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April 18, 2017, 01:56 AM | #1 |
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Flintlock pistol caught my interest
I have an interest in a replica .69 caliber Flintlock pistol. The following link to video is not the exact pistol, but it's very similar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y44Ck5Iw3Rs I don't plan to shoot round balls from it, just birdshot and some buckshot. With that in mind, do you think a no name replica of this type of pistol would be able to handle shooting birdshot and buckshot with a medium charge of FFg? |
April 18, 2017, 05:40 AM | #2 |
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Don't know why not, as long as it's smoothbore you're good to go with shot. I've had a couple in .62 caliber and they are a lot of fun, although they can be a challenge to hit things with using round balls. I still have one that I bought at a flea market for 100 bucks and it works just fine. Mine was missing the front sight and that's probably the reason it was so reasonable...but a few bucks for a replica turtle sight and I was in business.
That fella in the video you referenced was a little long on wind, and short on experience. You will want to use patches with round balls, for one thing. For shot, there are different techniques for loading and the smoothbores are very versatile and forgiving. |
April 18, 2017, 09:54 AM | #3 |
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That's one of the Tower flintlocks that was likely imported from Japan by the thousands in the 60's and 70's and they're crap. You might get one to shoot by hardening the frizzen but the quality is dismal. If it says Japan or Ultra Hi or Miroku on it leave it be. Yeah Miroku makes fine modern guns but they also make stuff to customers specs or at least they used to and if the customer wanted cheap crap that's what they made.
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April 18, 2017, 10:24 AM | #4 | |
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Identify what you actually have.
Quote:
In short, these are not worth your time and money. You need to really look it over and confirm what you have as some of these are actually non-functioning and safety is an issue. .. Good Luck and; Be Safe !!!!
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April 18, 2017, 12:07 PM | #5 |
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Are there any manufacturers of these Tower pistols that are better quality?
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April 18, 2017, 12:10 PM | #6 |
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Traditions makes a bunch of them, pretty much anything you could want.
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April 18, 2017, 12:11 PM | #7 |
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Do you think you have the skills to put a kit together?
If so, go to Muzzleloader Builders Supply on line and see their kits. FAR better quality then the one in the vid. |
April 18, 2017, 12:26 PM | #8 |
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"...just birdshot and some buckshot..." Probably a good idea to re-think that. Don't think there's any load data for bird or buck shot out of a short barrel.
"...manufacturers of these Tower pistols..." Lots of 'em. Dixie Gunworks et al sells Pedersoli stuff. Don't buy stuff made in India either. May or may not actually work.
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April 18, 2017, 12:29 PM | #9 | |
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April 18, 2017, 01:36 PM | #10 | |
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April 18, 2017, 03:17 PM | #11 |
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I've used smoothbore pistols on rendezvous trail walks, where we used round balls and had some targets specifically for shot. 30-40 Gr. of 2f with 3/4 oz of shot works just fine. I've shot them with regular card and cushion wads as well as plain old wasp nests, both over the powder and over the shot. You can just load them the way folks did way back then, using whatever is available.
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April 19, 2017, 12:22 AM | #12 |
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Now, for these Japanese import Tower pistols, would they be safe to shoot? I know others here said leave it, but if I could get one for $40, would that not be worth it?
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April 19, 2017, 09:32 AM | #13 |
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They're safe enough to shoot but they need work and they're ugly, nothing at all like the original Towers. I wouldn't waste 40 bucks on one. That was the original selling price for DGW around 72 and they said for 10 bucks more they would tune the locks so they would spark.
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April 19, 2017, 12:18 PM | #14 | ||
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Quote:
comes to mind.... Quote:
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April 19, 2017, 02:21 PM | #15 |
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Get a Traditions trapper flintlock pistol. Good quality, cheap, and will actually work when you go to shoot it.
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April 19, 2017, 02:56 PM | #16 | |
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April 19, 2017, 06:17 PM | #17 |
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+ 1 to Hawg's first post. These were available in kit form as well as finished in the 60s and 70s - frizziness were soft and had to be hardened - quality "iffy" at best. I picked one up a f3w moths ago for very little - I think I gave $10 for it and it was missing several screws, side plate and was poorly put together. I figured I would fix it up when I had time just as a "wall hanger". As a shooter - I wouldn't even both with it as far as my own purposes are concerned.
One to watch out for as far as poor and dangerous are the ones that used to be marketed through "Hy Hunter" if I remember the name correctly. They were sort of a "Buccaneer" type flintlock pistol form the same period as the Tower kits - 60s and 70s and I believer they were sold out of CA. I remember looking at one in the early to mid 60s and I had the opportunity to take it apart to the time. I couldn't believe it when I discovered that the breech plug in it was not threaded at all - it was a pressed in taper plug that was then cross pinned into the breech of the barrel. Not something I'd want my face to be in line with when it went off.
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April 19, 2017, 10:30 PM | #18 | |
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I don't care for the price of the Howdah, but the Veteran's Arms is reasonable for a single shot. |
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April 19, 2017, 10:39 PM | #19 |
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The Veteran Arms pistols are made in India out of seamless PIPING.
Shoot if you want, I value my health more than that. The Pedersoli howdah is a quality made firearm made of modern firearm steels and will provide a lifetime of safe and reliable service. |
April 19, 2017, 11:31 PM | #20 |
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^ Oh. If my only option is $600 from Pedersoli, I have lost all interest then.
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April 20, 2017, 08:15 AM | #21 |
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The company known as Navy Arms sells and has sold pretty good guns.
There must be plenty of them around.
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April 20, 2017, 02:51 PM | #22 |
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I've been in the same boat for years. I like the idea of a 20ga shotgun pistol without the BATF paperwork, or price of the Hawdaw.
One potential option that came to mind, is to find a decent big bore pistol, such as a .54 or .58 cal (preferably one with a rusty bore so ya can buy it cheaper!), and then have a machine shop ream the rifling out of the barrel. A 5/8" drill bit/reamer is .625", which should be close enough for this purpose to still use 20 gauge wads. Ballistic Products sells wads that are slightly oversized, too. |
April 25, 2017, 12:45 AM | #23 |
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One of those Japanese made Tower pistols sold on gunbroker for $270.
Hope that winner enjoys pricey wallhangers.
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April 25, 2017, 08:37 AM | #24 | |
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