Shot in a pistol

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Heck, try it - part of the fun of muzzle loading is experimenting. As mentioned earlier, keeping the shot secured is part of the problem. Finding something to provide a good, solid cushion betwixt powder and shot is also interesting. There are/were makers of wads for revolvers that may work if stacked several atop each other (perhaps glued together ahead of time).

Empty pop can in front of a large piece of butcher paper will divulge not only penetration, but shot pattern as well. Have fun. Try different stuff. Scare the neighbors. Been there. Still trying stuff.
 
Heck, try it - part of the fun of muzzle loading is experimenting. As mentioned earlier, keeping the shot secured is part of the problem. Finding something to provide a good, solid cushion betwixt powder and shot is also interesting. There are/were makers of wads for revolvers that may work if stacked several atop each other (perhaps glued together ahead of time).

Empty pop can in front of a large piece of butcher paper will divulge not only penetration, but shot pattern as well. Have fun. Try different stuff. Scare the neighbors. Been there. Still trying stuff.
Thank you
 
Don't use modern powder no matter what else you choose to do. I mean never. Your gunsmith friend shouldn't be telling folks that. That's how you lose fingers and faces...
No I reiterate maybe I didn’t word it well but he never told me to use the powder outta the shell just the shot and I know not to use modern powder , I learned that when I was given a Damascus barreled gun when I was young
 
Thanks , it’s a smooth bore this pistol but my thinking was for partridge on the trail if possible wouldn’t be more that 20 or 30 away.
Yeah sure , put shot in that sucker and shoot birds and or rabbits . Its fun . Ive made many smoothbore pistols and short , blanket guns ...lots of fun and they get the job done ! You can build a pistol or blanket gun for such a low amount of money ...you can get smoothbore barrels d@mn cheap ... Only money you have in it is lock , the expensive part , breech plug ... I bought a barrel.at the flea mart this spring for $10 ....I can make 2 or 3 pistols from it , neat too as its an original Civil War barrel ...what history ! Any way 20 gr.of black.powder and work your way up to that amount , see what your comfortable with and ...Make some meat !
 

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My instructor in LE Firearms instructor school was about the finest pistol shot I ever saw and an excellent teacher. He suggested never to end a practice nor training session on an unpleasant note, but with something 'just for fun' or that the student has already mastered (even if practicing by yourself). A decidedly psychological thing, it helps build confidence and the good feeling makes you want to go at it again, not carry depression forward. We all shoot against our personal best regardless of what others' scores appear.

Here at the farm, for me it's dirt clods, assorted metal gongs, maybe jugs of water. If it's fun, we look forward to doing it again. If it's a day I can't hit where I want ...not so much. Try it. It works.
 
Ive tried it in a 44, can't get enough powder and shot in it to do anything. I shot at a soda can , I finally hit it at about 5 feet away. I think i went half chamber powder and half shot. Elmered it in. It might kill a snake close about a foot.
I bet the Walker has enough volume to make a good shot load. I'll need to try that out some time after I get the sights regulated and a good regular load worked up.
I'm out of Speer shot cups and don't know if they are being made currently so will have to make up some paper shot cups I guess. I think it important to keep the shot rubbing against the bore separated from the bore wall as all perimeter shot will be deformed by the rifling and tend to peel off from the shot string after muzzle exit.
I wonder how many # 7.5 or 8 shot will equal the weight of a 250 grain bullet or so ?
 
Yeah sure , put shot in that sucker and shoot birds and or rabbits . Its fun . Ive made many smoothbore pistols and short , blanket guns ...lots of fun and they get the job done ! You can build a pistol or blanket gun for such a low amount of money ...you can get smoothbore barrels d@mn cheap ... Only money you have in it is lock , the expensive part , breech plug ... I bought a barrel.at the flea mart this spring for $10 ....I can make 2 or 3 pistols from it , neat too as its an original Civil War barrel ...what history ! Any way 20 gr.of black.powder and work your way up to that amount , see what your comfortable with and ...Make some meat !
Rob, Really like the 1st picture of your blanket gun ... I am assuming it's one that you built. If you plan to build a similar unit in the near future, please let me know I would be interested in giving it a nice home. W. ZEE
 
I bet the Walker has enough volume to make a good shot load. I'll need to try that out some time after I get the sights regulated and a good regular load worked up.
I'm out of Speer shot cups and don't know if they are being made currently so will have to make up some paper shot cups I guess. I think it important to keep the shot rubbing against the bore separated from the bore wall as all perimeter shot will be deformed by the rifling and tend to peel off from the shot string after muzzle exit.
I wonder how many # 7.5 or 8 shot will equal the weight of a 250 grain bullet or so ?
Only shot I have is a mix that was given to me. 9, 6 and 4. I use it on rabbit, quail and dove out of my 12 gauge double.
I think I loaded 45 Colt also. Half and half with a thin card on powder and one over shot. It was just barely enough where a drop of Elmer's would cover card. Never tried it on animals. Except when a rattler wandered into the yard. I don't remember too well but I think it had a good pattern at about 10 feet or less. I only made 6 rounds of them so I didn't shoot that much. Since it was 4f black powder I just cleaned it up as such.
 
Rob, Really like the 1st picture of your blanket gun ... I am assuming it's one that you built. If you plan to build a similar unit in the near future, please let me know I would be interested in giving it a nice home. W. ZEE
Thanks for the kind words . I have a couple years back up on the build list but I'll certainly keep you in mind , ya just never know ! . Have a good one ! :)
 
I tried one of the .357 "shot capsules" made by Speer in a modern pistola, loaded with #9 shot. Shot at a grouse in a tree not 12 feet from the gun....bird fluttered to the ground...success! At home after dressing the bird, I could find no shot whatsoever in the carcas, but one sliver of yellow plastic (from the shot capsule) stuck in its neck! Never tried it again.
 
Yeah sure , put shot in that sucker and shoot birds and or rabbits . Its fun . Ive made many smoothbore pistols and short , blanket guns ...lots of fun and they get the job done ! You can build a pistol or blanket gun for such a low amount of money ...you can get smoothbore barrels d@mn cheap ... Only money you have in it is lock , the expensive part , breech plug ... I bought a barrel.at the flea mart this spring for $10 ....I can make 2 or 3 pistols from it , neat too as its an original Civil War barrel ...what history ! Any way 20 gr.of black.powder and work your way up to that amount , see what your comfortable with and ...Make some meat !
Ok I want one!!!
 
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