Help Identify a muzzleloader

[Mr_Dunev]

I bought this on a whim, I can't find out any info on it.
.28 cal, made in spain

[Tom-ADC]

.28 cal? Is it rifled or smooth bore? How about a shot of the end of the barrel.
It looks like one of many inexpensive Spanish imports from the 60's-70s.

[Mr_Dunev]

.28 cal? Is it rifled or smooth bore? How about a shot of the end of the barrel.
It looks like one of many inexpensive Spanish imports from the 60's-70s.

Smooth bore.
I didn't pay much for it, just looking for some info on it.

[Tom-ADC]

So it measures .280 inside diameter? Darn thats small maybe a gallery gun?

[Mr_Dunev]

So it measures .280 inside diameter? Darn thats small maybe a gallery gun?

It seems MUCH bigger than that, but it says 28 CAL on the barrel.
I will measure it when i get home but if I had to guess i would say its larger than a 1/2"

[Manolito]

Are you sure this is not a 28 guage shotgun?

[Mr_Dunev]

Are you sure this is not a 28 guage shotgun?

It could be, the size of the barrel sounds right but it says 28 CAL.

you can see it in one of the close up pictures of the markings.

[ironhorse1]

Interesting as it has double marks of two different types.

The crown and cross is for Eibar which is an admission proof for guns with old marks.

The K33,700 is probably the pressure test and the 13.8 is the bore size in millimeters, a bit over one half an inch.

I could be wrong but that is the information I'm seeing. maybe they mark them once, pressure test and then re-stamp if it passes.

irh

[Eljay]

I think they actually use caliber like we use gauge in some countries. 28 gauge is 13.97mm or .550.

Probably the easiest ball size to find will be .530 or .535 and then try a couple of different patch thicknesses. Doesn't have to be super crazy tight but basically you want to go as tight as you can load without a lot of grief.

[Mr_Dunev]

I know absolutely NOTHING about black powder!! I would be interested in trying to shoot it, but I would probably want to set it in a stand for and shoot it from a distance for the first shot.

HAHA

[Eljay]

There's basically two approaches depending on how you feel about risk.

One is to take it to a gunsmith who knows black powder and who can inspect the barrel and then set it up with a proof load (big heavy load, could be twice what you intend to shoot, sometimes they put in two balls too) and set it off from a distance and then inspect it again.

The other is to basically just make sure there's no major pitting in the barrel and shoot some light loads in it and work up gradually.

Just for a frame of reference with my similarly calibered rifle I use 70gr as a target load, hunters would use more like 100-110. If I were having somebody proof it I'd go to 150 at least, more if they recommended it. If I'm letting a kid shoot it I put in 30 and it works fine at shorter distances.

Most areas have some kind of regular black powder get togethers. I'm not sure about near you but I'm guessing at Angeles range since they sell black powder there. You can at least get some old timers to inspect it and give some advice about how to proceed.

Oh, and the nipples get beat up / worn - ask somebody if it looks usable but it never hurts to measure the thread pitch and get a replacement. These guys http://www.trackofthewolf.com carry pretty much everything.

[Eljay]

There's also nothing wrong with getting a Lyman Great Plains Rifle in .54 and learning on that first.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/536/1/LYMAN-GPR-54-P

[scrat]

Id shoot it the way it is.... load up 40 grains black powder followed by a wad then 40 grains 7 1/2 shot followed by over shot card. It make for a very mild shot gun but would be fun to shoot

[Tom-ADC]

If it was mine I'd make it a wallhanger period.

[CSACANNONEER]

I know absolutely NOTHING about black powder!! I would be interested in trying to shoot it, but I would probably want to set it in a stand for and shoot it from a distance for the first shot.

HAHA

Sounds like we need to get together and burn a little charcoal through it. If you're interested, shoot me a PM. I have .530 balls and thick patches or, we can make some wadding and shoot shot through it. If you're truly scared of it, we can always clamp it down, attach a string to the trigger and proof it before we shoulder it.