Hopkins and Allen falling block 12ga - project material?

[awp101]

Went to a local emporium with my buddy to get out of the house for a bit and ran across one of these. It's a 12ga Hopkins and Allen falling block. The take down screw is under the barrel which appears to be uncut, the stock is in decent shape and at least the action has been reblued. Price is $175.

I'm not in a position to pick it up but for my own edification I have to ask. Can these be rebarreled to a metallic cartridge fairly easily? Maybe .45-70 or smaller?

[Hobie]

Perhaps I'm thinking of another gun but my memory says, "No."

[awp101]

It looks like this if it helps:


I think I remember reading the RRB shotgun actions could be redone to low pressure/BP cartridges but I'm not 100% on that. Logically, my mind then wonders "Well, what about the H&A?".

If I were a trap shooter, I could see it being a hoot as it is.

[Pete44ru]

No, +2 - AFAIK, the action is cast iron, but even if it's not, the "steel" of 100+ years ago is nothing like today's metal.

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[Hobie]

It looks like this if it helps:


I think I remember reading the RRB shotgun actions could be redone to low pressure/BP cartridges but I'm not 100% on that. Logically, my mind then wonders "Well, what about the H&A?".

If I were a trap shooter, I could see it being a hoot as it is.

Yes, that's it. I think Pete's right, it isn't the proper material for such a thing. As I remember it, it is a 15K PSI action. NOT the sort of thing you want, as a conversion, to leave to your grandchildren...

[awp101]

Cool, I can get it out of my head then...

Thanks!

[JerryB]

Just the other day I talke to a man at the gunshop that built a 38-55 from the same gun, years ago.

[KCSO]

I don't conside them strong enough for any rifle round. They were designed for B/P shotgun pressures. I load B/P to shoot one.

[stinkycat]

they are not strong enough for modern rounds. did this one several years ago for my brother, green mountain 54 cal barrel cut the breach plug to take a 209 shotshell primer, makes a really neat muzzle loader. he's taken a bunch of deer with it.

[marlinman93]

No, they aren't strong enough for CF cartridge, and $175 is too much for one that's original, let alone one that's been reworked. When I see decent originals at local shows they usually have price tags of around $150 on them.

[awp101]

Not sure how I did it but somehow I bumped this while searching for the thread. Probably has something to do with trying to use my phone instead of the 'puter and not wearing my glasses...

[Pete44ru]

Just the other day I talke to a man at the gunshop that built a 38-55 from the same gun, years ago.

Yep - Just like there's folks that'll go over Niagra Falls for kick & giggles. .

.

[awp101]

I was looking for this last night erroneously thinking something had been mentioned about converting one to .22LR. Even though I was mistaken, it got another train of thought started.

Would the H&A (or anything of similar vintage/construction) be safe with a .22LR adapter such as this one?

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Det ... 60&catid=0

Here's my thought process. Take one of those and a length of .22LR barrel liner, let's say long enough for an 18"-20" barrel. Thread the liner into the adapter and then do one of two things. Add support such as rubber rings down the length of the liner to keep it centered in the barrel or thread the muzzle as you would for chokes but instead of a choke use a metal end cap that could be threaded into the muzzle of the shotgun barrel AND onto the muzzle end of the liner (similar to the Shaver .22 conversion IIRC). Or maybe even both processes.

The $64 question is bolt thrust. Or rather, breech block thrust. I trust the adapter to contain the pressure in the chamber but would the breech block handle it's part? I don't know the formula to figure bolt thrust nor do I know the figures for a safe BP 12ga load to compare against a .22LR load.

This is what my mind does when it's time to go to bed and it's not ready. My mind fights sleep like a 3 year old...