Choosing your Gun
 
For the beginner the best choice of muzzle loading shotgun is the percussion gun, either single or double barrel, because of its simplicity and reliability.
 
Most muzzle loading shooters prefer to shoot original guns as there is a plentiful supply of good shooting guns in this country and they tend to handle much better than most reproduction guns.
 
In addition to this there is the pleasure of owning and shooting an antique gun and researching the history of your gun gives an added interest to the sport.

For those wishing to shoot flintlock guns, the reproduction muzzle loading shotgun is a good choice. An excellent example is the ‘Pedersoli Mortimer' which is reasonably priced and with a little fettling should prove to be both fast on ignition and reliable. Original flintlock guns suitable for shooting clay pigeons are now hard to come by, command a very high price and need lots of love and attention to keep them working reliably.

The best calibre of muzzle loading shotgun is between 15 and 11 bore. The larger bore guns (8 bore plus) are mainly used for wildfowling and tend to be heavy, have long barrels and are difficult to shoot at clay pigeons.
 
Guns of 12 bore have the advantage that wads and cards are readily available pre-cut from suppliers for those not wishing to make their own.

The condition of the gun is of far more importance than the quality i.e. the maker, so when looking at muzzle loading guns particularly at originals, go for one that has reasonable wall thickness of the barrel at the muzzle.
 
A useful tool is the bore light. These small lights may be placed down the barrel and will show the condition of the bore. Very few bores are perfect and a small degree of pitting can be tolerated. The barrel should be free from dents and other obvious defects.

Check for a positive lock action and that the half cock position is working, as this is a safety feature. It is of utmost importance that the nipple is screwed into the breech plug correctly. Replacement nipples can be obtained from antique gun suppliers.

The woodwork should be free from major cracks, especially around the wrist area. It is common for slight cracks to be found behind the lock plate, to the lock retaining screw hole and at the back of the tang. These cracks are mostly insignificant. It is a good idea, before purchasing your muzzle loading gun to seek advice from an experienced muzzle loading shotgunner.

As a final word on gun choice and the condition of any prospective gun, the Lakenheath Muzzle Loaders would always advocate that you seek expert opinion on any firearm prior to purchase and firing.