barrel question

[freekforge]

Could you take a modern single shot shotgun barrel thread the breech and put in a breech plug and with other modifications safely make a muzzle loader barrel. If so is this legal.

 

[John Taylor]

Yes and Yes

 

[hounddog]

freekforge, Wow I sure hope its legal, otherwise I done broke the law, I have 3 inexpensive shotguns made up of modern single shot bbls. I use a 7/8x14 breech tap for the 12 ga bbls, some care has to be taken to be sure that breech area is small enough to get a full diameter thread there are some differences in shotgun breech measurements, about a 30 inch bbl is as long as I can get, One gun in particular is choked extra full and it is a turkey busting son of a gun.other folks may have different opnions but yes it can be done cause I have done it yours hounddog

 

[freekforge]

Thanks for the info I cant afford the expensive ml barrels so I was trying to figure out how to make my own then that crossed my mind. Thought I better ask before I go and blow myself up with nothing but a pretty pipe bomb.

 

[Zonie]

Using the barrel off of a shotgun will be safe as long as the breech threads are fully formed threads.

Using "seamless tubing" to make a barrel, in my opinion can be very dangerous.

 

[freekforge]

How would you go about securing it to the stock isn't the the wall too thin to dovetail for the piece the wedge pin goes through.

 

[freekforge]

You wouldn't happen to any pictures would you.

 

[Birddog6]

You solder the underlugs on with soft solder. It is low heat & very strong.

Keith Lisle

 

[freekforge]

Also once its made inoperable as a modern gun can you cut the barrel down below 18". Don't want to break the law or blow myself up.

 

[hounddog]

Freeckforge, My wife wont let me us her digital camera, I am a old goat and not really up on computers, So sorry no pictures. On my 3 guns I have about 150.00 per gun. I am more or less retired gunsmith. My sources for parts are used broken guns (parts guns) both modern and B P. A suitable bbl is often the hardest to come up with, plain maple isnt high a 1/2 stock blank is only 30 to 35 dollars, locks vary depending on source (new or used)Like they say the lock, stock and barrel will be your major expense items, the rest of the stuff can be purchased or made up from scratch depending on your abilities. All of my shotgun bbls are too thin to cut a dovetail, I use a solder made for installing wedge and or pinblanks on with can be put on with a utility ttorch you can buy at Wal mart and other hardware sources. I remember My first built gun ML it was far from perfect but wasnt total junk either. emember they dont have to look and be perfect to be safe and fun to shoot.By building you own you will get a usable gun and a lot of good experience in building, We all had to start from scratch sometime. I think it is a great ideal. If there is not a experienced builder in your area to guide you, I would be more than happey to help via private e mail. you wouldnt be the first fella I have assisted long distance, Figgure out what you want to build, and just give a holler. I am retired and aint got nothing but time to kill yours hounddog

 

[Mike Brooks]

Man, you look just like Magua from last of the mohicans......uncanny..... :shocked2:

 

[freekforge]

Are you allowed to cut down the barrel once you cant use it as a modern gun?

 

[jhenry1728]

...or Detective Joe Leaphorn...

 

[Supercracker]

When you do it. Don't forget that you'll need to cut the chamber size down some and then make a plug to fit that. If you thread the chamber full length and them make a plug for that (assuming you'll be making a patent type breech with a channel going down to the touch hole) a normal load of powder won't fill the breech up all the way and you'll have an air space left. Which could easily blow up your gun.

If you at all can, go get the book "Recreating the Double Barrel Muzzle-Loading Shotgun" by Brockway. Obviously, it is for making a double, but the breeching is still the same and still done one at a time.
http://www.amazon.com/Recreating-D...0891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311454079&sr=8-1

 

[Zonie]

Are you allowed to cut down the barrel once you cant use it as a modern gun?

Yes.

Technically a muzzleloading gun which duplicates the guns made prior to 1898 do not fall under the Federal (or State) laws which apply to modern guns.

This helps explain why it is legal to make a "Howda Pistol" (which is a double barrel large caliber (often smoothbored) gun) or other short barreled shotguns.
These would fall into the "under 18" rule and be totally illegal if they were loaded with cartridges or shotgun shells.
As "muzzleloaders" they are totally legal.


For that matter, there are a number of Federal laws which limit working on a modern gun by unlicensed individuals but these laws do not apply to making muzzleloaders either.

The only real "laws" that apply to muzzleloaders are the "Laws of Common Sense".

 

[hounddog]

Freekforge, Zonie told you right about the cutting down bbls, Modern shotguns(smoothbores) must be 18 or longer to be legal under fed law, Modern rifles must be 16 inches or longer. Question why cut the bbl down much if any if you dont have too. Blackpowder being what it is the gun will shoot harder and more auccrate the longer the bbl. Unless you are wanting a long bbl pistol, anything under 24 inches is too short for me, I like 28 or 30 better, and would love to get a 36 inch modern bbl they are scarce as hens teeth. yours hounddog

 

[MSW]

i wouldn't go loading it too hot, but i wouldn't feel unsafe standing next to you on the range. As far as the legality, i'm not an attorney, but in my practical experience, if you're not doing something which would draw attention to yourself, nobody is likely to give you too much trouble about it.

(just don't do the Randy Weaver thing and cut down the barrel for an ATFE agent)

 

[Zonie]

Hell. If Randy would have said, "Sure. I'll cut down your barrel." :grin: and then proceeded to cut it off, cut off the breech area and thread it for a breech plug, inlet the barrel into a new stock, install a side drum with a percussion nipple on it and install a percussion side lock he would have been totally safe and legal.

I'd sure like to see the eyes on the ATF agents face when he picked up his "modified shotgun". :rotf:

 

[freekforge]

yeah i wanted a long barreled pistol. figured it would be fun to start with a pistol.