I got sidetracked, but managed to get a few pictures and load some ammo and try some of it.
The gun appears well made and while only moderately engraved, it has nice wood and a lot of touches such as the platinum wedding bands and barrel script around the breeches. As said, the chambering is 16/65 and 20 bore X 40mm. The 20 gauge bore rifle case is loaded with a 399gr .646 round ball at about 1000 fps. Cases are brass 20 ga cut to 40mm. The load is simply 10 gr of Solo 1000, a BP sporting wad with the petals removed,a lubed round ball and a paradox crimp to the edge of the mouth. A very easy load to shoot. The 16 ga slug is a BP DGS slug with an attached wad and loaded to about 1100 fps at around 7500 psi. The slug weighs just short of an ounce. I haven't shot this load yet. A couple of 18 gauge cushion wads brought it up to the proper case mouth position. It, of course, will shoot about any mild 16 gauge shot load. The barrels are steel.
I can't get over the bore and mechanical condition of the gun. Finish is excellent except for acouple of light knicks in the blueing on the bottom of the right barrel. It is like it was stored in closets and attics in 1876, moved around and handled a little but never shot. The rifle caliber may have had something to do with that. Ammunition may only have been generally available for 25 or 30 yrs. Twist I estimate to be about 80-90", so pointy slugs are likely out.
It is ccertainly turning out to be interesting to play with.
|
Threaded Mode