Idaho Sharpshooter
06-07-2014, 12:35 AM
Long story.
About a hundred and thirty-five years ago the Sun never set on the British Empire. Many of the Subalterns (Lt's) graduating from Sandhurst and Eton, etc were middle class. They did not have the cash to purchase even an A&N double rifle. A Major Fosberry proposed a solution to H&H. Take those glorious BP 12, 10, and 8 bore SxS shotguns and:
1. taper choke them .003-005" for a couple inches at the muzzles.
2. rifle them with shallow slow twist rifling. Just about the choke depth +.001" or so.
They would shoot the large shot nearly as well out to 25-30 yards. They would shoot roundball, and later acorn bullets in the 2-4" range at 50 yards, L/R, L/R.
Plenty accurate for Tigers or Lions at close range.
The question: were they to be classified as shotguns, or rifles? H&H answered by categorizing them as "Paradox Rifles", a trademarked descriptive phrase for saying "we don't really know...a paradox if you will.
Anyway, I got to shoot an original H&H Ten Bore, not gauge, Ten Bore. Four shots under 3" at 50yds.
I got a bad case of the "got's to have one".
I bought a ten gauge double SxS and shot slugs. Totally unsatisfactory solution. Never got two slugs, L/R to print within 6" of each other at 25yds.
A good gunsmith friend and I got to talking, and he suggested shortening the barrels, and putting choke tubes in them.
Problem, nobody makes them.
Solution, have my gunsmith friend make some. I bought a ten bore ML barrel, and my friend cut two stubs 4" long off the blank. Cut the barrels back to 22" and put rifle sights on the rib.
Turn the stubs down, thread the muzzles back about 3", and thread the stubs to fit. Rocky Mtn Cartridge makes the proper length cases, $10 apiece.
He experimented until 160gr of 2F regulated about 3" by 2" wide at 25yds, and a bit high. Miked the tubes, and epoxied them with the overnight stuff, ran outside to his range, and verified that regulation had not changed. Let them set up for two days.
The brass round ball mold casts a .775" diameter bullet. I just cast up a couple ball, and then loaded and shot them all yesterday. I need to make some more, so I can check the weight.
Let us just say, for the record, that recoil is brisk.
And, my gosh is it a lot of fun shooting it.
I will update shortly.
Rich
About a hundred and thirty-five years ago the Sun never set on the British Empire. Many of the Subalterns (Lt's) graduating from Sandhurst and Eton, etc were middle class. They did not have the cash to purchase even an A&N double rifle. A Major Fosberry proposed a solution to H&H. Take those glorious BP 12, 10, and 8 bore SxS shotguns and:
1. taper choke them .003-005" for a couple inches at the muzzles.
2. rifle them with shallow slow twist rifling. Just about the choke depth +.001" or so.
They would shoot the large shot nearly as well out to 25-30 yards. They would shoot roundball, and later acorn bullets in the 2-4" range at 50 yards, L/R, L/R.
Plenty accurate for Tigers or Lions at close range.
The question: were they to be classified as shotguns, or rifles? H&H answered by categorizing them as "Paradox Rifles", a trademarked descriptive phrase for saying "we don't really know...a paradox if you will.
Anyway, I got to shoot an original H&H Ten Bore, not gauge, Ten Bore. Four shots under 3" at 50yds.
I got a bad case of the "got's to have one".
I bought a ten gauge double SxS and shot slugs. Totally unsatisfactory solution. Never got two slugs, L/R to print within 6" of each other at 25yds.
A good gunsmith friend and I got to talking, and he suggested shortening the barrels, and putting choke tubes in them.
Problem, nobody makes them.
Solution, have my gunsmith friend make some. I bought a ten bore ML barrel, and my friend cut two stubs 4" long off the blank. Cut the barrels back to 22" and put rifle sights on the rib.
Turn the stubs down, thread the muzzles back about 3", and thread the stubs to fit. Rocky Mtn Cartridge makes the proper length cases, $10 apiece.
He experimented until 160gr of 2F regulated about 3" by 2" wide at 25yds, and a bit high. Miked the tubes, and epoxied them with the overnight stuff, ran outside to his range, and verified that regulation had not changed. Let them set up for two days.
The brass round ball mold casts a .775" diameter bullet. I just cast up a couple ball, and then loaded and shot them all yesterday. I need to make some more, so I can check the weight.
Let us just say, for the record, that recoil is brisk.
And, my gosh is it a lot of fun shooting it.
I will update shortly.
Rich