4bore Percussion.

[Heinrich]

Don't know how many of you guys have shot a 4bore, 1000gr RB, pushed along by 350gr of FFg.

Here the gun is at near maximum recoil...

This is the gun in close up.

Here you can see the muzzle, and a RB for the 4bore, next to a .50 RB...

 

[Many Klatch]

Well, that ought to drop an Elephant or Cape Buffalo if you are man enough to stand up to the recoil. An impressive piece of artillery. I imagine that there are quite a few of those shoulder howitzers in your neck of the woods.

Many Klatch

 

[Heinrich]

Recoil from that guy is more than sufficient to only want to shoot it about 5 times a day... :surrender:

It does hammer an elephant very solidly, and cape buffalo is no contest.

From 8bore onwards are all good medicine for elephant.

Believe or not, these old fellows are not that regular at shooting ranges. Unfortunately there are too many of them in private collections of collectors who do NOT shoot them... :youcrazy:

 

[robinghewitt]

Don't know how many of you guys have shot a 4bore, 1000gr RB, pushed along by 350gr of FFg.

1000 grains is only 7 bore, 4 bore is 1750 grains :grin: :grin: :grin:

I'd shoot it, but I am insane :youcrazy:

 

[Titus]

Squire robin, them balls this cannon shoots regularly is steel ball bearings. They only weigh in at 1000 odd grains :thumbsup: :v The pure lead tips the scale at the full 1750gr :grin:

 

[Heinrich]

Don't know how many of you guys have shot a 4bore, 1000gr RB, pushed along by 350gr of FFg.

1000 grains is only 7 bore, 4 bore is 1750 grains :grin: :grin: :grin:

I'd shoot it, but I am insane :youcrazy:

:bow: Correct, as Titus mentioned, we shoot those pictured 1000gr steel bearings. Don't have mold for the casting of the proper RB's.

 

[davy]

Itsa biggun either way! a MANS GUN FER SHORE! :hatsoff:

dAVY

 

[robinghewitt]

Correct, as Titus mentioned, we shoot those pictured 1000gr steel bearings. Don't have mold for the casting of the proper RB's.

Most on this forum have seen my big bore movie, but what the heck :grin:
[url] http://www.robinhewitt.net/wallclay.wmv[/url]

 

[George Holton]

I owned a 4 bore flint with a red stock ,made in Belgium for the natives. Loaded it with about 700 g of f. and 7oz shot. sat down behind a stump and rested it there, The maple tree was 20 yds away and full of blackbirds. I rested on the stump sat down and touched it off. broke two windows in the house and blew a hole the size of a bushel through the tree. the black birds dropped out ,enough to fill 1/2 of the bushel. bruise on sholder lasted a week. Fun Fun Fun. Bob\

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Well, just damn. Methinks me or mine would have to be in danger before I popped a cap on that brute.

 

[Wes/Tex]

October Country made, or may still make, 8 bore and 4 bore rifles. Their baby was a mere .62! They even made a nice double 8 bore and had a photo of one of their customers leaning against a big old lion he'd boinked with ball all the way through from brisket to backside which slid to a stop at his feet! That lion would have kept on sliding through what I'd have left! :rotf:

 

[hepburn4590]

The recoil on this rifle would have to be in excess of 150 ft.lb.

 

[romcneil]

A friend of mine has a homebuilt 4 bore flintlock. The gun is heavy, with a black walnut stock cut from wood from his father's ranch; I believe the lock is a relic from Africa. 350 grains 2Fg with a lead ball is a light load for it, for shooting offhand. The balls penetrate clear through 12 to 14 inch cottonwood logs.

Bob

 

[Heinrich]

I've read up plenty on hunters like Selous and Finaughty who shot elephants in their hundreds with 4bore's and 8bore's.

Finaughty once let a young french hunter shoot his 4bore, and the young man over loaded the gun. He lost his eye in the process... :hmm:

You can load the 4bore in excess of 700gr, but with their short barrels, there is no real gain in velocity to warrants such excesses.

 

[Robbo]

Heinrich

I mention this only because I think you may appreciate it - and its nothing to do with muzzle loaders. But I have what I believe is one of the very few .600 nitro express doubles in my collection (thanks to a great uncle who was a bit of a hunter in his day (1930's). Its a magnificent old thing - had lots of hard work but the action (regretably a boxlock) is still as tight as a drum. Closes like the bank of England. But at $35 a shot, it doesn't get much use these days.

Cheers

Robbo

 

[Heinrich]

that is something special :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I've only seen one 600 nitro double ever before, and I have once had the opportunity to shoot a 600 nitro single shot falling block... That rattled me teeth in me skull... :surrender:

The 4bore just keeps pushing you back, with plenty motivation. But those large bore caliber nitro's hammers you in the worst way, have only shot a .500 Jeffreys once before, I passed on the second shot that was offered to me. You speak very true, those large caliber fellows are very expensive to shoot, only option is to reload for them.

Back to Black Powder, I also know a collector who owns a Hollis and Sons .577 Black Powder Cartridge double.

 

[Many Klatch]

There is a movie online of an idiot shooting a modern Thompson Center pistol made to fit the .600 Nitro cartridge. After the shot, the gun went whirling up over his head and out of sight behind him.

Many Klatch

 

[davy]

Hey Robbo how about a photo of this dinosaur killer! I just love to look at those old stump grinders! Those were MEN back then that used those things! :thumbsup:

Davy

 

[jeepwj992002]

Wow Heinrich! If that cannon was any larger you would have to mount it on a pintle and tripod like an M-2 machinegun! I like it a lot!! :bow: :bow:

 

[Robbo]

A .600 Nitro pistol!!! My God, you would have to be barking mad. I imagine that the shooters hand was most likely still attached to the pistol as if flew back over his head.

I will see what I can do about a pic of my old girl.

Robbo