I just recently picked up this German made double cape gun, according to the markings on the locks it was built in Heilbronn Germany by H. Hellmann, I assume from the lack of proof marks it was manufactured before the 1891 proof laws came about, I found it to be a very interesting piece and in excellent shooting condition, the bores are beautiful and the locks and trigger are smooth as glass, now to the bores, the left tube is 16 gauge smooth, the right is 16 gauge with eight shallow grooves rifling cut at one half turn to it’s thirty inch length, does anyone know it this originally would have been shot with a patched round ball, an over bore size ball engaged in the rifling or possibly a type of bullet, conical mini ball type round etc, I plan to shoot it soon with shot and probably patched round ball but I’d be interested in knowing the original projectile intended for the rifled barrel and possibly duplicate it, any info on the type gun and builder is appreciated also.
