just built .50 bellygun

[inlikeflint]

Have shot it with 45 grains of bp, 3f and it is a hand full. Will probably up it to an even 50 soon. I proofed it with 80 grains and 2 balls and it all fit! Makes a lot of noise. Barrel is 3 inches. john

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Very cool! I have a section of barrel that might take well to a project like this. Great work!

 

[Don]

I'd be interested to hear how those loads perform over a chronograph. If you can get that .50 cal. ball going 600fps or more you've got a viable defense piece. That may not be your intent but it would be cool to know how it performs.

Don

 

[Rifleman1776]

Ugly little bugger. John W. Booth would have loved it. Methinks it will never utilize 50 gr. of powder in that short barrel.

 

[matthew.heilgmail.com]

Nice! It looks a bit like the simple center hammer guns from Ethan Allen and others. I like it!

How'd you make the frame?

 

[inlikeflint]

I dc arc welded the sides, barrel, and the key stock spacer together. 1/8" sides and 1/4 key stock, cherryred to case harden trigger and hammer. DC welds don't splater like an AC buzz box or flux wire does, and I covered where I did not want weld with play dough clay. Then it's a matter of filing the weld down.

Am pretty sure I am going to make a smaller one, same .50 only a 2 inch lenght and much smaller frame with what I learned making this one. I do own a chrony and will do a check on the 3", and am sure it will be pretty close to 600fps. John

 

[Eterry]

Very interesting weapon. I guess the saying Beauty is as Beauty does applies here. The Winchester 44-40 originally had a bullet a lil heavier than the 50 prb, and used 40 grains of black. Methinks you'll have no problem getting over 700 fps, and I've seen firsthand what a 50cal cap lock pistol can do to human flesh and bone.
Eterry

 

[Don]

Did you witness an unfortunate accident or a crime?

Don

 

[Eterry]

Actually, I responded to a suicide

 

[54ball]

Why do I feel like some sort of line has been crossed with this build? I Am sorry, I do not like it. The arc welding, heavy charges are questionable. That and the suicde comments really....kill the enthusiasm.

 

[Don]

Didn't mean to ruin this for anyone by asking a question. I've always been fascinated by how folks back in the day defended them selves with weapons that many today deem inadequate and yet were effective enough at the time.

Don

 

[Eterry]

I also feel like I should apologize, I went to far and now regret it. I had no intention to do so but on hind sight I see it was in poor taste.

Eterry

 

[Rifleman1776]

No thing offensive, IMHO. You were asked a question and answered. Facts are not always pretty. And, this forum deals with machines that kill. That is a fact.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Some people think these things shoot confetti and are not dangerous.
Inlikeflint, you made a very interesting shooting iron, it takes ingenious minds like yours to keep this world turning.
Those that don't like the fruit of your thoughts, could probably take up knitting.
Please keep your creations coming.
P.S. No reflection on you Rifleman 1776
Fred

 

[F.G. Ford]

With that short barrel, and 50 grains of powder, you could probably cook bacon with it, when you touched her off.
You don't need a ball in it, you could fry a villain's eye balls with it :shocked2:
Fred

 

[inlikeflint]

It may not be correct in some peoples minds but compared to a cnc made 1851 in .44 cal what is correct. Welding predates all other forms of joining metals, electric arc was invented early 19th century before percussion caps. I think it was the most fun I ever had building some thing, 3" of barrel and 2 coil springs, one a ball point pen spring were the only parts I did not make my self. My hat is off to those who can make a lock.
john

 

[44-henry]

It is interesting, and though not exactly like any original that I have seen it could have been something that a 19th century gunsmith might have built. With such a short barrel it seems unlikely that you are going to break 500 fps velocity, but only one way to find out for sure.

 

[MSW]

clever bit of work ... I wouldn't worry about muzzle velocities and so on: it is what it is, and overloading it won't make it into a .50BMG no matter how hard you try ... suffice it to say that I'd much prefer not to be on the wrong end.

make good smoke!

 

[Rifleman1776]

I've always been fascinated by how folks back in the day defended them selves with weapons that many today deem inadequate and yet were effective enough at the time.

One school of thought on this subject I have seen several times says the fear of a slow death was sufficient to make folks back away from an "inadequate" tiny firearm. Medical services were far from what we have today. A shot might not reach internal organs or cause instant death but certainly bleeding and infection, accompanied with much pain, would cause death after days of suffering. I would back away also.
e.g. Lincoln's head shot was not instantly fatal.

 

[cynthialee]

I love it! I would like to see such a gun with maybe a bit longer barrel. 5" wouldn't take up too much space.

I really like the design. I think you have a winner here.