mule ear sidehammer

[joe sixgun]

I recently aquired a Hart Colorado Sidehammer 12 ga. single barrel BP shotgun. Does anyone on this forum know anything about these guns?
I tried Google and got that info. I am looking for first hand knowledge.
Anyone have any?

 

[B.L.E.]

You probably have a custom gun built by Tom Hart of Canyon City CO.
He's a nice gentleman and a regular competitor in black powder trap and skeet. I usually get to shoot against him at the annual Red River Renegades shotgun shoot in Electra TX.

Pictures?

 

[orangello]

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f22/one-new-gun-month-show-n-tell-65170/index2.html

I am ignorant of the "mule ear", but this guy posted a pic of a .36 rifle he designed. Maybe he could tell you who made it or give you some info.

 

[joe sixgun]

Thank you gentlemen, your responses are appreciated. Photos to follow.(I hope)

 

[B.L.E.]

Now if you simply want a load for this gun, my suggestion is to find an empty .45-70 case.
Use that empty .45-70 case to measure both the powder and shot. This will be about 80 grains of FFg and 1-1/8 ounce shot.
I use a couple of hard card wads between the powder and shot and a thin card over the shot. Some folks use cushion wads but I get excellent patterns without them.
Pyrodex RS will do if you can't find real black powder.

 

[joe sixgun]

Thanks, B.L.E. so would an 80gr. powder measure work? I know dumb question.

 

[B.L.E.]

Sure it will.

A lot of the guys that shoot ml trap and skeet actually use a Lee adjustable shot dipper to measure their powder charges. These are marked in ounces of shot instead of grains of powder.
Many of them don't even know their powder charge in grains, but refer to their load as "ounces" of powder. I.E., "I'm using 1-1/8 ounces of powder and 1-1/8 ounces of shot."

 

[joe sixgun]

Thanks B.L.E. I can't wait to try this gun out. Just got to get to the shooting supply store for some shot. can you recommend a shot size? and will FFFg work in a shotgun? This is what I stock and use in both revolvers and rifles.

 

[B.L.E.]

I actually have used FFFg in a 12 gauge shotgun with good results, I just lower the charge down to 70 grains. Also, Swiss FFg is almost as hot as Goex FFFg so I load down a bit if I am using that powder.