1863 Springfield converted to 20ga

[kennedy759]

thanks for the add, just wanted to share my one and only muzzle loader, a 1863 Springfield, dated 1864, barrel cut down to 32 inch, nipple converted to #11, barrel has the VP proof marks and 2 cartouches on the stock, ram rod has a wood insert. shoots great, still working up a good load, taking it trap shooting next week

 

[lelliott19]

@kennedy759 The gun guys will be along shortly to discuss your Springfield. I just wanted to say welcome to CivilWarTalk.

 

[7thWisconsin]

That lock is lovely. The 1863 was such a nice design.

 

[scooter748driver]

Welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.

 

[johan_steele]

Actually an M1864 (what the army called it at the time) & what collectors call a M1863 type 2. IMHO the M1864 was the finest muzzleloading arm ever adopted by any military. So many hit the surplus market post war and were turned into shotguns to continue their use.

They were common gunsmith student projects up into the 1960's. Today they are generally bought to be parted out for collectors to buy replacement parts or for gunsmiths to create custom jobs of a mix of original & repro parts for reenactors.

 

[JimW]

Actually an M1864 (what the army called it at the time) & what collectors call a M1863 type 2. IMHO the M1864 was the finest muzzleloading arm ever adopted by any military. So many hit the surplus market post war and were turned into shotguns to continue their use.

They were common gunsmith student projects up into the 1960's. Today they are generally bought to be parted out for collectors to buy replacement parts or for gunsmiths to create custom jobs of a mix of original & repro parts for reenactors.

I don't see evidence of the band spring that a 64 would have. while not a perfect mash up, it's pretty close, I can't see the stock being shortened to the point of eliminating the spring as the band on it now lines up pretty well with what would be the existing shoulder.

 

[plymouthairrifle]

I think it is great putting the old girl to use and enjoying her!

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy

 

[6thMichCav]

Terrific! I'm curious how the choke constriction measures, and let us know a score or two!

 

[kennedy759]

what choke? Ha

 

[Trooper "D"]

thanks for the add, just wanted to share my one and only muzzle loader, a 1863 Springfield, dated 1864, barrel cut down to 32 inch, nipple converted to #11, barrel has the VP proof marks and 2 cartouches on the stock, ram rod has a wood insert. shoots great, still working up a good load, taking it trap shooting next weekView attachment 490642View attachment 490643View attachment 490644

Are traps good eatin' this time of year? If I'm not mistaken they can be kinda stringy in the off season.

 

[Booner]

what choke? Ha

I would suspect that there is no choke in the barrel, and it's just cylinder bored. There is a way to put a choke into these barrels where the inside of the barrel is opened up (a slight increase in bore size) a few inches below the muzzle and then the bore tapers back to its' original caliber just before the muzzle. It's called "Jug Choking," and there is a guy in Arkansas who does this. The slight increase in bore size allows the shot collum to open and then it gets constricted just before the muzzle and that results in a tighter shot pattern. I think it's mainly used for turkey hunting fowlers (shotguns) where a tighter pattern of shot is wanted for longer shots.

Jug choking has its advantages. You can load the round without having to unscrew the choke to load, as in modern day chokes, and you can still shoot a roundball out of the jug choked gun.

 

[Conquerordie]

I'm guessing it was a Type 1 M1863 stock, the one with the screw tighten barrel bands like and Enfield. No spring would have been inletted into the stock. Those are usually dated 1863 I think, so maybe the lock is from another gun. Just parts used to make a servicable gun The band there was just put on when it was converted to a shotgun. A piece of Americana for sure