Northwest Tradegun Project

[tacklebury]

I just got the .58 Cal Huntsman barrel from Ben and it's perfect for what my latest project will be.  The picture below still shows my BC wood stocks, and those won't be on it permanently, and the ramrod is a little small dia., but it gets the idea over.  My gunsmith buddy is going to bore this thing out to 20 ga. for me and thread it for chokes.  I've been wanting to play with a smoothbore, but don't really like the long barrels needed to get shot to stay in pattern without a choke.  Plus most are too pricey.  So I got this old barrel from the Classifieds here and will end up with a 24" smoothbore ML that I can remove the choke to shoot .610 Cal. 342gr. Round Balls or Shot with a choke in it.  I figured with a fiberwad or wooden plug I can probably even shoot some smaller dia. round balls like buckshot.  Should be fun to play with anyway.  Will post pictures as I get it going.  I intend to pick up a palletwood stock and do the tack thing and probably attach a leather rustic sling on it too.  Nice thing is it locked right onto my existing frames, so I can use it in my switch barrel kit also. 
 

[bikerbeans]

TB,
 
I like your project and having seen your other work I am sure it will finish out very nicely!  If  a fellow just removed the rifling from a 58 cal he would have a 24 ga shotgun, but I think 24 ga choke tubes might be hard to come by. 
 
BTW, did you relieve the forend for the Ramrod?  I have though off modifying a Schnabel style foreend for a ramrod but was afraid there wouldn't be enough material left after the channel was cut.
 
BB

[tacklebury]

My BC wood is only on there temporarily to play around some and do some testing.  I am going to order a forend with the hole for the ramrod.  I intend to do a different buttstock and I've been looking a little at Gunstocks Inc. as they have huntsman forends in regular walnut and a few buttstocks in walnut also.  If I have to mix and match, I'll probably just get a palletwood buttstock and try to redden it like the walnut somewhat.  I'd thought about just doing it 24 ga., but ease of getting components for shotgunning made me jump back.  As you said too, chokes are easier to come by.  I am looking at a telescoping ramrod and might end up playing with some other ideas bumping around in my dark places.  hehe

[bikerbeans]

Maybe you will have your Trade Gun ready in time to show it off at the GBO Ohio/Indiana/Michigan shoot in Delphos, OH this September?   I think we may be having a little contest at this shoot and the person with the most eclectic gun will be the winner.
 
BB

[tacklebury]

Should be done before then.  Hoping to have it ready for early deer doe season in September.  I really want to see what that .62 ball does on a broadside shot.