How to aquire perc. smoothie

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mashaffer

36 Cal.
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So as I wait to amass the cash needed to get my .50 cal rifle out of layaway I have plenty of time to think about the next step. I am really more of a pistol type guy in all honesty so my interest lies in a small game and clay bird pistol of the smoothbore percussion persuasion in about 20 gauge or larger. Unfortunately it appears that no one makes such a thing. I wonder how such a terribly useful gadget could be so unobtainable...

I can think of a few ways to get what I want but would like your input on how to proceed.

- Put out big bucks for an original Howdah 16 gauge double. Not likely since I had to put a $60 rifle on layaway. [sheeze]
- Spend semi-serious $s to get the parts to create my own. With barrels alone running in the $100 range this seems a tough approach as well especially in light of the fact that I have no gun making experience.
- Get a percussion pistol kit and try to find a 20 to 12 gauge barrel (10 to 12 inch) that can be fitted to the existing lock work/bedding. A bit more affordable assuming that such a barrel could be found.
- Get a 54 or 58 caliber pistol and have my machinist friend bore out the rifling on his lathe. This is probably the most affordable approach. I am not sure how to determine how much wall thickness needs to remain. I assume that the boring would not have to go all the way to the breachplug but only far enough that the ball or shot would be in the larger area (powder charge could be in a section that had not been opened up thus leaving more strength around the threads of the breachplug).
- Try to remove the rifling myself with a cylinder hone. Certainly cheapest but I doubt my ability to get a uniform result.

Your recomendations?

mike

P.S. Due to safety issues I have already ruled out using 3/4" galvanized pipe to make my own. :haha:
 
You might check gun parts for shotgun barrels like this
Then you know that it will work with BP pressures. The ones I have in stock are chambered and would need to be cut off before installing a breach plug. I made one many years ago in 12 gauge that I rifled with a 12" long barrel. It shot hollow base wad cutters that were around 700 grain. Recoil got to be a problem when the powder charged got up to 45 grains, it was a 2 hand hold or a dent in the forhead. At 25 yards it could cut the ten ring out in a few shots, looked like someone took a 3/4" gasket punch to the target. The person I sold it to shot a black tail deer at about 10', said it did 3 flips in the air before hitting the ground.
 
Thats an idea I hadn't thought much about, thanks. It shouldn't be too expensive to get it threaded for a plug.

And the more I think of its intended use the more I think that a rocklock might be just fine. It won't often be used for precision RB shooting but rather loaded with shot on a moving target. With proper follow through differences in lock time should not be a big deal and since it is a pistol the priming charge is quite a ways from the eyeballs. hmm...

mike
 
Check With Suzy ar Muzzleloader Builder's Supply. I think that you are way high on the estimate of the cost of a pistol barrel.
 

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