Hopkins & Allen underhammer pistol.

Gtrubicon · Oct 29, 2024

Just stumbled into this over the weekend. I don’t think it was shot much. It’s got a mismatched replacement screw and the bluing was scrubbed off about a 3” section of the barrel. It’s a .45 cal. Looking for starting load info and proper disassembly information. I came up with .445 across the lands, is a .440 gonna need a mallet to get it going? Thanks for your help.

Nobade · Oct 30, 2024

I have one of those. It shoots best with light loads, 15gr or so. A .440" ball works fine, though my rifle version likes a .433" ball. You can try both to see what is better. Disassembly is simple - unhook the trigger guard from the hammer and remove the two screws. I am planning on reshaping the grip on mine, too much palm swell. But it does shoot quite well and is very effective on rabbits.

Rifleman1776 · Oct 30, 2024

Gtrubicon said:
is a .440 gonna need a mallet to get it going?

It may. I used to sell H&A undies. Most needed a .433" ball. That is what I used in mine.

springfield art · Oct 30, 2024

Gtrubicon said:
Just stumbled into this over the weekend. I don’t think it was shot much. It’s got a mismatched replacement screw and the bluing was scrubbed off about a 3” section of the barrel. It’s a .45 cal. Looking for starting load info and proper disassembly information. I came up with .445 across the lands, is a .440 gonna need a mallet to get it going? Thanks for your help.

I'm up for one of those; you really shouldn't have to "mallet" anything! They're fun!

springfield art · Oct 30, 2024

I gotta get one! Had one of the plastic-grip ones many years ago; want one just like that! By 'that', I mean the wood handled one shown.

garypl · Oct 30, 2024

I have one that I love to shoot. A patched .440 ball is very tight so I have been loading 20 gr 3F with a Durofelt wad soaked in olive oil on top of the powder followed by a bare ball - shoots great at 15-20 yards!

Gtrubicon · Oct 30, 2024

My barrel has zero crown, is this the norm for these pistols?

Nobade · Oct 31, 2024

Gtrubicon said:
My barrel has zero crown, is this the norm for these pistols?

Pretty much. The rifles also. They can all benefit from a good crown job or even the sandpaper on your thumb treatment. Let it load easier and not cut patches.

sheriff john · Oct 31, 2024

Caution - been shooting the rifles over 50 years. Be absolutely certain you replace nipples with the exact ones that came with the gun. Easy to strip threads and not every one I've seen had the same one. Great shooting guns with fast,reliable ignition.

springfield art · Oct 31, 2024

Gtrubicon said:
My barrel has zero crown, is this the norm for these pistols?

It's so easy to crown them; I don't think when these were made and offered, that crowning was anything thought of at all.

Rifleman1776 · Oct 31, 2024

sheriff john said:
Be absolutely certain you replace nipples with the exact ones that came with the gun.

Amen, Bro. Excellent advice. The nipples a different. A friend replaced his with a standard nipple and ended up shooting it into his arm.

Not fun, don't do it.

Gtrubicon · Oct 31, 2024

I was able to get the nipple out of the gun, it is serviceable. It came with a new tin of #12 caps which fit perfectly, #11 caps don’t fit although my homemade caps do fit well. I was able to find a replacement #11 nipple specifically for this pistol at track of the wolf. I haven’t ordered it yet but when I do I will make certain the threads are the same. Thanks for the tip!

springfield art · Oct 31, 2024

I might be getting one of these soon, and really appreciate the tip!

springfield art · Oct 31, 2024

Nobade said:
Pretty much. The rifles also. They can all benefit from a good crown job or even the sandpaper on your thumb treatment. Let it load easier and not cut patches.

Yep. I would use the black 'sand paper' with oil to do that with my thumb. Muzzleloaders can be really creative and resourceful!

springfield art · Oct 31, 2024

One thing about the under-hammers; even a klutz like me can figure out how to strip and re-assemble!!

11Bravo · Nov 1, 2024

The big plus for me with the under hammer was for hunting.
Fast ignition
No need to wear safety glasses
Only 3 moving parts, one being the hammer spring
Less effected in foul weather
I never had a FTF
I did carry nail polish in my possibles bag to apply to the nipple for extra security holding the cap on while in the woods.

Relic shooter · Nov 1, 2024

Muzzle crown option.
Crowning method thats worked well for me is wrap a slightly oversized lead ball with Emory cloth,
then polish with a layer of fine steel wool.
* to speed the crowning process up insert a double-ended drawer-pull screw into the ball so you can spin the ball with a powered hand drill.
For traction between the ball & Emory cloth use a small piece of double sided tape.

Smokerr · Nov 2, 2024

Great to see a gun like that. New to me. Very cool

Hopkins & Allen underhammer pistol.

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