Gun Barrel Question

[bedbugbilly]

A number of years ago while at Friendship, I picked up a CVA barrel that was used on their "Squirrel Rifle". It's 3/4" across the flats, .32 caliber and about 24" or so long. It was a brand new barrel, never used. It has a drum/nipple and a hook style breechplug in it. Now for my question. I'd like to cut this barrel into two 10" or so lengths, crown the muzzles and re-breech for a standard screw in breechplug with a tang. I then want to use them to construct two pistols, one flint and one percussion. I really don't know what the rate of twist is on the barrel - does it sound feasable to do this or will the pistol barrels not be accurate due to being made out of what was a rifle barrel? I don't plan on shooting competition with them - just everyday plinking, etc. at probably 25 yds. or less. This is a "keep busy" project for when I'm in Arizona for the winter. It seems to me that they should work alright. I only have $10 in the barrel and if it would work for pistol barrels, it would be a whole lot cheaper than putting out $60 + for Green Mountain pistol barrels. Thanks for any input or advice.

 

[54ball]

There is a lot of time involved in fitting breaches. When you count in cutting, drilling and tapping the barrel and crowning the muzzle that 60 bucks to me sounds more apealing. You have to figure your time. IMHO I would just use the bbl for a small rifle.

If you want to do this to freshen your skills and try something new go ahead have fun It may work out.

You can do that with pistol blank bbls too. Keep in mind also that pistols require a faster twist than a rifle so the rifle barrel may not make a good pistol bbl. Actually a smoothbore pistol barrel would be better than a twist that won't stabilize the ball.

Look up Kennedy Firearms for some nice pistol kits and parts. Jim Chambers at flintlocks .com has a very nice pistol kit too. These are pricy but are authentic and are as much of a work of art as a fine long rifle maybe more.

 

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks 54ball for the remarks and info - I appreciate it. Re-breeching and crowning is not a big thing in regards to time as I have plenty of that. I've built rifles for years and have been shooting BP for over 45 yrs. - everything from percussion to flint - rifle and smoothbore as well as NSSA and full size 10 pound Parrott rifles. I've just never done any pistols before. Over the years, I've accumulated an inventory of parts - locks, triggers, barrels and stock blank material. I thought it would be fun to tackle some pistols this winter. I just wasn't sure how this would work out with the twist rate of the rifling or if anyone else has ever used a section of rifle barrel for a pistol and what they thought of the results. I probably will either keep my eyes open and see if I run across any pistol barrels that I can use or possibly bore these out to be smoothbore. Thanks again for the info - greatly appreciated! I'm also looking at tackling a Bean Rifle this winter as well - I bought two Persimmon fullstock stock blanks a number of years ago when I was at Friendship and one is begging to be used in a Bean Rifle - I've got a nice 3/4" X 42 - 36 caliber barrel I'm going to use on that one. I just wish that I would have had foresight enough to buy the handforged furniture for it from Myron Carlson before he passsed away. I used his Virginia Rifle hand forged furniture on a rifle that I built and unfortunately I put a price on it when I had a booth at a gunshow that evidently was too low as a guy bought it in the first half-hour of the show. Myron made some terrific hand-forged rifle furniture and like I said, I should have stocked up on it. Again, thanks for the information about the use of the barrel - it's appreciated!

 

[shortstring]

At 25 yds & under, as you say, I think the 32 will do just fine. I'd cut it up & go to work.

 

[ohio ramrod]

In my humble and free opinion for 25 yards or less , ninety five percent or more of the people could not tell the difference in the pistols performance vs a specific pistol barrel. So if you are thinking about, it I would go for it. :hmm: Try it You'll like it! :hmm:

 

[Birddog6]

I say cut the barrel & build the pistols. Reason is most guys can't this their butt with a pistol anyway, so the barrel twist don't really matter unless you are in competition.
2nd reason, most guys build a pistol, shoot it once or twice & then it lays in the gun safe for the next 25 years.... Rate of twist don't matter on those either. :wink:

So unless you are an avid pistol shooter....... I say cut the barrel OR possibly trade it for a pistol barrel.

Keith Lisle

 

[rafterob]

I too would go for it if I had the tools to do the job. I think I would use the already breached section for the percussion model and save one job of breeching.

 

[talkingamoeba]

I don't know anything, but I say go for it. If it doesn't shoot well, bore it out to .60, every shot would then be .14 closer to where you wanted to hit :grin:

 

[oldarmy]

I would go for it.
You will have the satisfaction of knowing that the barrels are mostly of your own work.