Lead BBs out of the "Pirate gun"

Prof Young · August 2, 2024, 12:29 PM

So I got some lead BBs to try in my CVA Hawken made-from-a-kit pistol. I wasn't sure how many to put in so I weighed a fifty cal lead ball and made a "dipper" out of an old Mosin steal case that would dip up the number of BBs that weighed the same as the ball. Loaded in 40 grains of pyrodex. Put a wad on top of that. Poured in the BBs. Put a wad on top of that. At seven yards the spread was HUGE. Like 18 inches or more. At 4 yards it went down to about ten inches.

There is, of course, no practical purpose for this save FUN. And it was.

And, by the way, I've figured out how to get that thing to go bang every time. Not more percussion cap failure. The only down side to that gun, and its fun, is that it takes about as long to clean it as it does to shoot it. And if don't protect the inside of the barrel, it starts to rust, at least up near the crown.

Nonetheless a lot of fun.

Life is good.
Prof Young

armoredman · August 2, 2024, 02:25 PM

Nice! That's the Captains sidearm, made to take out ALL the mutineers at once.

bamaranger · August 4, 2024, 12:45 AM

I have for a long time wanted to get the Traditions Blunderbuss, dock the silly Elmer Fudd trumpet muzzle to a more sensible flare, and shoot lead shot from it as well. Purely for fun . Arrrrrrgh!

deerslayer303 · August 4, 2024, 12:34 PM

Thats awesome. That pistol has a rifled bore, right? That could explain the huge pattern. If its a smooth bore try the sky chief load in it. I don't see why it wouldn't work in a pistol too. I have a Traditions Kentucky pistol. And I'm thinking real seriously about sending the barrel to Mr. Hoyt and have him ream it to a smoothie. I just sent a .54 renegade to him with a crusty bore and had him ream it to a 56. For some reason I'm on a Smooth bore kick.

veprdude · August 5, 2024, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamaranger

I have for a long time wanted to get the Traditions Blunderbuss, dock the silly Elmer Fudd trumpet muzzle to a more sensible flare, and shoot lead shot from it as well. Purely for fun . Arrrrrrgh!

Isn't the cartoonish muzzle flare the best part?

Hawg · August 5, 2024, 03:10 AM

Shot follows the rifling and makes a large donut shaped pattern.

Schlitz 45 · August 5, 2024, 10:23 AM

I’ve made a small paper package of shot out of my 54 plains pistol & it help hold the pattern tighter a bit further out but it’s hard to overcome the rifling spin that throws the pattern wide very quickly. Really need a smooth bore for shot & wad actually helps a lot.

Ricklin · August 5, 2024, 04:58 PM

Yaaar, matey, shiver me timbers. A smooth bore blunderbuss would be great fun.

armoredman · August 5, 2024, 11:00 PM

My buddy the gunsmith has a blunderbuss - he says it's for "porch pirates"...

deerslayer303 · August 6, 2024, 08:51 AM

The Tradition's Blunderbuss would be cool but the bore is too small. The Indian made ones have a more appropriate bore size but I'm still leary of them still yet. I just may have to do what I did years ago with a high point, buy one and see what they are all about.

August 2, 2024, 12:29 PM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,508	Lead BBs out of the "Pirate gun" So I got some lead BBs to try in my CVA Hawken made-from-a-kit pistol. I wasn't sure how many to put in so I weighed a fifty cal lead ball and made a "dipper" out of an old Mosin steal case that would dip up the number of BBs that weighed the same as the ball. Loaded in 40 grains of pyrodex. Put a wad on top of that. Poured in the BBs. Put a wad on top of that. At seven yards the spread was HUGE. Like 18 inches or more. At 4 yards it went down to about ten inches. There is, of course, no practical purpose for this save FUN. And it was. And, by the way, I've figured out how to get that thing to go bang every time. Not more percussion cap failure. The only down side to that gun, and its fun, is that it takes about as long to clean it as it does to shoot it. And if don't protect the inside of the barrel, it starts to rust, at least up near the crown. Nonetheless a lot of fun. Life is good. Prof Young

August 4, 2024, 12:45 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,785	BB shot I have for a long time wanted to get the Traditions Blunderbuss, dock the silly Elmer Fudd trumpet muzzle to a more sensible flare, and shoot lead shot from it as well. Purely for fun . Arrrrrrgh!

August 4, 2024, 12:34 PM	#4
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,704	Thats awesome. That pistol has a rifled bore, right? That could explain the huge pattern. If its a smooth bore try the sky chief load in it. I don't see why it wouldn't work in a pistol too. I have a Traditions Kentucky pistol. And I'm thinking real seriously about sending the barrel to Mr. Hoyt and have him ream it to a smoothie. I just sent a .54 renegade to him with a crusty bore and had him ream it to a 56. For some reason I'm on a Smooth bore kick. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

August 5, 2024, 04:58 PM	#8
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,368	Yaaar, matey, shiver me timbers. A smooth bore blunderbuss would be great fun. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

August 6, 2024, 08:51 AM	#10
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,704	The Tradition's Blunderbuss would be cool but the bore is too small. The Indian made ones have a more appropriate bore size but I'm still leary of them still yet. I just may have to do what I did years ago with a high point, buy one and see what they are all about. __________________ "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson

August 2, 2024, 02:25 PM	#2
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,478	Nice! That's the Captains sidearm, made to take out ALL the mutineers at once.

August 5, 2024, 03:10 AM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,376	Shot follows the rifling and makes a large donut shaped pattern.

August 5, 2024, 10:23 AM	#7
Schlitz 45 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Location: Colorado Posts: 413	I’ve made a small paper package of shot out of my 54 plains pistol & it help hold the pattern tighter a bit further out but it’s hard to overcome the rifling spin that throws the pattern wide very quickly. Really need a smooth bore for shot & wad actually helps a lot.

August 5, 2024, 11:00 PM	#9
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,478	My buddy the gunsmith has a blunderbuss - he says it's for "porch pirates"...