I thought it would be fun to have a short barreled 1847 Walker, especially after noting how the AR-15 crowd at the gun range reacted when I was shooting my 9" barreled Walker last summer; they were very surprised and curious about the noise, smoke, and fireball! I always shoot it with full powered loads.
After that, I wanted a short barreled Walker, but I didn't want to buy a gun just for this. I eventually found a used barrel (with loading lever) for sale on this forum, and bought it.
The barrel arrived yesterday. I did have to do some fitting to get it to work on the gun. Then I shortened the barrel to 4-3/8". I made a new front sight for it out of a length of brass rod, and I left it extra-long, so I could file it down to sight-in the gun.
I modified the loading lever to be quick attach and detach, because the lever was now too long to just leave it in place. I did not want to cut it and have an extremely short lever, because that would be next to useless, and I did not want to bother with removing or installing the screw every time I wanted to load the gun. So, I drilled out the threads for the loading lever pivot screw, which made the hole 3/16" diameter, the same as the loading lever screw shank was. Then I made a pin for it out of an old part for a screen door latch that I found in my miscellaneous parts bin in my garage.
I got done early today with work, so I drove out to the range to test fire it. When I arrived at the range, the temperature was right around freezing, and a snow storm was starting and I was not dressed properly for the weather. Still, I was very anxious to try the new barrel. I was the only one at the range, but there were a few people in the club house doing something. Also, the sun would be setting soon, and I was losing light. I fired off the first six shots and was delighted! LOUD and lots of fire!!!
I started preparing another six smiles of joy, when an old guy from the club house walked over to me. I could see that he wanted to talk (I didn't), so I removed my hearing protection. He wanted to know what I was shooting? A 50 caliber (S&W)? I said no, just this old Walker with a short barrel. He smiled and said "Oh yes, I see! It sure is loud! We were wondering what you were shooting"!!! Hahhahahahhaaaa!
I fired a total of 18 rounds, and then left for home. As I was loading my equipment into my Jeep, a man and a woman (his wife?) were standing near me, and said that my gun was really loud. I said, "That's the main thing", and we all laughed!
The gun shot very low, as expected. After the first cylinder, I filed a good amount off the front sight, and tested it again. Still shooting low, but not as bad, so I filed off a little more of the sight. After the third volley, it was still shooting low, so I filed off a little more, and then packed up. I will see how it shoots the next time.
My detachable loading lever worked perfectly, just as I had hoped.
I still have the final shaping and finishing left to do.
The original:
First time out today with Pugsley:
After that, I wanted a short barreled Walker, but I didn't want to buy a gun just for this. I eventually found a used barrel (with loading lever) for sale on this forum, and bought it.
The barrel arrived yesterday. I did have to do some fitting to get it to work on the gun. Then I shortened the barrel to 4-3/8". I made a new front sight for it out of a length of brass rod, and I left it extra-long, so I could file it down to sight-in the gun.
I modified the loading lever to be quick attach and detach, because the lever was now too long to just leave it in place. I did not want to cut it and have an extremely short lever, because that would be next to useless, and I did not want to bother with removing or installing the screw every time I wanted to load the gun. So, I drilled out the threads for the loading lever pivot screw, which made the hole 3/16" diameter, the same as the loading lever screw shank was. Then I made a pin for it out of an old part for a screen door latch that I found in my miscellaneous parts bin in my garage.
I got done early today with work, so I drove out to the range to test fire it. When I arrived at the range, the temperature was right around freezing, and a snow storm was starting and I was not dressed properly for the weather. Still, I was very anxious to try the new barrel. I was the only one at the range, but there were a few people in the club house doing something. Also, the sun would be setting soon, and I was losing light. I fired off the first six shots and was delighted! LOUD and lots of fire!!!
I started preparing another six smiles of joy, when an old guy from the club house walked over to me. I could see that he wanted to talk (I didn't), so I removed my hearing protection. He wanted to know what I was shooting? A 50 caliber (S&W)? I said no, just this old Walker with a short barrel. He smiled and said "Oh yes, I see! It sure is loud! We were wondering what you were shooting"!!! Hahhahahahhaaaa!
I fired a total of 18 rounds, and then left for home. As I was loading my equipment into my Jeep, a man and a woman (his wife?) were standing near me, and said that my gun was really loud. I said, "That's the main thing", and we all laughed!
The gun shot very low, as expected. After the first cylinder, I filed a good amount off the front sight, and tested it again. Still shooting low, but not as bad, so I filed off a little more of the sight. After the third volley, it was still shooting low, so I filed off a little more, and then packed up. I will see how it shoots the next time.
My detachable loading lever worked perfectly, just as I had hoped.
I still have the final shaping and finishing left to do.
The original:
First time out today with Pugsley:
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I always thought a snubby Walker or Dragoon would look really cool with the round portion of the barrel cut completely off, leaving just the angular portion. Maybe not real practical, but very cool looking and fun to shoot.
great fun!
Fun idea that short barrel Walker!
