What would be the smallest caliber?
Swamped barrel.
- Thread starter Nor Cal Mikie
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As a muzzleloader? Probably a .32 today, but in times past, who knows? I have seen some pistols and revolvers that are one and two milimeters... beautiful examples of the gunmaker's art, but like most art, quite useless for any practical purpose.
I'd love to see someone come out with a muzzleloading gun that takes .177 pellets. It would use, of course, #11 caps and require no powder at all, just the cap. I wonder if it is possible....
I'd love to see someone come out with a muzzleloading gun that takes .177 pellets. It would use, of course, #11 caps and require no powder at all, just the cap. I wonder if it is possible....
hanshi
Cannon
I have a .32 flintlock with a swamped barrel and it's a nice little rifle. Swamped barrels make great rifles for the woods; but if I wanted one for target/matches only I'd get a straight barrel.
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Dunno if this qualifies but a freind gunsmith made a 22 cal pistol. No powder, just the cap makes the 22 lead pellet go.
Larry
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Look up "parlor guns" and "Flobert" in particular. Every now and then one hits the market.
Here's a handy link to see the offerings of Colerain and Rice in various swamped versions.
"Availablity" may be an issue but the research link will allow you to see what can be done.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/list/Item.aspx/650/1
"Availablity" may be an issue but the research link will allow you to see what can be done.
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/list/Item.aspx/650/1
ronaldrothb49
45 Cal.
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years ago I saw a original German made gallery gun. It used a 17 cal ball and a percussion cap no powder
longcruise
70 Cal.
I think FCI makes barrels in the 22 to 28 range.
A little OT but I remember someone mentioning Air Rifle pellets and 22 power caps from Stud/Nail Drivers.
Boys and their toys.
Boys and their toys.
What about a round barrel in 32? Lighter weight but no rifling (smoothy)?
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My favorite gun barrel for small calibers , is a 3/4" straight octagon. Get that barrel in a .40 cal. , and you can adjust the powder charge up or down for what ever you are hunting, The 3/4".40 is light , and economical.
Johnny Tremain
Silversmith in training
I have a Rice 45, know they made 40s, dont think Ive seen smaller, but never looked.
Sean E Bug
32 cal. or less
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from the major barrel makers 32 is the smallest. FCI offers 30 and 29. Hoyt and Rayl can make 25 caliber. I have a old 22lr barrel I am going to breech and turn into a flintlock. Just wondering why you need the smallest caliber?
Don't NEED ONE, just curious. Smaller caliber, lighter barrel?? Curiosity killed the cat??
Alice1885
32 Cal
My BP 22 caliber pistol, shoots a 15 grain round ball with a .009 patch with 6.7 grains of O.E. through the chronograph at 1080 fps. And is quite accurate. I shoot it in pistol matches at both 25 and 50 yards. Just sayin…..
Sean E Bug
32 cal. or less
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for any given barrel dimension a smaller caliber is going to be heavier. a 32 in a 3/4 barrel will be heavier than it in 36. I like small caliber guns but just like all guns what you plan to do with it matters. the most common reasons I have seen are small game hunting, economics, light handy rifle, and to be different.Don't NEED ONE, just curious. Smaller caliber, lighter barrel?? Curiosity killed the cat??
Here’s why I would only use a swamped or even straight barrel 3/4” at the breech as an offhand or plinking gun. Too whippy.
Imagine 2 PVC pipes with the same wall thickness, 4 feet long. One is 1/2” diameter and the other is 2” in diameter. Which is going to be more “whippy” and easy to bend?
Same with something solid like a dowel. 1/2” dowel versus a 2” stair rail.
Also note that the longer a rod is, the easier it is to bend. Now if you whittle a taper and flare on it, where will it bend most easily?
Original SMR guns of small caliber usually had crazy thick barrels and the guns weighed a LOT. I have several original barrels of that sort. Not fun for toting. But such barrels can give bench gun accuracy.
Don’t expect 2” groups at 100 yards from a slim, long, swamped barrel.
Imagine 2 PVC pipes with the same wall thickness, 4 feet long. One is 1/2” diameter and the other is 2” in diameter. Which is going to be more “whippy” and easy to bend?
Same with something solid like a dowel. 1/2” dowel versus a 2” stair rail.
Also note that the longer a rod is, the easier it is to bend. Now if you whittle a taper and flare on it, where will it bend most easily?
Original SMR guns of small caliber usually had crazy thick barrels and the guns weighed a LOT. I have several original barrels of that sort. Not fun for toting. But such barrels can give bench gun accuracy.
Don’t expect 2” groups at 100 yards from a slim, long, swamped barrel.
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Comfortably_Numb
The Evil Mike Brooks
I have mamde several .25's and .29's, and .32's
There were non firing, correct? That's only .039" for 1mm and .079" for 2mm, a #9 lead shot is .080".
Pretty sure they were firing models. Here is a link to one currently in production. Kinda pricey: Miniature gun |
