Took some projects out this morning to proof test them.
First was a 12ga single shot percussion shotgun. The barrel was obtained as an unfinished in the white never chambered Cooey barrel. I removed the lug, made a "patent" style breech, installed an underrib, stocked it up using a piece of cherry. Back action lock assembled from bits and pieces and a plate of 1/8" steel. Repeated tests with double charges of shot and powder, then shot it a number of times off the shoulder. Its going to be a good gun. Still have to make and fit a trigger guard and buttplate, and finish all the wood and metal.
Second was an original .50 caplock rifle. The poor little thing started out fullstocked; its now halfstocked with a shortened barrel. Remington barrel. Its pretty sorry, but the breech and drum are sound, and I think the rifling is good enough to shoot. There won't be any problems using reasonable loads.
Third was a pair of 12ga barrels I'm setting up for a FL double. They were from a Belgian breechloader, I shortened them from the breech, and fitted a pair of plugs, using the method described in Brockway's book. Rather than making a hooked breech, I milled a slot into the top of the breeches, and fitted a tang. To remove the barrels, it will be necessary to undo the tang screw. I did not want to do any more work, let alone order a pair of locks, until I knew the barrels were going to stand proof. Blew them twice each with double charges. Normally I would not drill the vents until the locks were in place, but I felt I didn't have a choice with these. Plan on using a pair of L&R late style flintlocks.
The stocked guns I secured with sandbags, and fired from behind cover using a cord.
The FL barrels I fired electrically. Clamped the barrels to a 2x4 cradle, sandbagged in place. Good heap of powder over the vent. A long length of extension cord, with a fine twist of steel wool across the end wires. Put a 9v battery in contact with the prongs. The steel wool incandesces almost instantly, fires the priming. Started firing proofs this way years ago when we were manufacturing trade guns. Easier than fooling around with fuse.
First was a 12ga single shot percussion shotgun. The barrel was obtained as an unfinished in the white never chambered Cooey barrel. I removed the lug, made a "patent" style breech, installed an underrib, stocked it up using a piece of cherry. Back action lock assembled from bits and pieces and a plate of 1/8" steel. Repeated tests with double charges of shot and powder, then shot it a number of times off the shoulder. Its going to be a good gun. Still have to make and fit a trigger guard and buttplate, and finish all the wood and metal.
Second was an original .50 caplock rifle. The poor little thing started out fullstocked; its now halfstocked with a shortened barrel. Remington barrel. Its pretty sorry, but the breech and drum are sound, and I think the rifling is good enough to shoot. There won't be any problems using reasonable loads.
Third was a pair of 12ga barrels I'm setting up for a FL double. They were from a Belgian breechloader, I shortened them from the breech, and fitted a pair of plugs, using the method described in Brockway's book. Rather than making a hooked breech, I milled a slot into the top of the breeches, and fitted a tang. To remove the barrels, it will be necessary to undo the tang screw. I did not want to do any more work, let alone order a pair of locks, until I knew the barrels were going to stand proof. Blew them twice each with double charges. Normally I would not drill the vents until the locks were in place, but I felt I didn't have a choice with these. Plan on using a pair of L&R late style flintlocks.
The stocked guns I secured with sandbags, and fired from behind cover using a cord.
The FL barrels I fired electrically. Clamped the barrels to a 2x4 cradle, sandbagged in place. Good heap of powder over the vent. A long length of extension cord, with a fine twist of steel wool across the end wires. Put a 9v battery in contact with the prongs. The steel wool incandesces almost instantly, fires the priming. Started firing proofs this way years ago when we were manufacturing trade guns. Easier than fooling around with fuse.
