Author Topic: Pumpkinball guns.. (Read 571 times)

knight0334 · « **on:** December 10, 2005, 01:14:53 PM »

I was at Grices in Clearfield the other nite with a coworker, he was picking up a Weaver Classic scope for his dad for CHRISTmas.. I took time to look around at the H&Rs/NEF's on display..

They had a 12ga rifled sluggun there for over $220, cant remember price. That barrel was massive! I mean it looked like something off the Battleship New Jersey.

It got me to thinking, has anyone tried using brass hulled slugs in this rifled beast? I'm starting to really want one of those tennis ball shooters.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2005, 01:51:04 PM »

There has been some discussion on using brass hulls in the 12ga.UltraSlug Hunter..but..your not going to increase the performance with slugs over what you can purchase already..That 10 gauge barrel bored out to 12 ga is a great shooter...and as far as accuracy rates along side the $2500 dollar Tar-hunt...It would be neat if we could send for it on the accesssory program and have it fitted to our SB-2 actions...but we can't....we can however get the 20 ga USH barrel...it's a little smaller 12ga bore out to 20 ga...NEF will fit them for us..and they are pretty darn accurate as well...lots of guys over on the NEF shotgun forum swear by them too...

Mac

knight0334 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2005, 03:59:50 PM »

The brass loads would be more for "shock value" then an attempt for more performance. I see some years ago with round nose balls for a 12 bore rifle using blackpowder or some cordite type mix.. The guy said his dad used them on elephant and cape buffs.

I figured one would make a nice heave brush gun at least.. or a chuckgun that made quite a visual effect for walking them in..

stimpylu32 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2005, 04:27:41 PM »

I too have seen them and am wondering , Can you get the wheeled carriage and hitch assm. for it so it could be towed to the field of battle like the old 105 hoz. were . :-D :-D :-D :-D :eek:

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2005, 05:08:36 PM »

There's a twist problem. Large caliber round balls work best with a very slow twist, something on the order of 1-100".Rifled shotgun barrels have a far faster twist.

I've shot a good many .735 RBs through a custom rifled 12 gauge Martini, a Tracker II, and a Remington 870 with a Hastings Paradox tube. I'm happy to get 4-6" 50 yard groups. Think all those have about 1-38" twist, but don't hold me to that.

Never tried brass cases because shotguns hulls will take the .735 ball and I have some pressure tested data courtesy of a long ago Gil Sengel article. I sure don't need more power because the loads I am shooting have been known to make my glasses fly off.

knight0334 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2005, 07:08:47 PM »

I was thinking... Dixie Terminator slug with a slight crimp.. Or machining a mold for a custome slug. something around 650-775grs at about 1000-1200fps.

If I machine my own mold, I could produce a slug near about .735, maybe slightly less..

Damn.. I'm just gonna get one and start measuring.. then look up loads for a conical slug of a given weight..

I've got an uncle that can machine anything I can imagine.. I might have him machine a handful of 12ga shells out of brass with a thicker head and and wall, god knows I'll wont need all that capacity for today's smokeless powder.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2005, 09:01:30 PM »

.735 RB weighs 1 3/8 oz. That's about 600 grains. Kicks plenty for me. I had a Lyman slug mould recut with drive bands to get it to .735 but have not done much with it.

crosscut · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2005, 02:04:29 AM »

I've been interested in a 12 or 20 gauge roundball gun for a while. I have an old 12 ga. Tracker I with a smooth bore and open sights.

I've considered having it rifled. Any idea of what it would cost to have the barrel rifled to a 1:100 or 1:120 twist? Does anyone know of a gunsmith that would do it? From some of the articles in Rifle magazine, a 12 ga. rifle can be very accurate if set up properly.

jbtazgrabber · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2005, 05:42:18 AM »

ok i guess im gettin old....we take 69 cal pumkin balls and load into 12 ga hulls and they shoot good......the old man use to carry a couple of the balls in his pocket,he would cut the top off a shotshell ,dump out shot and push a ball into the wad....but the lyman slug sh oots better than pumpkin ball....if any one wants a few to try pm me ill send some of them 2 you 2 try....if you cover the shippping cost...jb

jon f · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2005, 12:20:05 AM »

Yes, a .690 roundball in a normal wad is the easiest way to go. Very accurate and no leading. My poor mans double rifle..