Connecticut Preparedness 

A community of Connecticut neighbors discussing topics important for preparedness and self-reliance.

Shooting the old style way
#25471
Inspiration for the project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=monbm21U ... plpp_video



Well... I wanted a "Bulldog"... so I made one. Flash, noise & clouds of smoke are things I like, and hopefully this will fill that need. :)

After cutting the barrel from the frame with a jeweler's saw & 41tpi blades approximately .10'' from the face of the frame, I then locked the frame in the cross-slide of the ol' Bridgeport & milled it plumb with the face of the frame (taking several thousands of the frame with it) utilizing a fly cutter.


Image

Fills the hand rather nicely, although it's quite chunky still. It actually is still fairly well balanced contrary to my initial thoughts on the project. (And look, no finger on the boom boom! :!: )

Image

Barrel & frame after facing off on Bridgeport. Cut perfectly flush to one another, although it would've stood apparent that I needed to use more cutting fluid (chatter marks galore). Can't see them... but they're there... and UGLY.

Image


Grip reduction in order. Too tired to get to it tonight, but I'd imagine cutting this will be a fairly easy task. Planning to use squared endmill & step-cut until I can profile the grip with a nice #0 file.

Image



I have my work cut out for me tomorrow. Then, off to shoot! 8)
User avatar
By Mopar
#25475
Interesting. I think I would have left a small amount of barrel like the guy in the video did. This way you have at least a little barrel length and rifling for accuracy, and also more aesthetically pleasing with that front sight he made.
Also, he used a Kirst Konverter instead of cap and ball, so he could use black powder centerfire cartridges since the ramrod setup is now gone. I'm 99% sure that would be illegal for you right now. (Side note, he never shows unloading the spent shells in the video. There's no room for an ejector rod like usually used with that conversion, so I guess he has to poke them back out the loading gate). I guess you will have to use a cylinder reloading stand to load it.
User avatar
By hayes1966
#25479
Interesting ... I want to see how this comes out.
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25503
So... I did NOT get to do any more work to the gun today, BUT I did have the opportunity to shoot it this afternoon :D

Let me start off by saying this is absolutely, positively the LOUDEST firearm I've ever fired in my life. On top of that, the muzzle flash is completely horrendous... even in broad daylight, the flash from 40gr. of fffg is astounding.

Lastly, accuracy even without a front-sight post is fairly good; minute of soup can at 20ft. (typical 19th century belly/bulldog guns were meant to be pointed, if anything). I plan to mill a channel into the top-strap & fit a small ramp... but even as is, I LIKE it.

I even tried shot loads. 15gr. of 777, wad, #7 birdshot (will have to measure actual weight of payload), and over shot wad. The very nice thing about the short barrel in this instance, is that the rifling seems to impart such little spin to the shot that it actually patterns nicely about 10ft. (Once you start getting to about 20ft., the pattern opens up significantly, but no "donut hole" symptoms that would typically be encountered firing shot loads through a rifled slug gun).

All in all, so far it is smokey, NOISY, and seemingly practical... well, sort of. 8)
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25507
Interesting. I think I would have left a small amount of barrel like the guy in the video did. This way you have at least a little barrel length and rifling for accuracy, and also more aesthetically pleasing with that front sight he made.
Admittedly, I too liked his conversion with the remaining barrel length... his came out VERY nicely. At the same time though, I did mark it off as he did, and well... it was still fairly big.

At the same time, I still have 1 5/8" of rifled barrel left (including forcing cone), which gives me *just barely* enough length for serviceable accuracy at distances to probably about 20ft... maybe 50ft. if I install a small post & take my time with the shots.
Also, he used a Kirst Konverter instead of cap and ball, so he could use black powder centerfire cartridges since the ramrod setup is now gone. I'm 99% sure that would be illegal for you right now.
Yeah... it's kind of... really gray as far as that goes. I wouldn't touch the Kirst or R&D for that reason alone... on top of it being more expensive than the gun!!! :lol:
User avatar
By hayes1966
#25514
Greg, you need to get a video of you shooting this.
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25520
Greg, you need to get a video of you shooting this.
Time, place, & camcorder. 8)
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25893
Alright, after a uh... "momentary" delay, more progress has been made. 8)

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-11

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-11

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-11

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-11

Mmm... Nicotine...

The Carcano's triggerguard happens to be sneaking into the picture as well. :lol:



Before I go any further, the mission of this project is to create a quasi-period-correct bellygun. To be honest, from what I have seen with this (shooting it, anyway), it is an immense amount of 19th century FIREpower (note the caps :lol: ) in a fairly compact package. Overall, it is no longer than my outstretched hand. :)
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25897
NEARING THE FINISH LINE!!!

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-12

Image
By greggandrews at 2012-01-12


It's 3:00AM, and almost done! Who needs sleep... :P
User avatar
By hayes1966
#25898
Who needs sleep indeed.

Looking very nice.
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25973
Thanks Hayes!

I plan on finishing the grips themselves either tonight, or tomorrow. Maybe a nice dark cherry stain... and then a gloss poly... 8)

Considering stripping the entire gun of bluing, and then bringing it up to a very high gloss in the white. Would look nice with red grips. :D
User avatar
By myglimk2
#25982
I think you need to take some photography lessons from JamesB!
:P

I guess it is looking good. Kinda hard to see. :lol:
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#25999
I guess it is looking good. Kinda hard to see.
I'M USING A $20 CAMERA!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
User avatar
By hayes1966
#26739
Get your finger out .. I want to see the finished product.
User avatar
By GreggAndrews
#26742
Still working on it. :wink:
Gardens

I hope there are still some plants available. Our […]

Spring Soon

The weather is getting better. Dust off your 2 whe[…]

Snow on the way!

Looks like another snow fall for CT this weekend. […]

Independance Day

Happy Independence Day to all the Patriots here on[…]

Join The Discussion!