32 cal Huntsman

[PHATINJUN]

Well it's finished and I could not be happier with how it turned out . Larry did a very fine job with a hair brained idea you just can't hardly find a regular smith who would take on a experiment like this without breaking the bank. He took a old 8mm Mauser bbl and stubbed it to a Topper 88 410 bbl made a breech plug for 209 primer then took a piece of ridgid conduit and put a false tube over the very ugly 8mm bbl silver soldered a thimble and a forearm lug to the bbl made a breech plug tool and even made a collapsable ramrod for it. He then Parkerized the bbl. It is mounted on an old AL ML frame .I had the extra stock and forearm along with the brass bbl band ,brass spacer I also have another brass trigger gaurd that I still need to clean up and fit. I have fired it for function with Black Powder ,Pyrodex and Blackhorn and tissue paper worked great hope to be able to shoot it with bullets over the 4th July. I can not thank Larry enough for his contributions and insights on GB. He is a real asset. Here are a couple of pics for your veiwing pleasure. Will report when I get to shoot this beauty. Kurt

[PHATINJUN]

He also mounted a nice set of all steel Lyman sites that I got from another member here. The bbl ended up 27" with the whole gun being about 41" or so. Kurt

[bikerbeans]

Very nice gun Kurt!

32 cal.?  That would work well on tree rats. 

When you say you shot with tissue paper, you mean that you loaded powder and then packed the paper on top in lieu of a bullet to get the powder to ignite? 

BB

[PHATINJUN]

yes. Kurt

[bikerbeans]

Hhhhmmmm!?!?  Box of pyrodex pellets, 209 primers, box of tissue and a 50 Cal MZ.  Sounds like a formula for homemade 4th of July fireworks.

[Spanky]

That thing came out pretty nice. Good work fella's.



Spanky

[PHATINJUN]

Thanks guys .I just can say enough about larry though taking the time to experiment with this one. I just get the pleasure to own and shoot it. Yes BB nothing more than a long bbled signal cannon with out the lead in it. About the only time my 12ga Huntsman gets used anymore is over the 4th pack her with Black Powder ,felt and wad cards makes for big boom with plenty of smoke.Kurt

[trotterlg]

Have you shot holes in anyting yet?  Larry

[PHATINJUN]

No my 4th of July was a bust i got forced @ work both Sunday and Monday so I was not able to get to the river...but I have 10 days  set starting the 23rd at least 4 full days fishin and shootin it will get done then. Kurt

[Rotten RJ]

Very nice!  The brass barrel band looks sweet.  Is that an H&R original item, a "donated" part from some musket, or something of your own manufacture?  Planning on tricking out my 58 Huntsman in brass finery, but locating a proper barrel band is giving me fits.
RJ

[PHATINJUN]

The brass band I got from Dixie Gun Works. It is the rear band .$13.95 I had to modify it .I cut the band in half then removed brass from the inside of both cuts to make it narrow enough then squezzed it down in a vice (slowly) squezzing and filing til it was the right size then brazed it back togeather. Drilled and tapped the bottom for small allen screw to hold it on it fits tight enough but I did not want to take a chance at loosing it. It is #VPO921 I am going to do a couple more but am going to try one with the sling swivle on it. This one was from a 1863 Zouave rifle. Kurt

[Busta]

Kurt,

Are you ever gonna shoot some groups with that thing? I think you better send it to me, I'll make time!

What is the rate of twist on that barrel? Squirrel Season is fast approaching, ya know?

[PHATINJUN]

I here ya Busta . The motor home is packed and pointed west for the river my vac starts 10pm thursday. I got granpa's pool and water slide play day friday and saturday for my grandkids, sunday clean up.Then head for the river sunday afternoon .I got Monday to thursday by myself before the wife and youngest daughter join me. I will get this gun shooting . Also the .45 Huntsman and the Blackhorn load will get worked over.I believe the twist to be 1-10 but after many trys I kept getting 1-11 I do not have a bore scope and I suspect some smooth rifling in the bore. I really like how this 98gn speer wadcutter bullet looks and feels when you push it into the bore and with enough powder should expand the hollow base well into the rifling upon firing. Plus I got some 30cal sabots for 22cal bullets that might be interesting to play with. Bad thing is our Squirrel season opens the morning I got to be back at work. Full report upon my return!!!!!! Kurt 

[bikerbeans]

Kurt,

Have a great vacation!

BB

[PHATINJUN]

Sorry but no report. We are flooded out here. Spent first 3 days watching river rise and the 4th day sandbagging around my buddies house on the hunting property. So decided to load the motor home up and head for Michigan spent several days relaxing in SW MI along the lake. Next best chance at shooting this thing is week of the 23rd August. Kurt

[PHATINJUN]

I am going to order Skinner Black Gold peeps for this thing today. Kurt

[Busta]

I am going to order Skinner Black Gold peeps for this thing today. Kurt

Did you shoot that thing yet?

[PHATINJUN]

Yes it shoots and functions very well. The biggest problem with it is that I can't see the sight well enough to shoot it much more than 30-40 yards. I was shooting 1-2" groups with low light loads and the 98gr Hollow base wadcutter and they were consistant . But trying to extend it out farther I was mostly guessing on the aim. If this peep don't help I may have to go to a scope. The BH 209 worked great with Larry's plug. I think this will be tiny group accurate if I can see the target. I was hoping to get it done and shot enough to try a card for the Postal match. Sorry i did not post this earlier...I thought I had but realize now that was a PM to Blake. He sent me a few of his cast 8mm Nambu's to try but they are way tight to get down the bore. Every thing is right with the gun it's me that sucks. Kurt