Way back in the 20th Century...

by Paul , Tuesday, May 06, 2025, 09:26 (5 days ago) @ AaronB

we improvised muzzle loading shotguns and then improvised a variety of items to project from them. While testing out the barrel material we used a home made mold made of two blocks of hardwood with a cavity made by drilling between them with a spade bit and whittling out the bottom side to convert to a cone instead of a spike. As might be expected, cylindrical projectiles from a smooth bore have a tendency to tumble. We managed to scrounge some leaden spheres of diminutive size by saving our cruzeiros and spending them at the general store, but FFFg of Elefante or Rinoceronte brand took precedence over lead. A fist full of pea gravel was often used. I'm sure we kept our guardian angels working overtime to keep those loads from bridging and causing catastrophic expansion of the bore. We repurposed fireworks powder by combining both the coarse propulsion powder and the fine payload powder, duplex loads with out knowledge of Dick Cassul and others who were playing with much more elegant versions in fixed ammo instead of front stuffers. We had a grand time until Mom found out how much fun we were having and put an end to such endeavors. Still have all my fingers, both eyes and even some hearing. Yep, you can do a LOT of improvisation with front stuffers and the proper (or even improper) propellant. After seeing what passed for "safe" barrels in the Amazon Basin area, it cracks me up to see folks up north worrying about the safety of modern heavy steel barrels, either smooth or rifled.