ITGUY wrote:
They mounted them on duck boats. Called a punt gun. Eventually banned for culling up to 90 ducks in one shot.
The 'record' (that I read) was 128 ducks with one shot. The shot-charge was 3 pounds of #1 shot. I do not recall the powder charge, but expect it was around 16 drams to 20 drams at 27.3grains per dram. That punt gun had a 1 1/2" bore - so it was quite close to a 1 pounder, ie: 1 bore, meaning 1 ball that size weighs a pound, ie: 7,000grains. 3 pounds of shot would, of course, weigh 21,000grains.
Many punt guns were mounted on a Pintle, or pinned mount in the boats, thus the boat & stock absorbed the recoil, not the man on the end of it. Many Pintle mounded punt guns only had pistol grips, not shoulder stocks.
The earlier muzzleloading punt guns had to be rowed back to shore for reloading. Later, in the 1870's and 80's, breech loading punt guns to 1 1/2" were made and they MADE a huge killing for the commercial market and probably were instrumental in the punt guns finally being outlawed for use on migratory game birds - at least here in Canada.
I've read that a range from 90 to 120yards was preferred to get the most birds. The aim was approximately 5' over the flock, then upon seeing the cloud of smoke, many of the birds would 'rise' into the shot cloud headed their way.
Black powder has a very low decibel level of report, thus although still probably destructive to the ear drums, would not produce the ringing that modern rifles do.
Those big guns that didn't have Pintles would likely weigh up to 90 pounds or so. The recoil would be quite hard, but not damagingly (?) so- maybe? One in the article above, noted to be 250pounds.
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.....definitely hearing protection required.....
