The firearm thread

[Indiana_Jones]

I have a sawn-off and I pump it all the time....

-Indy

['99' Cafe' Racer]

Hmmm - there is no 'legal' minimum length for a shotty barrel - as long as the over-all length of the firearm is 762mm and/or it has not been "adapted to be held and fired with one hand" it is a shotty that complies with the Arms Act as an 'ordinary' firearm.

As to the shorter barrel reducing velocity - shotgun powders are generally fast burning and 10 to 12 inches of barrel will achieve 95% of the shot velocity that a longer barrel makes.

As to 'accuracy' and 'spread' the shot leaves 'seeing' only the last bit of any barrel - thus barrel length is of no importance other than as a sighting plane with longer allowing better aiming (yep shotty's need to be aimied!).
A 10" cylinder bore will have almost identical shot pattern to a 20" or even 30" barrel. Choke has the same effect regardless of barrel length - Shorter barrels do not 'spread' more!

As to use - typically the 10" and 12" barrel pumps are used for Door Entry - to blow the hinges off doors and for greater indoor or bush manoverability.

'Whipits' were typically seen as Bank Robber guns. Double barrel shotguns shotened both at the barrel end (sometimes as short as 6"!) and the stock 'Pistol Gripped' - an entirely different kettle of fish to a shortened pump over 762mm long. Called 'Whipits' because they were easy to conceal and the criminal owner could "whip it" out - and blast 'em!)

There a bit of Cray Brothers' history!

Shortened pumps with 12" barrels are commercially available - on 'ordinary' Firearms Licences down here - legally!

Why would anyone want one? Hell! Why would anyone want a short barrelled Tupara with hammers - and play cowboys!

[Mr Merde]

I have a sawn-off and I pump it all the time....

-Indy

Thats what you get when you are supplied with a small boire

[jono035]

Hmmm - there is no 'legal' minimum length for a shotty barrel - as long as the over-all length of the firearm is 762mm and/or it has not been "adapted to be held and fired with one hand" it is a shotty that complies with the Arms Act as an 'ordinary' firearm.

...

Why would anyone want one? Hell! Why would anyone want a short barrelled Tupara with hammers - and play cowboys!

Yeah, good info there to be sure. I had forgotten that the 762mm was an overall length requirement, not barrel length.

I was reading a guys tests in terms of velocity variation with barrel length and the difference between a 12" barrel and 28" barrel was almost exactly 10%. The patterns were identical with the 12" and the 28" with a cylinder bore.

The only thing the length gets you is balance and sight radius. If it came down to it I would rather just mount a red-dot sight and enjoy the weight and frustration savings. That would be hilarious for clays, too. Could be a funny idea.

[Indiana_Jones]

Thats what you get when you are supplied with a small boire

Not the size of the bore, mate, But rather how wide your 'shot' is lol

-Indy

[jono035]

Serious Shooters has the Frankford Arsenal brass tumbler kits on special for $180 (I bought mine for $250) in the Bullshooter (Pistol NZ magazine). You just have to go in and say you saw it on special in the bullshooter.

They come with the tumbler, a bucket and separator (hamster ball looking thing) as well as a pack of the tumbling media and some brass polish. Good kit, very happy with mine, I've cleaned up about 2k cases with mine and the media still looks new.

RM/Indy: Dunno if you've bought one of these things yet but they're damn useful to have. Cleaning your brass before sizing is a good way to avoid getting crap in your dies and wearing them out or damaging your brass.

Another option is that I could throw em through mine if you've got a batch that needs cleaning.

Just a random thought.

[The Pastor]

i would love a tumbler and one of those expensive case trimmers

but my bike has actually bankrupted me

[jono035]

i would love a tumbler and one of those expensive case trimmers

but my bike has actually bankrupted me

Lol, yeah fair enough. You've been using a Lee case trimmer up until now, right? They work plenty well enough for my needs really, especially when combined with a battery drill!

