Convert rifles barrel to smoothbore

[user 57523]

I have a Harper’s ferry pistol with a rifled barrel, and I’m wondering if it is possible to remove the grooves to make it a smoothbore. Can it be done at home? If it cant, is there a price estimate?

 

[springfield art]

I have a Harper’s ferry pistol with a rifled barrel, and I’m wondering if it is possible to remove the grooves to make it a smoothbore. Can it be done at home? If it cant, is there a price estimate?

Bet Bobby Hoyt could do that before coffee break some morning!

 

[earlwb]

I would probably just get a smoothbore barrel and breechplug and swap it out. They way you could convert it back someday too.

Yeah I vaguely remember someone boring out a rifled barrel into a smoothbore. But I forget the details at the moment.

I think it was Bobby Hoyt too. They were discussing it here several years ago:
https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/turning-a-rifle-barrel-into-a-smooth-bore.102453/

 

[TreeMan]

Why would you want to smooth bore that barrel? That takes it from something useful to useless. A smoothbore pistol is a novelty. Can’t hit diddly s&@t with one.

 

[user 57523]

Why would you want to smooth bore that barrel? That takes it from something useful to useless. A smoothbore pistol is a novelty. Can’t hit diddly s&@t with one.

I already have some rifled pistols and I would like to experience smoothbore shooting

 

[PathfinderNC]

I already have some rifled pistols and I would like to experience smoothbore shooting

I think you will have fun with one!

 

[Loja man]

Maybe year ago somebody posted about shooting bore bees with their smooth bore flintlock pistol! If I recall correctly, they were using dried gritts… sounded like fun!!

 

[Gtrubicon]

This got me thinking about a smooth bore 1858 revolver type, not an original. This would make a great snake gun to pack around the property with six chambers of shot. It would eliminate the doughnut pattern rifling gives. I’d really like to hear about smooth bore pistols!

 

[Old Grunt]

That shooting wood bees with a six shooter sounds like a blast,now I'm torn rather to ream barrel on my brass frame Pietta 1851 or try to find a rusty old cap and ball revolver to ream out,I have BooCoo wood bees,crap at just a few foot range, grits or corn meal might just work fine even with rifleing

 

[wganz]

Given how back logged Bob Hoyt is, it may be worth checking with these folks that are Loyalist Arm US distributor.

17 item down.
https://www.muzzleloadershop.com/services-2/

 

[Dave Marsh]

I have a log home and am terrorized by carpenter bees. I have tried exterminators, the stuff you put in the oil finish, the traps with the holes and nothing works. I'll try anything. Any ideas on a load for a .54 smoothbore flintlock pistol with a 10-inch barrel to shoot some cornmeal? Can't shoot grits as I like them too much.

 

[Gtrubicon]

Load it up with white rice

 

[Loja man]

If rice, make sure it’s brown!! Can’t stand the sight of someone wasting good white rice!!

 

[earlwb]

I have a log home and am terrorized by carpenter bees. I have tried exterminators, the stuff you put in the oil finish, the traps with the holes and nothing works. I'll try anything. Any ideas on a load for a .54 smoothbore flintlock pistol with a 10-inch barrel to shoot some cornmeal? Can't shoot grits as I like them too much.

I would start with 15-20 grains BP and what feels about right for the charge of cornmeal, whatever. It won’t take much BP.

 

[R Ellis]

I have a log home and am terrorized by carpenter bees. I have tried exterminators, the stuff you put in the oil finish, the traps with the holes and nothing works. I'll try anything. Any ideas on a load for a .54 smoothbore flintlock pistol with a 10-inch barrel to shoot some cornmeal? Can't shoot grits as I like them too much.

Mix water and permethrin insecticide and spray outside it will stop the bees