Boat Gun, Redux

[ejbrush]

Well, I proof tested the boat gun over the weekend. The barrel took a triple charge of 1f (about 400gr, give or take) and two 35mm film cannisters of #3 buckshot in stride. No signs of excessive pressure, no damage at all...
Well, the tang got bent back around the breechplug from when the barrel lodged itself in 5' up in a tree 105' behind the mount.
I pounded the tang straight, mounted the barrel in the stock and lashed it down again. Used a lot more rope this time. Used a service charge of powder (150gr) and one cannister of buck. This was much milder, only moving the mount back 2' and chipping off the toe of the stock.
Hmmmm.
So, with a 100gr charge and a cannister of buck, I tried it from the shoulder. It was invigorating, the bruise is pretty much gone today. Shot dispersal is pretty disappointing, but the report is impressive.
All in all, it fits in that category of not a failure, but not quite a sucess either.
The TOW East India lock worked flawlessly every time. It will be a fine addition to my 12ga fowler that I begin work on next week.

 

[ejbrush]

By my estimates, a 35mm cannister should hold about 800gr of shot. Give or take.

 

EJ,

Are you competing for the Darwin Awards with this? This is why so many muzzle-loading manufacturers have a hard time sleeping at night for fear of litigation and wish silently that there could be such a thing as factory loads for muzzleloaders. This is also the same reason why so many factory guns have warnings stuck all over them in huge bold stampings.

Hopefully your posts here will be taken as evidence in the case where your family sues a manufacturer because their product killed or maimed you.

Sean

 

[ejbrush]

My product. No manufacturers. That's why I was PROOFING the thing.
I dunno, I think that proofing a barrel with a triple charge makes very good sense. Pray, what sort of charge would you proof with? 110%? Gee, lets see how well that holds if you twitch with the old powder measure.
Furthermore, 160gr. of powder is a small charge for a 4 bore gun. 4 oz of shot is a small charge for a 4 bore.
Furthermore, my gravel pit is a good, remote place far from town. I proof there. Not the local range, at least give me some credit.
Furthermore, I'm puttering around and think, gee, here's a blunderbuss without the goofy looking bell. I'll try and build one. I'm not trying to prove anything, I'm just tackling a project I haven't seen done before.
Jeeeze, I'm just having a little fun out in the shop building something I designed, making mistakes here and there. If it doesn't work, well, I'm out some hours and $50 in raw steel.
Perhaps I should consult the Gun Nannies before building the Duckfoot pistol or the Hand Mortar?

 

EJ,

1) You proof the barrel before you put it in the stock. Doing this in the stock is likely a good way to make kindling.

2) Hammering the tang straight, wrapping in back in the stock and firing an 800 grain shot load from the shoulder after you proofed in the stock is not the smartest thing I've ever read.

3) Your mention of the Indian lock made me think this was a factory made gun. That's good. I hope you made the barrel too. No one to sue that way.

4) I'm no one's nanny. In fact, I've been told I'd make a rather ugly woman.

Sean

 

[trent/OH]

At least check with the Nannies before building a Duckfoot Mortar.

Seriously, how do you mount such a piece for proof testing?

 

[Story]

Duckfoot Mortar.

Damn, i just sprayed beer. :rotf:

 

[ejbrush]

Sorry for the snappy reply; I take pride in my stupidity.
To clarify, the barrel was proofed alone, not in the stock. I lashed it (deceptively) to the rear bumper of a '79 F-150 (sans truck) that resides on the far side of a sizeable bank. The bumper can slide backwards and usually absorbs the recoil in this way.
After straightening the tang (mild steel) the barrel was secured in the stock. There are two bands forged from 1/8" steel stock secured with 1/4" bolts that clamp the forend to the barrel. There are 3 recoil bolts behind the breech to avoid splitting.
There is not yet a buttplate.
Having flirted with the idea, I'm retiring the barrel for one of smaller bore.
Perhaps a millatearuse?

 

EJ,

Perhaps referring to you as a lucky loser in the Darwin Awards was too strong. Never heard of using an F150 bumper for proofing. However, I'd mic that barrel before and after the first &/or second proofing before I'd fire it anywhere near my body. If it was large bored you likely had fairly low pressures even with the '1/4 pound with cheese' load you launched out of it.

Sean

 

[noworries]

Since I am no stranger to opening my mouth and not caring if someone gets offended...... I may have stood back a ways from ej and his flying boat gun but I would have stood there and watched. And probably had a beer in my hand while doing it. Stupid...whos to say but it is his business. If people stopped putting their nose in other peoples business, well blah blah blah.

As far as the Darwin thing goes, if more people killed themselves due to their stupidity there would be far less stupid people around. Maybe instead of saving the life of a fool that looks down the muzzle of a loaded gun and shoots himself, let him die, he won't be breading more idiots!

And ej...you have your own gravel pit???? Thats to cool!

 

[jeepwj992002]

That's cool that you got to touch that monster off. I was wondering if you go it finished. :thumbsup: Any new Pics?

 

[lanedh]

EJ:

Not sure of the spelling but I think you're referring to a volley gun in your last line.

I'd recommend making a replica of the Billinghurst & Requa volley gun; we can't wait to read your commentary on proofing that. :shocked2:

You can find drawing of the B&R in various histories of the Civil War, where it was used to some effect. Instead of making the barrels breech-loading to accept the rather unique B&R cartidge, vent them to the rear to a trough primed with blackpowder, and set off with a single percussion cap.

Oh yes, and don't forget to post a video!