[Wolf]

Just been handed a reloader set up for shot - has 2 hoppers, 1 for shot, 1 for powder, has the crimping tools for shot shells, the base has 5 positions - remove primer, insert primer, add powder/shot, partial crimp and full crimp (according to the bloke who owned it). Will have to get Chris to look it over and assess it for serviceability and fair value - I've been asked to "make an offer".

It's been used for BP exclusively - the previous owner was in the fast-draw club and used it to load shells BP - usually blanks for their shows.

Looking forward to learning how to use it so I can keep my old hammergun supplied with BP loads.

Time to get some empty cases, primers, wads, BP and No 7 shot, methinks.

I'll buy some cases that look nothing like what I fire in the modern shottie and load them (and only them) with BP - something like those unmarked gold-coloured shells Chris let me try out, I think - so I don't get any accidental mix-ups with what I'm putting in the gun.

[jono035]

I'll buy some cases that look nothing like what I fire in the modern shottie and load them (and only them) with BP - something like those unmarked gold-coloured shells Chris let me try out, I think - so I don't get any accidental mix-ups with what I'm putting in the gun.

Get some brass 12 gauge shells, they're pretty sexy.

[Wolf]

Get some brass 12 gauge shells, they're pretty sexy.

Oh, I want some - they'd be ideal considering the age of the cannon. Then I'll have the fun of trying to glue the cardboard in...

I suppose I'd also have to resize and trim the brass shells.

[Mr Merde]

Oh, I want some - they'd be ideal considering the age of the cannon. Then I'll have the fun of trying to glue the cardboard in...

I suppose I'd also have to resize and trim the brass shells.

I definitely want another 100 of these shells.

Just use PVA glue for the cardboard overdisk.

Shouldnt have to resize them or trim them too oftem.

Check what size your chamber is. These cases are 2 3/4" where a lot of old hammer guns were 2 1/2"

[Mr Merde]

Picked up one of these little items.

Gas checks at something like $100 per 1000 are just a little too expensive for me to keep buying. They add 10 cents to each round of ammo produced.

I've been watching a little tool called the Freechex II on trade me and I decided to buy one.

Trader posted it before I had even paid for it. Trusting man.

Arrived the next day.

What a brilliant tool. Came with a small strip of metal to practice with and 10 pre made gas checks.,

I looked at the tool and figured out how it works. 15 min later I hade used up all the metal strip and had anothe 30 gas checks. Simple and functional, just how a tool should be.

I need to buy a nylon hammer and a lot more metal strip. Copper, brass or aluminium all work the same.

JONO, get one. Well worth it. It now means that I can push my little M1 rounds past the 1600-1700 fps barrier imposed by straight lead bullets. 2000 fps maybe.

The model I got was for .30 calibre. Wont do .303 but ok for all other .30 calibre rounds.

A highly recommended tool for all those who cast for modern bullets and powders.

Chris

[jono035]

The model I got was for .30 calibre. Wont do .303 but ok for all other .30 calibre rounds.

Hmmmm, interesting... I wonder how tight the tolerances are, what would stop you being able to use the gascheck for a .303? Just the base diameter?

Definitely think one of those is a good idea but I'll try get by without one for a while and see what happens. For the .44 it'd be good but at the rate I've been going through 9mm ammo I'm trying to keep that reloading process as simple as possible.

I've been looking at the prices of some of the casting gear at midway and the prices are easily half what they are here. Thinking about trying to get some boxed up and sent over. I'm sure the lead furnaces shouldn't be an issue but the bullet moulds could be. Anyone have any ideas?

[DarkLord]

I went possum shooting last night for the first time with some of the lads. My mate I went with owns a .22 and the thing is lighter (and quieter) than a slug gun. I couldn't believe it as the last .22 I fired weighed about 6 times more than the one I used last night.

We shot and killed 4 possums and left 3 wounded that escaped into the bushes. One was right up the top of a tree and we honestly shot the blasted thing about 8 times, it just would not die, nor would it even fall to the ground!! Eventually it fell but it was still running around so I stomped it to submission with my steel caps and we then executed it with a bullet through the back of the head.

Was awesome fun. I can't wait to go again!!