?