80 inch 1 bore (1.67 inch) Punt Gun Barrel Maker

[Jimmy Space]

I was wondering where could I find a barrel maker that could make an 80 inch, 1 bore muzzleloader barrel. I would like to build a punt gun as a project and I can't make the barrel with the tools I have at my disposal. I can make the rest though.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I was wondering where could I find a barrel maker that could make an 80 inch, 1 bore muzzleloader barrel. I would like to build a punt gun as a project and I can't make the barrel with the tools I have at my disposal. I can make the rest though.

Not sure about the Gun Works for your specific barrel, but they make custom barrels.
Email or call and check it out. Good luck!
Larry - The Gun Works Muzzleloading Emporium -

 

[Rudyard]

The punt gunners of the Murray River in Australia used ammonia pipe sleeved into a heavy breach section this fitted into a' shoe ' and an old military size lock fitted to ignite it maybe boiler tube might be had that's pretty good stuff and is ductile as we used to enlarge one end &' bead 'the firebox ends so they didn't protrude . .So I expect it would bulge before it would split open .
Steam & black powder are related elliments both need coaxing an jollying to get the best out of them you cant just throw a switch or close a bolt and expect results .
Rudyard

 

[Col. Batguano]

You might try the cannon barrel makers. Steen Cannons. Hern Iron works

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I was wondering where could I find a barrel maker that could make an 80 inch, 1 bore muzzleloader barrel. I would like to build a punt gun as a project and I can't make the barrel with the tools I have at my disposal. I can make the rest though.

You can buy an undrilled swivel gun from Dixie Gun Works
Swivel
Swivels, while not the same as the guns built into the bow of a very low draft boat as we used here on the Chesapeak, were used for punt-gunning.
You could have it bored out, and lined so that it does not exceed 10 gauge, and thus actually use it for geese and ducks, with a proper load of bismuth shot, of course... that's only .775 diameter though....

I have actually seen such used for "punt" gunning. Must be now 25 years ago. The fellow had a 10 gauge swivel, and fired it once at Canada Geese. He got his limit in one shot, but never had ideal conditions again. Because, you launch soooo much shot, you either waste an expensive load by firing at just a few birds, OR you run the risk of Joe DNR citing your for shooting more than the limit, which is easy to do. IF you accidentally hit birds mixed in with the waterfowl, like cormorants, swan, or out of season ducks, those are violations too.

On the other hand, it might qualify for use in an artillery target shoot, and would be pretty cool to shoot, and very economical in that setting.

I'm looking for somebody to make me a slightly oversized Bess barrel, with a #4 bore (1 Inch) as I want to build an amuzette....

LD

 

[Col. Batguano]

I never thought of using a 10 gauge ML'er as a punt gun, but the idea isn't bad. The wildlife departments restrict the bore diameter, they do NOT restrict shot charge size. So in theory, you could load up 4-6 oz of shot in your 10 gauge and go for it. This would obviously not be a shoulder-fired gun. I wonder what the chamber pressures would be with about 350-400 gr of Fg under that shot column.

 

[Codger Craig Wilcox]

Traditional punt gunners would sneak out at night and shoot at the floating/sleeping ducks or geese. Then sell a barrel full on the Baltimore docks in the light of the new day.
Believe that if you tried that these times, you would be looking out at the next dawn through the jailhouse bars. It was a way of life for some of those living on the DelMarVa peninsula. Punt guns, and punt boats, are now part of history. I wasn't alive then, and will not make moral judgements of the participants. if your family is hungry....
At any rate, I would LOVE to see, and shoot, a proper punt gun at least once. One of those guns that you used the boat to aim.
Good luck with your build, let us know how it goes. Did my share of commercial fishing back in the early '70's in Biscayne Bay, with a half-mile long gill net. As I said, if you and your family are hungry.... Lived on a boat, worked on a boat - I think my toes are still webbed!

 

[billraby]

I think you need to look for a cannon guy to find one of those.