tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515829.post889626463220883682..comments2024-03-28T22:44:04.754-07:00Comments on Irons in the Fire: On old stuff coming out of the closetFirehandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04562365951182027709noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515829.post-40824950214877406102009-03-04T17:07:00.000-08:002009-03-04T17:07:00.000-08:00Crap! "I may give loading up some Black Powder lo...Crap! "I may give loading up some Black Powder loads A TRY......"<BR/><BR/>Brain Phart<BR/><BR/>Gerry N.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515829.post-65159029363452852282009-03-04T17:05:00.000-08:002009-03-04T17:05:00.000-08:00There's a forcing cone only, it is difficult to ge...There's a forcing cone only, it is difficult to get a handle on where it begins exactly. I suppose I could turn a hardwood dowel a few thou. smaller than the breech, mark it where it stops against the forcing cone, allow for the shell mouth unfolding and guesstimate from there. I have a sneaking hunch from the latest patent date on the barrel, 1902, that it's gonna be 2 1/2". I was given an old Lee "Smack'em" loader in 12 ga several years ago. I think I'm gonna try loading some shells for this grizzled ol vet and see how loud he can bark. I see no sign of a choke, either. I may even give loading up some Black Powder loads, that should be a kick in the britches. Ain't guns fun?<BR/><BR/>Gerry N.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515829.post-32316859603641409722009-03-04T13:41:00.000-08:002009-03-04T13:41:00.000-08:00Yes, there were 2 1/2". If there's a step in the ...Yes, there were 2 1/2". If there's a step in the bore where the chamber ends, might be able to measure to that point, or if there's an obvious step at that point. Otherwise, only thing I could think of would be to take a chamber cast. <BR/><BR/>Or drop in a standard 2 3/4" shell and see if it fits properly for a start; if it won't, then probably 2.5". I know, not exactly the best way to find out.Firehandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04562365951182027709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515829.post-49347668353717274712009-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:002009-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00Yup, I was given an old Champion 12ga single shot ...Yup, <BR/>I was given an old Champion 12ga single shot with a moderately pitted 30" barrel. The hinge pin was very loose so the gun rattled like the doors on a Model T Ford. I made up and fitted a new hinge pin from a length of air hardening drill rod. The gun is as tight as new now, but from the absence of markings I don't know the chamber length and am almost entirely ignorant of 12 ga chamber lengths or how to determine them. Who to ask to find out what chamber length is this old barn gun likely to have? The only certainty is it ain't 3". I know there are 2 3/4" shells, were there 2 1/2" shells?<BR/><BR/>Gerry NAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com