Howdah Pistol

[satx78247]

Fwiw, I saw Bell's "cut-down, 7mm, Spanish-surplus, 1893 Mauser", when it was "on loan" to the NRA Museum on Rhode Island Ave in WDC.- Wasn't at all what I expected for so FAMOUS of a "big-game rifle".
(Otoh, IF you are discharging the rifle into an elephant brain or heart at 10 yards or LESS, I guess that "pretty" makes little difference!)

I was told at Southport, NC that Robert C. Ruark, the author of USE ENOUGH GUN, SOMETHING OF VALUE, UHURU, HORN OF THE HUNTER & great other books bought part of W.D.M. Bell's estate & willed Bell's weapons & some of his own (Including Ruark's brace of .500 Nitro Express for BP double-rifles & the custom-made .318 Wesley-Richards BA rifle that "Brian McDermott" supposedly carried, when out chasing Mau-Mau terrorists in the Kenya mountains, in SOMETHING OF VALUE.) his rifles to Harry Selby's grandson, upon Ruark's own passing.

yours, satx

 

[plastikosmd]

Good luck with it, they are fun at the range. Here is a pic of mine, tho a bit older. I wonder if unsat an angry cat

 

[F.G. Ford]

Awesome looking pistol!
Very nice to see.
Fred

 

[Wes/Tex]

Wow! What a beauty!! What's the bore size on your baby? I'm green with envy! :youcrazyAs close as I could get to green & yes, I'm crazy!)

 

[cynthialee]

them barrels look rather short....

 

[plastikosmd]

69 or 72, can't quite remember. I imagine it is fun to shoot twice!

 

[Supercracker]

Just THINKING about firing an 8-bore PISTOL makes my arm ache, though if I had a panther or tiger in my lap, I likely wouldn't notice the recoil!!!

yours, satx

IIRC one of the Rajs was quoted as saying "recoil is insignificant when there is a tiger on your elephant"

 

[Jumpshot]

Good luck with it, they are fun at the range. Here is a pic of mine, tho a bit older. I wonder if unsat an angry cat

 

[plastikosmd]

Lol, great pic!

 

[Wes/Tex]

What a hoot! :rotf:

 

[rickystl]

GREAT looking pistol!!! :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[awc]

Well I finally received my HOWDAH PISTOL,Pedersoli manufacture.Sure is a nicely manufactured pistol.The machining is superb.It works great,world of hurt on the wrong end.Fired it 8 times varying balls and shot.Was wondering what some of the other owners have tried as far powder load and shot load.Biggest load I tried was 60 grains of black powder.Thanks for any help.

 

[gard72977]

I have been wanting of those. Nothing would look more menacing point at you. It is just hard for me to come up with that kind of money for a gun that I cant use at a rondy. I will end up with a 20ga flint trade pistol. Someday

 

[Jumpshot]

I get much better accuracy with 3F than 2F. I've also used 60 grains behind a patched ball just to see what it would do, but I normally use less than that. I've used up to 7/8 oz. of #6 shot with an equal volume of powder (55 grains according to my measure). It works up close, but you need some sort of a cup for tighter patterns.

But I prefer shooting roundballs anyway. I live right next to a wildlife safari and you never know when one of the tigers or lions will escape. :grin:

 

[cynthialee]

60 grains is probably a bit more than you need. I'd go with 30-45 grain of 3F.

 

[btech]

60 grains is a bit much. I use about 30-35 in my twin 50 cal.

 

[Darkgael]

Agree...60 grains. Not.
I have a .20 gauge Howdah and 35 grains of FFg is fine for both shot and PRBs.
Pete

 

[robinghewitt]

60 grains is a bit much. I use about 30-35 in my twin 50 cal.

I thought a howdah pistol was to stop a tiger just before he stopped you. How about 100 grains behind a suppository shaped slug? :rotf:

 

[pargent]

sometimes I wonder ,wonder I do ,nice photo. And this is for those who havn't yet grasped what a Howdah was for when that cat starts to get close you poke those barrels into his/her chest and drop those hammers.

 

[Wes/Tex]

I thought a howdah pistol was to stop a tiger just before he stopped you. How about 100 grains behind a suppository shaped slug? :rotf:

Or an RPG! :rotf: